The BFI London Film Festival has announced its full 2026 programme, marking its 70th edition with 251 titles drawn from 88 countries. The festival runs October 7 to 18.
Tony Gilroy's Behemoth!, a film about a composer starring Pedro Pascal, Olivia Wilde, and Will Arnett, takes the Patron's Gala slot. Danny Boyle's Ink, which opened the Venice Film Festival last week, screens as the Mayor's Gala. Ava DuVernay's documentary 14th, about the ongoing erosion of the 14th Amendment's original protections, screens in Special Presentations.
The festival opens with Simon Stone's Elsinore, starring Andrew Scott, in its European premiere. Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut closes the programme with its UK premiere. The lineup contains 33 world premieres, nine of which are features.
Forty-three percent of works in the programme come from female filmmakers. Artistic Director Kristy Matheson described the selection in the announcement: "What a vision they have for us in 2026; tumults of the era live inside our programme."
Tickets go on sale September 17. The reveal positions London as the next major stop on the autumn awards circuit.