BFI London Film Festival 2026 lineup unveiled with nine premieres
The BFI London Film Festival has unveiled its full 2026 lineup for the 70th edition, running October 7–18 with 251 titles from 88 countries. Nine feature world premieres headline the slate, including Brad Bird's Netflix animation Ray Gunn and Travis Knight's Laika fantasy Wildwood, alongside star-packed Screen Talks with Andrew Scott and Cynthia Erivo.
Key Takeaways
- The 70th BFI London Film Festival runs October 7–18, 2026, with 251 titles from 88 countries and 169 feature films.
- Nine feature world premieres include Brad Bird's Ray Gunn (Netflix, December), Travis Knight's Wildwood, and Anthony Wonke's boxing biopic In the Shadows.
- Andrew Scott opens with Elsinore; Jesse Eisenberg closes with The Debut, while Screen Talks feature Cynthia Erivo, Danny Boyle, and Sofia Coppola.
- Twenty-three Gala screenings include Danny Boyle's Ink, Tony Gilroy's Behemoth!, and Cristian Mungiu's Palme d'Or winner Fjord.
What Is in the BFI London Film Festival 2026 Lineup?
Organizers announced the complete program on September 2, 2026, bringing the festival to 251 titles spanning features, shorts, series, and immersive works. All features and series screen to UK audiences for the first time, with 43% of works from female filmmakers and 33 world premieres across the program.
Newly announced Galas include Danny Boyle's Venice opener Ink, starring Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch; Tony Gilroy's Behemoth! with Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde; Susanna White's Prima Facie starring Cynthia Erivo; and Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine. Cannes favorites Fjord, Club Kid, Fatherland, and Minotaur also receive gala treatment at the Royal Festival Hall.
Which Films Are Getting World Premieres?
Brad Bird's animated sci-fi mystery Ray Gunn stars Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson and will stream on Netflix from December after its London debut. Travis Knight directs Wildwood, Laika's stop-motion fantasy featuring Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, and Mahershala Ali.
Anthony Wonke's In the Shadows stars Jasmine Jobson as Ramla Ali, the UK's first female Muslim boxing champion. Sean Mathias' Frank And Percy brings Ian McKellen and Roger Allam from the West End to screen. Further premieres include Federico Borgia's Prince, Mohsen Amiryousefi's The Banning Curse, and Michael Winterbottom's series The Trip to the Northern Lights with Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan. For more premiere and streaming dates, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Which Stars Are Headlining the Screen Talks?
The Screen Talks series brings Andrew Scott, Cynthia Erivo, Jesse Eisenberg, Mahershala Ali, John Malkovich, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, Brad Bird, James Gray, Naomi Ackie, and Danny Boyle to BFI Southbank for in-depth career conversations.
Scott will likely discuss Elsinore, about Ian Charleson's final weeks playing Hamlet at London's National Theatre. Eisenberg is expected to reflect on The Debut, his closing-night feature with Julianne Moore. In a festival first, Boyle's Screen Talk takes place at Home Manchester as part of regional screenings at 10 venues outside London.
When Does the 70th London Film Festival Run?
The BFI London Film Festival 2026 runs October 7–18 across London, with Simon Stone's Elsinore opening and Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut closing. Artistic director Kristy Matheson said the program captures "tumults of the era" alongside "cinematic thrills, moral conundrums and a recurring exploration of care and community."
BFI chief executive Ben Roberts noted that blockbusters, indie breakouts, and debuts have drawn record cinema audiences in 2026. The full program details are available via Screen Daily, with the LFF Expanded industry day set for October 15.