Adelaide Film Festival 2026

Adelaide Film Festival 2026 is a major celebration of Australian and international screen culture, bringing filmmakers, artists, industry professionals and audiences together across Adelaide, South Australia. The 2026 festival will run from 14 October to 25 October 2026, presenting a diverse program of feature films, documentaries, shorts, moving image works, talks, special events, premieres and celebrations. The official festival describes AFF as South Australia's premier screen event and highlights its focus on contemporary Australian and international cinema.

Films and International Cinema

The 2026 program features 122 films from 52 countries, including 27 Australian premieres and 10 world premieres. The program brings together established filmmakers and emerging voices, providing audiences with opportunities to discover stories and filmmaking styles from Australia and around the world.

The festival opens with Wild Horse Nine, directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Martin McDonagh. The film is scheduled as the Opening Night Gala at the Capri Theatre on 14 October. Other programmed films include award winning international titles, Australian independent productions, documentaries, animation and experimental works.

Australian Stories and New Filmmakers

A significant part of Adelaide Film Festival is its support for Australian and South Australian screen culture. The 2026 program includes Australian independent films and productions connected with the local screen community. The festival also continues its investment and development work through initiatives supporting emerging filmmakers.

The Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund has historically supported Australian filmmaking projects, while Film Lab New Voices is an initiative developed by Adelaide Film Festival, South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Australia. These programs help provide opportunities for emerging creative talent and contribute to the development of Australia's screen industry.

Festival Venues

Unlike a single venue event, Adelaide Film Festival 2026 takes place across multiple cinemas and cultural venues in Adelaide. The published schedule includes Palace Nova Eastend, Capri Theatre, The Piccadilly, The Regal Theatre, The Mercury and Odeon Star Semaphore, among other locations.

Palace Nova Eastend is one of the principal festival venues, with numerous screenings scheduled throughout the festival. Audiences can select individual films and sessions according to the published program.

Screenings and Special Events

Beyond regular cinema screenings, AFF 2026 includes gala events, filmmaker appearances, conversations, special presentations, moving image exhibitions and other experiences connected with cinema. The official festival information describes AFF as a two week event combining film premieres with red carpet events, talks, parties and moving image exhibitions.

The program also includes competitions celebrating distinctive filmmaking. The AFF Competition has been established as an important component of the festival and provides a platform for visionary filmmakers and distinctive contemporary stories.

A Festival for Audiences

Adelaide Film Festival welcomes general audiences as well as industry guests. Its programming covers different genres and styles, allowing visitors to explore dramas, documentaries, animation, experimental cinema, comedy, romance, horror and other forms of screen storytelling. The festival also includes programs designed for younger audiences through AFF Youth.

Adelaide as the Festival Setting

The festival takes place throughout Adelaide and contributes to the city's cultural calendar during October. Visitors can combine film screenings with Adelaide's restaurants, cultural attractions, entertainment precincts and surrounding destinations. Because screenings are distributed across different venues, attendees should check the official schedule for the exact cinema and session associated with each film.

Dates and Attendance

Adelaide Film Festival 2026 runs from Wednesday 14 October through Sunday 25 October 2026. The official schedule lists sessions throughout the festival period, beginning with the Opening Night Gala and continuing through the Closing Night programming.

The festival's official information states that the 2026 program is on sale and encourages audiences to explore the program and select individual sessions. Exact screening times vary by film and venue.

Why Visit Adelaide Film Festival

For film audiences, AFF 2026 provides an opportunity to experience contemporary Australian cinema alongside international filmmaking in a festival environment. Its combination of premieres, competitions, independent films, documentaries, filmmaker events and special presentations creates a broad program for both dedicated cinema audiences and people discovering the festival for the first time.

With screenings across Adelaide from 14 to 25 October, Adelaide Film Festival 2026 offers a citywide celebration of cinema, storytelling and screen culture.