BFI London Film Festival 2027: Dates (Oct 6 to 17) and Fares

When is BFI London Film Festival 2027?

BFI London Film Festival 2027 is expected to run October 6 to 17, 2027. The dates follow the usual pattern and are not announced yet.

2027October 6 to 17, 2027Expected

How the dates are set: The festival runs for two weeks every October, and the British Film Institute announces the exact dates each year.

See every event in October 2027

BFI London Film Festival schedule

Wednesday, October 7 to Sunday, October 18, 2026: The 70th BFI London Film Festival ran in London and around the UK.
2009: The festival was focused around Leicester Square (Vue West End, Odeon West End and Empire) and BFI Southbank, and also screened films across 18 other venues.

Sources: bfi.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org

Tickets and cost

For the 70th edition in 2026, tickets went on general sale from 17 September.

Source: bfi.org.uk

History of BFI London Film Festival

The first London Film Festival took place at the new National Film Theatre (now BFI Southbank) from 16 to 26 October 1957. It screened 15 to 20 films that were already successful at other festivals, and opened with Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood. By 1984 the festival had expanded to several venues beyond the National Film Theatre and sold 57,000 tickets.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

BFI London Film Festival: questions people ask

When is the BFI London Film Festival 2026?

The 70th BFI London Film Festival takes place from Wednesday 7 October to Sunday 18 October 2026.

How long does the London Film Festival run?

The festival runs for two weeks every October.

When did the London Film Festival start?

It started in 1957, with the first festival held from 16 to 26 October 1957 at the National Film Theatre, now BFI Southbank.

When do London Film Festival tickets go on sale?

For the 2026 festival, tickets went on general sale from 17 September.

Is the BFI London Film Festival only in London?

No. The 70th edition in 2026 took place in London and around the UK.

Sources: bfi.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org, bfi.org.uk

About BFI London Film Festival

Two weeks of new films, premieres and screenings across London every October, run with the British Film Institute.

The BFI London Film Festival runs for two weeks every October and shows new films, series and immersive storytelling in London and around the UK. It was founded in 1957. In 2009 the program centered on Leicester Square and BFI Southbank, with screenings in many other venues across the city. The practical catch is that popular screenings sell through, so tickets are worth checking early.

Know before you go

Screenings are spread across several venues, so check the venue for each film.
In 2026 the festival also ran events around the UK, not only in London.
Heathrow (LHR) is the main airport for London, with Gatwick (LGW) and London City (LCY) as other options for central London.

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