BFI London Film Festival

The BFI London Film Festival is an annual international film festival organised in collaboration with the British Film Institute. In 2026 the festival will mark its 70th edition: screenings will take place from 7 to 18 October in London, with selected programmes also shown in cinemas in other UK cities and online. In this article we’ll provide an overview of the upcoming screenings and offer useful information for visitors.

About the festival

The festival was established in 1957 and is traditionally held in October. The idea of holding the festival in London arose following a discussion about the lack of such an event at a dinner party hosted by film critic Dilys Powell. James Quinn organised the first festival. Over the decades, its programme has expanded considerably.

The BFI London Film Festival runs for 12 days and brings together screenings of new films, premiere events, meetings with filmmakers, special programmes and events for audiences.

Premieres take centre stage in the programme. The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall hosts the festival’s gala screenings, whilst BFI Southbank hosts the competition programme, Screen Talks and free LFF events. Individual screenings take place at Curzon Soho, the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), the Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End.

There are several ways to explore the festival’s competition programme: choose individual screenings, put together a schedule for several days, or attend free events. The 2026 programme features lectures and discussions, panel discussions, family events and DJ parties. Screen Talks offer the chance to listen to in-depth conversations with renowned figures from the world of contemporary cinema.

Festival Programme

In 2026 audiences will be treated to 251 works from 88 countries. The 12-day programme includes feature-length and short films, TV series and immersive projects. Among them are 33 world premieres.

Films and other projects are organised into thematic sections, making it easier for audiences to navigate the extensive programme. The programme features competition entries, special presentations, documentaries and TV series.

The LFF Awards take centre stage. The competition programmes focus on new films and contemporary cinematic language. As well as a professional jury, members of the public can also take part in selecting the winners.

The highlight of the first day is the Opening Night Gala, featuring the film "Elsinore" directed by Simon Stone. The screening will take place on 7 October at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, and the organisers expect the actors who starred in the film to be in attendance.

On 12 October, as part of the Mayor of London’s Gala, there will be a screening of "Ink", directed by Danny Boyle. The film explores the events surrounding Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of "The Sun" in 1969 and the appointment of Larry Lamb as the newspaper’s editor. The screening will take place at the Royal Festival Hall at 9:00 pm.

The festival will conclude with "The Debut" – a new comedy-drama starring Jesse Eisenberg. Its UK premiere is scheduled for the evening of 18 October at the Royal Festival Hall.

As well as film screenings, visitors will be able to attend Screen Talks – free events, discussions and programmes focusing on immersive storytelling and game design. For those unable to travel to London, some of the festival’s content will be available via the BFI Player.

Information for visitors

The festival opens on 7 October. It closes on 18 October.

The festival is not limited to London. In 2026, special screenings and events will also take place at ten cinemas across the UK:

• Broadway Cinema, Nottingham;
• Chapter, Cardiff;
• Glasgow Film Theatre;
• Filmhouse, Edinburgh;
• HOME, Manchester;
• Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham;
• Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast;
• Showroom Cinema, Sheffield;
• Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne;
• Watershed, Bristol.

Tickets

Tickets for the festival went on general sale on 17 September 2026 at 10.00.

The organisers are offering tickets at £6.00 for attendees aged 16 – 25. The festival’s website also states that standard tickets start at £10.00.

If the performance you want is sold out, it’s still worth checking the official website from time to time. The organisers may release additional tickets. In 2026, a further batch of tickets is scheduled to go on sale on 1 October at 10:00.

Tips for visitors

• If you’d like to watch several films in a single day, it’s worth checking the distance between venues in advance and allowing plenty of time between screenings. This is particularly important for screenings at different cinemas.
• When choosing a ticket, please pay attention to the age rating, content warnings and screening format. The programme includes not only feature films, but also TV series, short films, VR, interactive and immersive projects. Some events require a separate ticket.
• For visitors with reduced mobility, most festival venues are equipped with accessible entrances. The festival offers screenings with audio description, descriptive subtitles, BSL interpretation and Relaxed screenings. A free ticket is provided for a companion of a visitor with a confirmed need.

Contact

Book tickets by telephone 020 7928 3232:

• 10 am to 8:30 pm (from 9 September to 6 October);
• 10 am to 9:30 pm (during the festival).

To book tickets for people with disabilities, please call the dedicated helpline on 020 7960 2102 or email [email protected].

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