The BFI London Film Festival reaches its 70th edition from 7 to 18 October 2026. The announced programme comprises 251 titles — features, shorts, series and immersive work — from 88 countries. Galas are at the Royal Festival Hall; the competition and Screen Talks at BFI Southbank. A selection also goes to ten partner venues across the United Kingdom.

Opening night, 7 October, is the European premiere of Elsinore, directed by Simon Stone, about the actor Ian Charleson. BFI does not label it a world premiere. Closing night, 18 October, is the UK premiere of The Debut, by Jesse Eisenberg. Guest attendance is mentioned only if it remains in the updated programme.

General-public tickets went on sale on 17 September; an extra release is announced for 1 October at 10:00. Availability changes. Each title has its own page: cinema, time, classification, accessibility, stock.

Audiences should check the real start time, not only a running time. “Scheduled to attend” is not “attended”. This account does not reproduce copyrighted film stills.

The source is BFI’s 70th-edition programme announcement and the opening and closing pages. Studiocanal lists Elsinore for UK cinemas on 29 January 2027; Lionsgate lists The Debut on 15 January 2027. Those are release dates, not festival dates.

7–18 October, 70 years, Elsinore and The Debut. No invented list of stars in the hall.

Image: Ewan Munro, BFI Southbank, 21 August 2025, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. Not the 2026 opening gala.

Source consulted: Full programme announced for 70th BFI London Film Festival.