Bologna: An International Stage for Cinema

Bologna and cinema speak the same language: that of memory, research and shared wonder.
From June 20 to 28, 2026, the city will once again become a grand open-air stage,
with iconic screenings in Piazza Maggiore and in the historic cinemas of the city centre.

Promoted by the Cineteca di Bologna, the festival is today one of the most important
international events dedicated to restored cinema. The 2026 edition will celebrate the
40th anniversary of the festival with a programme rich in special guests,
newly restored masterpieces, cine-concerts and timeless classics.

The latest edition welcomed more than 140,000 attendees, with spectators arriving
from all over the world. The festival concluded with the screening of the Academy Award-winning film
The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer in the evocative setting of Piazza Maggiore,
in front of thousands of viewers.

Among the most memorable moments: the 70mm screening of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
by Steven Spielberg and the celebration of the centenary of The Gold Rush by Charlie Chaplin,
accompanied by a live orchestra.

In this unique setting, the Grand Hotel Majestic “già Baglioni” is the ideal place
to experience the atmosphere of the festival: an elegant retreat in the heart of Bologna,
chosen by directors, actors and cinema lovers from around the world.

After the open-air screenings under the stars, let yourself be welcomed by the timeless elegance
of the city’s most historic hotel and continue experiencing the magic of cinema
even beyond the screen.