BFI London Film Festival 2026: 70-Year Celebration with 251 Titles Opens 7 October
The 70th BFI London Film Festival runs 7–18 October with 251 films from 88 countries, opening with Elsinore and closing with The Debut. Tickets on general sale from 17 September; £6 tickets available for ages 16–25.
The prestigious BFI London Film Festival returns this autumn with its largest programme in years. Running from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 18 October 2026, the 70th edition will showcase 251 titles—features, shorts, series, and immersive works—from 88 countries across London cinemas and partner venues throughout the UK.
Opening and Closing
The opening gala features Elsinore, a biographical drama about Scottish actor Ian Charleson preparing for Hamlet at the National Theatre in 1989 while dying of AIDS, and the festival closes with Jesse Eisenberg's comedy-drama The Debut, starring Julianne Moore.
Ticketing and Access
Tickets go on general sale from 17 September, with BFI Members booking early. Viewers aged 16–25 can purchase festival tickets for just £6 with a 25 and Under account. The festival's sixth year of LFF Expanded programming features immersive art, extended reality, and video gaming works exploring powerful new ways of storytelling on screen.
As an international visitor or newly settled resident in London or the wider UK, this is a world-class opportunity to experience cutting-edge cinema alongside audiences from around the world. Non-UK passport holders may book online using any valid ID. The festival's mix of world premieres, restored classics, and experimental works means there's something for every taste—and many international films carry English subtitles.
Sources
Independent app, not a government. General information, not advice. The official source:
