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BFI London Film Festival 2026: dates, films, venues and tickets
The London Film Festival runs until 18 October. Compare the final screenings, corrected start times and access provision before choosing a cinema and buying a ticket.
The 70th edition
The festival takes place from Wednesday 7 October to Sunday 18 October 2026.
BFI has announced 251 titles from 88 countries, including features, shorts, series and immersive work, with 33 world premieres across the programme.
On this page
Opening and closing films
Simon Stone’s Elsinore is the opening-night film.
Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut closes the festival. Gala screenings can be among the fastest to fill, so treat the official film page—not a social post—as the source for venue, time, guest and ticket details.
Completed late additions: 15–16 October
The listed Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall screening at Vue West End EPIC 2 on 15 October at 21:00 has passed.
Artificial’s corrected 15 October at 14:50 showing at Vue EPIC 1 and 16 October at 11:30 showing at Royal Festival Hall have also passed. These were film screenings, not live concerts or promised guest appearances.
Their details remain here as an archive, not as current booking suggestions.
Completed screenings
Artificial at Royal Festival Hall on 11 October at 21:00 and Elsinore on 9 October at 15:00 have passed.
The opening-day and Making Marie Antoinette access screenings on 7 and 8 October have also passed.
Read the changes before leaving
Programme correction checked 14 October 2026: BFI explicitly moves Rebellion at ICA on 14 October to 21:00; its film page and older access list still show 20:50.
Confirm the booking selector before travelling. For The Slightest Touch at Vue West End EPIC 2 on 15 October at 16:00, BFI’s correction and individual film page list descriptive subtitles only: audio description has been withdrawn.
The older consolidated access list still advertises it. The linked programme-changes page retains a 6 October update heading.
Times are London local time; seat inventory is not verified. Other corrected starts: Easter at the ICA on 14 October is 18:50; Mouse at Prince Charles Cinema on 16 October is 14:45.
Campaigns for Justice is on 15 October at 19:30 in BFI Reuben Library, not 17 October. For 18 October, Fatherland is 13:20 and Koschka 15:30 in NFT2.
Confirm each selected showing on its direct booking page.
Choose beyond the headlines
The programme spans competitive sections, thematic strands and work from established and emerging filmmakers.
Begin with two priorities: a genre, country, filmmaker or strand you already value, and one discovery outside it. This produces a better festival than chasing only red-carpet attention.
London venues and UK reach
Flagship activity centres on BFI Southbank and the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, with screenings at central London cinemas.
The programme also reaches ten partner venues around the UK. Confirm the city and exact screen before booking two films close together.
Tickets now: compare the screening, not just the film
Booking is open.
Standard London cinema screenings cost £13 for weekday matinees before 17:00, or £18 for evenings and weekend matinees before noon. Family-strand tickets are £10 adult / £6 child; relaxed screenings cost £6.
Gala prices differ. Check your selected performance and log in to see current availability.
Last-minute seats and free events
During the festival, check BFI online after 10:00 for released seats.
For Southbank screenings, join the standby queue 30 minutes before; other London venues advise 15 minutes. Seats are not guaranteed.
LFF for Free allows two tickets per person, with first-come entry even when booked.
The £6 route for ages 16–25
Create a free BFI 25 and Under account and sign in.
Available London screenings and Screen Talks can be booked for £6, subject to availability, one ticket per person and the event’s age restriction. The discount cannot be added retrospectively.
Choose access provision before booking
Use BFI’s access listings for audio description, descriptive subtitles, relaxed screenings and interpreted events.
Check the actual screening, not just the film title. Contact the dedicated access team for seating and companion tickets; arrangements vary by venue.
Keep the day in one part of London
Pair Southbank screenings with a riverside break rather than a rushed Soho transfer.
For a West End cinema, choose a nearby meal and confirm the exact screen. Leave room for introductions and Q&As; film runtime alone may not cover the whole visit.
Questions, answered
When does the festival finish?
The 2026 BFI London Film Festival runs from 7 to 18 October. Pick a specific screening rather than treating the festival dates as a booking.
Where are the latest corrections?
BFI’s Programme additions and changes page records revised times, cancellations and access changes. Recheck the direct film or event page as well.
What time are Easter and Rebellion on 14 October?
The corrected ICA start times are 18:50 for Easter and 21:00 for Rebellion.
Does The Slightest Touch still have audio description on 15 October?
BFI says audio description is no longer available for the 16:00 Vue EPIC 2 showing. Descriptive subtitles remain listed.
Has the listed Being Heumann screening passed?
Yes. The listed Friday 16 October screening at 14:50 in Vue West End EPIC 1 has passed. This retained detail does not establish another screening or current seats; consult BFI’s live programme for any further dates.
