Inside the Venice amfAR Gala 2026: “Where’s the Party?”

Before I arrived at the Venice Film Festival , I was told repeatedly that I had to attend the amfAR gala—a star-studded charity event that has raised hundreds of million dollars for the Foundation for AIDS since its inception in 1985. Last year , the Venice amfAR Gala was held on a private island only accessible by water bus, with an after-party on another, more beautiful private Venetian island that was difficult to leave.

(It’s not so easy to find a water taxi at 3 a.m.). I was hopeful that this year’s amfAR gala, hosted by Oscar winner Taika Waititi and honoring actress Pamela Anderson and performance artist Marina Abramović would be more of the same.

Well, this year’s amfAR Gala was a bit different. Held on Sunday, the amfAR Gala traded the private island for The Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel, a large and imposing building right on the water.

On the way into the gala, many people with what seemed like their own camera crews took photos outside, many of whom existed in the uncanny valley where they looked as though they might be a celebrity or someone you should know, but ultimately are not. Still, it was a space to see and be seen.

One woman apparently introduced herself as a Russian spy who is no longer allowed in London. Make of that what you will.

Mia Moretti during the amfAR Gala Venezia on September 06, 2026.