Locarno Film Festival 2027: Cinema Under the Stars in Piazza Grande

Welcome to the Locarno Film Festival 2027 in Locarno

From August 4 to 14, 2027, the Piazza Grande in Locarno once again becomes Europe's largest open air cinema. Founded in 1946, the festival marks its 80th edition in 2027 and ranks alongside Cannes, Venice and Berlin among Europe's most important film festivals. Nearly 250,000 visitors travel to the Lake Maggiore region for the event each year.

Highlights and Attractions at the Locarno Film Festival

• Open air evening screenings on the Piazza Grande, with around 8,000 seats under the stars
• Four competition sections: Concorso Internazionale, Cineasti del Presente, Pardi di Domani and First Feature
• Additional screenings in twelve other cinemas across the city beyond the Piazza Grande
• A red carpet welcoming international directors and actors throughout the festival
• The Rotonda as a cultural gathering spot with live painting, concerts and DJ sets after the screenings
• A dedicated kids area plus food trucks serving regional and international specialties
• The distinctive backdrop of Lombard style arcades surrounding the historic town square

Program and Schedule: What to Expect in 2027

Over eleven festival days, competition films, retrospectives and side sections are spread across several venues in the city. The heart of it all remains the evening screening on the Piazza Grande, which typically begins after sunset and is sometimes followed by a later second screening. The full 2027 program and line up will only be announced in early summer. A shift to a July slot was discussed for this anniversary edition, but according to the latest official sources the festival is set to keep its traditional August dates in 2027.

Tickets and Admission for the Locarno Film Festival

Piazza Grande screenings are available through single tickets as well as Day Passes and multi day passes. A single evening screening most recently cost around 27 euros (32 Swiss francs), with multi day passes priced higher. Exact 2027 prices and ticket categories have not yet been officially published and will be released through the Festival's online ticket shop. Visitors who want a reserved numbered seat can add one for a surcharge of around 17 francs.

Visitor Tips: Travel and Accommodation in Locarno

• Locarno is well connected by train, with the station just a short walk from the Piazza Grande
• Discounted combined travel offers from Swiss Federal Railways are often available for festival visitors
• Early August usually brings warm, sometimes humid summer weather to Locarno, so a light jacket for the evening is still worth packing
• Accommodation in and around Locarno should be booked well ahead due to high demand during the festival
• Arrive early for the Piazza Grande evening screening, since seats are unnumbered and access follows a first come, first served rule