251 titles, 33 world premieres and £6 tickets for under-26s. How to still get a seat this week.
The 70th BFI London Film Festival runs until Sunday 18 October. It is one of the biggest film festivals in Europe, and you do not need industry passes: most screenings are open to anyone with a ticket.
The numbers
This year’s programme has 251 titles, including features, shorts, series and immersive work, with 33 world premieres. It opened on 7 October with Simon Stone’s Elsinore and closes on 18 October with Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut.
Where the films are shown
The main base is BFI Southbank, with gala screenings at the Royal Festival Hall and in West End cinemas. Some films also screen at around ten venues elsewhere in the UK.
Cheaper tickets if you are under 26
The BFI’s 25 and Under scheme gets you festival tickets for £6. You need to sign up with the BFI first, and it is worth doing even if you only plan to see one film.
How to get a seat now
- Look at the full programme on the BFI site and filter by date. Weekday daytime screenings sell out less often.
- Sold out does not always mean gone. Tickets get returned, so check again on the day.
- If you cannot get into a premiere, many festival films come back to BFI Southbank or get a cinema release in the following months.
Sources
Last checked: 9 October 2026. Dates, prices and times can change, so check with the organiser before you travel. Photo: Raph_PH (2025) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
