40th edition

FESTIVAL: IL CINEMA RITROVATO

[ BOLOGNA 20-28 JUNE 2026 ]

This year marks an edition unlike any other

500 films, 8 venues throughout the city, 9 days of shared cinematic passion. Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival turns 40!
It will be our XL (40th) edition, and X-large it will be in the abundance of films on offer. This very special edition, running from June 20 to 28, will strike a delicate balance between glamour and ecstasy, commitment and struggle; between dream and reality; between yesterday and today.
Here below is a small preview of some of the main sections of this edition. The full programme will be revealed in May!

programme // FIRST NEWS

The Cinephiles’ Heaven

“The Cinephiles’ Heaven”, as it was affectionately called by the festival’s long-time artistic director Peter von Bagh, does not refer merely to one the three main sections of the programme. Rather it expresses the most authentic and comprehensive vocation of Il Cinema Ritrovato: the Cineteca di Bologna’s festival is a true Garden of Cinematic Delights for every film lover…

THE TIME MACHINE

Cinema has the unique ability to transport contemporary audiences through time, recreating the atmosphere, presence and truths of bygone eras. Faces, aesthetics and narrative forms from the past return to life on screen in a continuous play of proximity and distance, developing an ongoing dialogue between the audience and their contemporary point of view…

THE SPACE MACHINE

Physics remind us that time and space are inseperable dimensions within every voyage. Cinema is also – and perhaps above all – a journey through places: dreams exposed onto film, parallel universes accessed through the big screen, far away lands brought within reach…

purchase your festival pass

latest news

Press release [15/04/2026]

[10/04/2026]

[25/03/2026]

[05/02/2026]

[19/09/2025]

Step into the cinephiles’ heaven!

How to take part in the festival

To be able to attend Il Cinema Ritrovato 2026, you’ll need a pass that’s valid for the full duration of the festival. Once you’ve got yours, we’ll email you your login details to then access the booking platform.

Festival pass holders will be able to book seats for the scheduled screenings according to a timetable that will be available in early June. The festival uses a phased booking system, with seats being made available in stages.

find out more

the film lover’s notebook