Rome wasn’t built in a day, and now, in early 2026, parts of it are being rebuilt for the screen—set by set—across the huge soundstages at Cinecittà. Big international productions have been moving in steadily, turning corners of the city into working film backdrops. Crews are setting up everything from ancient streets to modern thriller sets, often just minutes away from real historic locations. A mix of strong tax incentives and close-together locations has made filming there unusually practical. Cast and crew can stay near the center and reach major sets fast, which saves both time and money.

That convenience, paired with the visual range Italy offers, has pulled in major studios and streaming projects alike. It’s moved past being a passing phase. Right now, Italy sits high on the list of go-to places for global film and prestige television shoots.

The “La Dolce Vita” Upgrade: Why Stars Refuse to Leave

Let’s be real. If you’re a massive star like Jeremy Pope or Alyson Hannigan, you have a choice. You can sit in a cold, grey trailer in an industrial park outside London, or you can have your morning espresso overlooking the Tiber. Why International Stars Love Filming in Italy often comes down to the lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else. In 2026, we’ve seen a massive rise in what industry insiders are calling “Noctourism.” Time Out recently ranked Rome the world’s number one city for night-time entertainment, which says a lot about what the place actually feels like after dark.

Imagine wrapping up a long, twelve-hour shoot and then going out for a guided late-night walk through the Colosseum or sitting down to watch a movie on an outdoor screen set up in an ancient piazza. That sort of evening shifts the mood in a long production schedule. A six-month run begins to feel like a grind rather than time well spent in some special place. I remember hearing about Ridley Scott’s team on The Dog Stars—they were not just there for the beautiful scenery. They were there for the soul of the place. When you’re filming in Italy, you aren’t just “on set.” You’re living inside the history you’re trying to capture.

The 40% Reason: Italy’s Financial Secret Weapon

Now, the romance is great for the actors, but the accountants care about the bottom line. And the bottom line in Italy is looking incredibly healthy. How Rome Became Europe’s Favorite Filming City really started with the competitive tax incentives. In 2026, Italy offers a streamlined 40% tax credit on qualified spending (Cinecittà, 2026). But here’s the kicker—unlike other countries, where you have to jump through a thousand hoops and wait years for a rebate, the Italian system allows studios to transfer these credits to banks. That means cold, hard cash flows into the production almost immediately. Here’s a quick breakdown of how the numbers stack up this year:

Italy’s Film Economy: The 2026 Snapshot

Metric	Latest 2026 Data
Audiovisual Sector Growth	Up 9% this year alone
Total Market Valuation	Hit a record €16.3 billion
Direct Tax Credit	40% (Transferable to banks)
Major Current Productions	The Beauty (FX), The Resurrection of the Christ (Mel Gibson)

The Cinecittà Renaissance: High-Tech Meets High-History

It’s almost impossible to bring up Italian film without Cinecittà entering the conversation. For a long stretch, people thought of it as a grand old studio with history and not much else. That picture doesn’t really hold up anymore. In 2026, it’s being talked about as one of the most technically capable studio hubs anywhere. After a roughly €300 million upgrade push, the site hit its PNRR development goals ahead of schedule, according to Italiadomani’s 2026 updates.

One of the headline additions is Stage 18, home to one of Europe’s biggest LED volume stages for virtual production. It’s basically a huge curved digital wall that surrounds the performers and creates the setting in real time. That means if a director wants a sunrise scene at the Spanish Steps without fighting crowds and permits, the location can be built digitally and displayed around the cast instead of shutting down half the city.

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Iconic Locations: From Venice Canals to Rome’s Cobblestones

Rome may be the work engine of the film business, but other Italian cities supply the look and mood that productions chase. Venice: Venice still pulls in the prestige crowd year after year. The Venice International Film Festival remains a regular stop for big names like Emma Stone and Timothée Chalamet. Outside the festival bubble, the city itself does half the visual work for you. The canals, the old facades, the evening light on the water—you just can’t fake that on a backlot. The “Two-Hour Rule”:Crew members often talk about what they call the “two-hour rule.”

Rome is just a short drive away from wildly diverse landscapes. Within that window, you could fly to the Dolomites, where the 2026 Winter Olympics were held; to beaches around Ponza; and to the ornate palace grounds at Caserta, appropriated recently for a Tom Ford project. It offers designers options without requiring constant long-haul travel. Florence & Tuscany: Florence and the wider Tuscany region bring a different energy. Tuscany even shows up almost like a quiet on-screen presence in Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler. Those hills and vineyard roads create a calm backdrop that actors and crews tend to appreciate when the shooting schedule gets tight.

Recent Masterpieces: Must-Watch Films Shot in Italy

If the global buzz around Italy as a filming base feels over the top, just look at what’s showing up on screen. Recent and upcoming projects use very different parts of the country, and each one looks nothing like the other.

The Beauty (2026): This Ryan Murphy series uses the tight, twisting streets of Trastevere as the backdrop for a tense, shadowy thriller. The neighborhood’s natural texture does a lot of the heavy lifting.
You, Me & Tuscany (2026): With Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page leading it, this rom-com leans into the bright coastlines and soft countryside views around the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. It’s built around warmth and scenery.
Jay Kelly (2025): George Clooney and Adam Sandler bring a quieter, more grounded tone to the Val d’Orcia. The setting adds depth even when the moments are light.
The Resurrection of the Christ (2026): Mel Gibson returned to film in Matera and parts of Basilicata, places known for their rough, ancient look that barely needs dressing.
Gladiator II (2024): Most of it was shot in Morocco and Malta, but Ridley Scott’s return to Roman-era storytelling has sparked fresh travel interest around the real Colosseum and nearby sites.

Recent Buzz: The Bridge to Hollywood

The connection between Italy and Hollywood feels especially close at the moment. The 11th edition of the Filming Italy Los Angeles festival took place from February 10 to 14, 2026, bringing a combination of Italian and American film talent into the same rooms — and conversations. Among the high points was February 12, when Franco Nero was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That was a major moment that felt like a kind of formal “thank you” from Hollywood to the Italian industry. Events like this tend to say more than press releases ever could. When performers like Da’Vine Joy Randolph and filmmakers such as Paolo Sorrentino appear side by side, it shows how much back-and-forth now exists between the two industries. It’s not only about film projects anymore. it’s a shared cultural bridge.

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FAQs About Filming in Italy

Is it actually cheaper to film in Italy than the US?

Generally, yes. And once you add the 40 percent tax credit and lower local costs for local crews—who are world-class artisans in their own right—Italy often delivers much more “screen value” for every dollar spent.

What are the biggest movies filming in Italy in 2026?

The three hottest projects at the moment are Sean Baker’s new, untitled project, Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the high-profile series The Beauty.

Can fans visit these filming locations?

Absolutely. “Set-jetting” is huge in 2026. More than 53 percent of travelers now say they are more likely to take a screen-inspired trip, especially to destinations like Tuscany or Rome.

The Final Word: A New Golden Era

Looking back, we are in the midst of a second “Golden Age” of Italian cinema. But this time, it isn’t only the art; it is a high-concept marriage of ancient beauty and futuristic technology. Italy has figured out the secret sauce: to give the studios the money they need, to give stars the life they want and to give directors tools with which they can literally build anything.

So long as that 40% credit sticks and the sun keeps hitting the Colosseum just right, the world’s biggest stars aren’t going anywhere. So the next time you see an exquisite Roman vista in a trailer, just assume there’s a strong likelihood that the lead actor is actually in the middle of enjoying a cacio e pepe around the corner from where it was filmed. Honestly, can you blame them?