From September 26 to October 4, Lucca transforms into a micro-capital of global cinema for the Lucca Film Festival 2026. Featuring heavyweights like Nanni Moretti, Julian Schnabel, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Giovanni Veronesi, the event is packed with premieres, exhibitions, and unmissable encounters. For nine days, historic palaces and downtown theaters will host a dense schedule: twelve feature films and twelve shorts in competition, alongside retrospectives and masterclasses. Access is completely free until seats are filled, making it the perfect day trip for anyone staying in Florence or traveling through Tuscany.
The International & Italian Cinema Legends
The first major date to circle is with American director and artist Julian Schnabel, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on September 27 and present In the Hand of Dante. The following day, he leads a masterclass at Cinema Astra, paired with a festival retrospective featuring his celebrated works like Basquiat, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and At Eternity’s Gate.
On September 29, the legendary Giancarlo Giannini arrives to present Baracoa, directed by Cuban filmmaker Luis Ernesto Doñas. The musical cinema spotlight hits on September 30 with British director Julien Temple, presenting the iconic 1980 Sex Pistols mockumentary The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle alongside his latest film, I Am Curious Johnny. October 2 pays homage to Lifetime Achievement Award winner Liliana Cavani, featuring screenings of her acclaimed San Francesco films. That same afternoon at Atelier Ricci, Oscar-winning costume designer Franca Squarciapino will host a fascinating masterclass diving into the art of character construction through wardrobe.
The festival reaches a fever pitch on Saturday, October 3. Danish auteur Nicolas Winding Refn (director of Drive and The Neon Demon) will receive the Golden Panther Award and present his futuristic thriller Her Private Hell. That evening belongs to Italian cinema icon Nanni Moretti, who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award accompanied by a special screening of his 1976 debut, Io sono un autarchico.
The festival closes on October 4, bridging cinema and music with musician and screenwriter Gordon Getty, followed by the closing film Dio Ride, presented in the evening by Giovanni Veronesi, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Silvio Orlando.
Exhibitions at Palazzo Guinigi & The Keith Haring Premiere
Between screenings, Palazzo Guinigi hosts two striking contemporary exhibitions. Running until October 2, John Tiberi: Punk Gaze 50 Years celebrates the 50th anniversary of “Anarchy in the U.K.” through immersive photography that captures the raw aesthetic of the 1970s British punk scene. Until October 4, Simone Domeniconi’s Chess Cyborg Movie merges the strategic structure of a chessboard with iconic cinematic masterpieces to create a unique visual dialogue.
A special highlight for art lovers occurs on October 1 at the San Micheletto complex with the world premiere of the uncut documentary Tuttomondo. Directed by Andrea Soldani, the film chronicles the creation of Keith Haring’s famous 1989 mural in nearby Pisa, offering a deep dive into an artwork that has become a permanent fixture of the contemporary Tuscan landscape.
Planning Your Festival Itinerary
If you are short on time, Saturday, October 3 packs the biggest punch with appearances by Donatella Finocchiaro, Nicolas Winding Refn, and Nanni Moretti. For auteur film purists, September 27-28 (Schnabel) and October 2 (Cavani) are mandatory viewing.
Since entry to all events is completely free but capacity is limited, checking the official program and arriving early for your chosen appointments is essential. Beyond the screen, the city of Lucca itself serves as the perfect co-star. The festival format allows you to seamlessly step out of a theater to walk the historic Renaissance walls, grab a coffee in a picturesque piazza, and turn a simple film screening into a comprehensive Tuscan experience.
