Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Unveils a New Chapter in Its Legendary History at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival - La Biennale di Venezia
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Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido unveils a thoughtful renovation ahead of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, celebrating its enduring legacy as the iconic home of international cinema.
At one of the world's most iconic addresses for international cinema, Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido begins a new chapter in its storied history. On the occasion of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival - La Biennale di Venezia, taking place from 2-12 September 2026 at the Palazzo del Cinema, the landmark hotel introduces an extensive renovation that reimagines many of its most iconic spaces while honouring its remarkable heritage.
For more than nine decades, Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido has been intrinsically linked with the Venice International Film Festival. It was on the hotel's celebrated terrace that the Festival was inaugurated on 6 August 1932, establishing a relationship that has endured ever since. Over the years, the Excelsior has welcomed generations of the world's greatest actors, filmmakers and cultural icons, including Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marcello Mastroianni and Ingrid Bergman, while also serving as a memorable filming location for director Sergio Leone.
Today, the tradition remains as vibrant as ever. Each August, internationally acclaimed stars including George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp and Nicole Kidman once again make the Excelsior their home during the Festival, reaffirming its unique place at the heart of the world's oldest film festival.
The 2026 renovation represents a significant milestone in the evolution of the property. Most guest rooms and suites have been thoughtfully redesigned with a fresh interpretation of Mediterranean elegance, where natural materials, warm neutral tones and bespoke handcrafted details complement the hotel's distinctive Moorish architecture while preserving the timeless character that has defined the Excelsior for generations.
Among the highlights of the restoration is the Palm Court, which has been returned to its original role as the social heart of the hotel. Enriched with archival photographs and historical memorabilia, the space now offers guests an immersive journey through the extraordinary cinematic legacy that has unfolded within its walls over the past ninety years.
From the iconic private jetty where the world's biggest stars arrive by boat, to the exclusive Adriatic beach lined with the hotel's celebrated Cabanas, the elegant Sala degli Stucchi, and the panoramic terraces overlooking the lagoon, every corner of the Excelsior once again becomes an integral part of the Venice Film Festival experience, reinforcing its enduring identity as the meeting place of Venice, the sea and international cinema.
Offering 198 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, together with a private motorboat service reaching St. Mark's Square in approximately fifteen minutes, Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido continues to rank among the most iconic luxury hospitality destinations in Venice and beyond.
Room rates start from EUR 385 per night in the low season and EUR 535 per night in the high season, including breakfast.
For further information or reservations, please visit hotelexcelsiorvenezia.com