The Venice Film Festival 2026 continues to turn the Lido into one of the most important stages for international fashion. From Hollywood icons to the new faces of the fashion world, here is our second edit of the red-carpet looks that stole the spotlight in Venice.
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon arrived in Venice to present The Echo Chamber, Andrea Pallaoro’s film competing for the Golden Lion, in which she stars alongside Luca Marinelli and Alicia Vikander. The project carries particular significance as it was developed from the last screenplay written by Bernardo Bertolucci.
For the photocall, Sarandon appeared alongside Luca Marinelli, with both stars dressed in Fendi by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Sarandon embraced androgynous elegance in a sharp black ensemble featuring a double-breasted blazer, matching trousers and a shirt elevated by a refined pleated front and Mandarin collar. Sleek and commanding, the look borrowed from traditional menswear while remaining unmistakably Sarandon.
On the red carpet, the actress opted for a floor-length black gown by Dior with clean lines, featuring long sleeves and a wide bateau neckline that left her shoulders completely bare. Gold jewellery by Tiffany brought light to the monochrome silhouette, while dark sunglasses and coral-red lipstick added the signature diva attitude that has defined Sarandon’s public appearances for decades.
Yet one of the smallest details carried the strongest message. Pinned to her dress was a small red badge, worn in support of calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. During the film’s press conference, Sarandon also spoke openly about the professional consequences she says she has faced in Hollywood because of her public support for Palestinians, claiming that she continues to lose work and that some agencies still discourage productions from casting her.
Robert Pattinson & Suki Waterhouse
One of the most photographed couples of this year’s festival, Robert Pattinson and Suki Waterhouse arrived together for the premiere of Primetime, directed by Lance Oppenheim and starring and produced by Pattinson.
The actor chose a custom Dior by Jonathan Anderson white suit traced with subtle pinstripes. A crisp white shirt, a striped tie in shades of red and blue and brown loafers completed a sartorial look that offered a lighter, more contemporary take on traditional menswear red-carpet codes.
Waterhouse responded with the romantic, bohemian aesthetic that has become a signature of her style. She wore Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello in delicate lace blending deep green and golden tones, with long sleeves and silk detailing at the cuffs. Sheer tights and pointed pumps with a curved heel completed the look.
Bhavitha Mandava
Among the most spectacular looks of the festival was Bhavitha Mandava’s, with the model and rising Chanel muse making an unforgettable Venice red-carpet debut. Mandava wore the closing look from Chanel Resort 2027 by Matthieu Blazy: a true mermaid dress that transformed the model into an almost surreal sea creature. Body-hugging and covered in iridescent shades ranging from sky blue to deep turquoise, the gown was embellished with an astonishing 126,000 sequins. A monumental piece of craftsmanship, the embroidery alone took the atelier approximately 1,250 hours to complete.
Mandava could hardly have chosen anyone other than Matthieu Blazy for such an important moment. After a chance encounter with the designer on the New York subway, her career took a remarkable turn, eventually leading her to become the first Indian model to open a Chanel show.
Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard, whose relationship with Chanel goes back years, took a decidedly more minimalist approach. The French actress embodied the contemporary elegance of Chanel by Matthieu Blazy in a sophisticated all-black ensemble composed of a long, clean-cut strapless top paired with straight-leg trousers. Understated and almost austere, the look proved that making an impact on the red carpet does not always require elaborate embroidery, daring transparency or bold colour.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal, meanwhile, chose to play with volume. For one of her red-carpet appearances, she wore Balenciaga by Pierpaolo Piccioli, opting for a monumental black gown with an asymmetric construction. The taffeta created sculptural volume around the body, while the one-shoulder design disrupted the symmetry and brought movement to the silhouette. Bulgari jewellery provided the perfect touch of light against the dramatic all-black look.
Benedetta Porcaroli
Benedetta Porcaroli, who arrived at the Lido alongside Riccardo Scamarcio, once again turned to Prada, a fashion house that has become a defining presence in her wardrobe. For the red carpet, the actress moved away from the conventional floor-length gown in favour of a youthful candy-pink layered design. Her legs were left exposed at the front, while the fabric extended dramatically at the back to create the illusion of a train. The romantic quality of the colour was heightened by deliberately delicate details, including a side bow at the waist and floral appliqués cascading down the skirt.
Sofia Boutella
Part of the cast of The Basics of Philosophy, Paul Schrader’s new film presented out of competition, Sofia Boutella embraced an ethereal, sculptural vision in an all-white Stella McCartney look. The softly satin-finished gown flowed effortlessly around the body without creating an overly structured silhouette. Its defining feature, however, was the asymmetric draping that wrapped around the décolletage before transforming into a fluid cape across the shoulders. The fabric twisted into a soft torchon, subtly evoking classical sculpture and the draped garments of ancient Greek figures, reimagined through an essential and contemporary aesthetic.
Brooklyn & Nicola Peltz Beckham
For their Venice appearance, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham both chose Balenciaga by Pierpaolo Piccioli. Brooklyn kept things classic in a black tuxedo, white shirt and bow tie, leaving Nicola to take centre stage in the fashion stakes.
Nicola wore an intricately constructed Balenciaga Haute Couture gown. The one-shoulder design, rendered in a deep shade of purple with darker tonal variations, featured a twisted and draped bodice with the weightless quality of a scarf, extending upwards into a delicate hood. The construction wrapped diagonally around the torso, revealing the hips and part of the back before opening into a voluminous low-waisted skirt finished with a dramatic train.
Vialina Lemann
In her role as Ambassador for Women Empowerment at the 2026 Kinéo Awards, Vialina Lemann stepped onto the red carpet in a striking creation by Qutaiba Aldreiei, conceived as a true jewel dress. The long, body-skimming silhouette followed the curves of the figure, while the bodice played with the illusion of nudity through a sheer, nude-effect base covered in an intricate lattice of crystals and shimmering embellishments. The result was a sensual interplay between skin, light and sparkle, turning the gown into a piece of jewellery in its own right.
Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin hits the red carpet in a bold Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann two-piece look, pairing a white double-breasted jacket with sharply tailored dark trousers, while an open shirt peeking through underneath adds a relaxed, subtly seductive edge.