Bologna: An International Stage for Cinema

Bologna and cinema speak the same language: that of memory, research and shared wonder. Each summer, the city becomes an open-air stage where thousands of spectators gather to experience the magic of the big screen together.

With over 140,000 attendees, the 39th edition of Il Cinema Ritrovato confirmed Bologna as the international capital of restored cinema. Promoted by the Cineteca di Bologna, the festival will return in 2026 from June 27 to July 5, celebrating its 40th anniversary with an even richer programme of screenings, special guests and timeless masterpieces.

The latest edition concluded in Piazza Maggiore with the screening of the Academy Award-winning film The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer, bringing to a close nine days of outstanding cinema that welcomed more than 5,000 accredited guests from 57 countries. A total of 70,000 admissions were recorded across the city’s venues – from Cinema Modernissimo to the Lumière and DAMSLab – with an average occupancy rate of 85%.

Even more iconic are the evening screenings in Piazza Maggiore, where a further 70,000 spectators gathered beneath one of Europe’s largest open-air screens. Among the most anticipated events: the 70mm screening of Close Encounters of the Third Kind by Steven Spielberg and the centenary celebration of The Gold Rush by Charlie Chaplin, presented in a new restoration accompanied live by the Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna.

In this unique setting, the Grand Hotel Majestic “già Baglioni” renews its historic connection with the seventh art. A longstanding point of reference for directors, actors and film lovers, the hotel welcomes festival guests in an atmosphere of timeless elegance, discretion and authentic Italian hospitality.

Experiencing Bologna during Il Cinema Ritrovato means immersing yourself in an unforgettable cultural celebration: restored masterpieces, cine-concerts and encounters with great filmmakers transform every evening into an event. And at the Grand Hotel Majestic “già Baglioni”, the experience continues — Perfect, Italian.