Il Cinema Ritrovato
The international festival of restored cinema in Bologna
About Cinema Ritrovato
The restored cinema festival of Bologna
Il Cinema Ritrovato is one of the most important festivals in the world dedicated to cinematic heritage and the culture of restoration. Organized by the Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna, it takes place every year in the heart of the capital of Emilia-Romagna, transforming the historic center into a grand circuit of dark rooms and open-air screens. Founded in 1986, the festival has grown to become an international benchmark for archives, film libraries, cinema historians, and simple enthusiasts, attracting tens of thousands of spectators and thousands of accredited guests from around the globe each year.
Masterpieces brought back to light
The heart of the event is rediscovery: forgotten films, classics restored with the most advanced technologies, rarities from archives worldwide. From early cinema to the great films of the 20th century, each screening is a journey through the history of moving images. The days begin in the morning and continue late into the night, spread across numerous cinemas in the Municipality of Bologna, including the restored Cinema Modernissimo, Cinema Jolly, and the Cineteca's spaces.
Under the stars of Piazza Maggiore
The most evocative moment is in the evening, when Piazza Maggiore transforms into what is described as the most charming open-air cinema in Europe. The evening screenings, with free admission, bring together thousands of people under the summer sky to watch prestigious restorations, film concerts with live musical accompaniment, and special events, in a unique setting amidst the city's arcades and towers.
Tributes to cinema greats
Each year, the festival pays tribute to directors, actors, and actresses who have marked the history of cinema, with curated retrospectives and rich introductions. Alongside the great personalities of the past, Il Cinema Ritrovato often welcomes illustrious guests from contemporary cinema, who present their films or accompany the works they are most associated with.
A festival for everyone
While being a high-profile event for scholars and cinephiles, Il Cinema Ritrovato is also a popular celebration open to the city and visitors. The sections dedicated to children, meetings with authors, free screenings in the square, and the atmosphere throughout the streets of Bologna make it an event capable of uniting the most rigorous film culture with the collective pleasure of shared viewing.
Cinema Ritrovato — edition 2026
Forty years of Il Cinema Ritrovato
In 2026, Il Cinema Ritrovato reaches its 40th edition, celebrated as an extraordinary edition, the 'Festival XL'. From June 20 to 28, the Cineteca di Bologna presents over 500 films, restorations from archives worldwide, and screenings that run from morning until late night in the city's cinemas and on the large outdoor screens.
The major tributes of 2026
The fortieth-anniversary edition pays tribute to three legendary figures: Luchino Visconti, on the dual anniversary of his birth (1906) and death (1976), celebrated with restorations of masterpieces such as Senso, The Leopard, and Rocco and His Brothers; Barbara Stanwyck, the Hollywood diva of fire and desire; and Joséphine Baker, whose entire filmography is explored with gems found in the archives.
Evenings in Piazza Maggiore
As tradition dictates, every evening Piazza Maggiore hosts free screenings of major restorations and film concerts, drawing thousands of spectators under the stars in the heart of Bologna.
Programme Cinema Ritrovato 2026
2026 Program (40th edition, 'Festival XL') with over 500 films in the city's cinemas and in Piazza Maggiore:
- Tribute to Luchino Visconti — restorations of Senso (1954), The Leopard (1963), and Rocco and His Brothers (1960), on the 120th anniversary of his birth and 50th of his death
- Barbara Stanwyck — Fire and Desire: retrospective dedicated to the great actress
- Tribute to Joséphine Baker: complete filmography and rarities from the Gaumont Pathé archives
- Historic festival sections: Found and Restored, Documents and Documentaries, Cinemalibero, Kids & Young
- Free evening screenings in Piazza Maggiore and the city's squares
The detailed day-by-day program is available on the official website ilcinemaritrovato.it.
Highlights Cinema Ritrovato 2026
- Special fortieth-anniversary edition: over 500 films
- Restorations of three Visconti masterpieces: Senso, The Leopard, Rocco and His Brothers
- Retrospectives on Barbara Stanwyck and Joséphine Baker
- Free evening screenings in Piazza Maggiore
- Thousands of accredited guests and international personalities
Prices Cinema Ritrovato 2026
Practical information — Cinema Ritrovato
Getting there
The festival venues are located in the historic center of Bologna, easily accessible on foot. By train: Bologna Centrale station (on the Milan-Rome high-speed line), about a 15-minute walk or a few minutes by bus from the center. By plane: Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, connected to the center by the People Mover (Marconi Express). By car: it is advisable to leave your car in peripheral parking lots due to the city center's Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL).
Tickets and accreditation
Evening screenings in Piazza Maggiore are free to enter. Accreditation (Festival Pass) is required to access screenings in the cinemas, with various reduced rates for students, residents, over 65s, and young people. Pass holders have priority access to the reserved area in Piazza Maggiore.
Information
Full program and accreditation purchase on the official website ilcinemaritrovato.it. It is advisable to book accommodation and accreditation in advance due to the large international attendance.
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Where does it take place — Cinema Ritrovato
Cineteca di Bologna, Piazza Maggiore e sale del centro
Via Riva di Reno 72, 40121 Bologna