The 70th BFI London Film Festival has unveiled its 2026 programme, with the latest season of Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan’s comedy travel series The Trip to the Northern Lights among the line-up.
Also getting their world premieres at the festival will be Anthony Wonke’s boxing biopic In the Shadows, which stars Jasmine Jobson as trailblazing British-Somali boxer Ramla Ali, and Travis Knight’s Laika-made fantasy adventure film Wildwood, which follows a young girl’s quest to rescue her kidnapped brother.
In addition, Brad Bird's first original animated movie since 2007's Ratatouille, titled Ray Gunn, starring Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell, will also get its world premiere.
Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!, starring Pedro Pascal, will also make its international premiere, as will Boots Riley’s crime comedy film I Love Boosters.
Alongside the glitzy world and international premieres, a number of exciting gala screenings at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall include Jordan Firstman’s directorial debut Club Kid, 2026 Palme d'Or champion Fjord and the film from this year's Cannes best director winner Paweł Pawlikowski, Fatherland.
A bounty of British filmmakers will also be represented at the festival, including Andrew Haigh’s adaptation of Colm Tóibín’s short story A Long Winter, Mike Leigh's likely final film Tender Loving Care, Danny Boyle's Rupert Murdoch drama Ink and Carol Morley's adaptation of her semi-autobiographical novel 7 Miles Out.
As was previously announced, Simon Stone’s biographical film Elsinore, starring Andrew Scott as the actor Ian Charleson, will open this year’s festival, while the UK premiere of Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut, led by Julianne Moore, will close the festival.
This year’s BFI LFF will include 251 titles, including 33 world premieres.
The full programme can be found on the BFI website.
There will also be Screen Talks with the likes of Scott, Ava DuVernay, Cynthia Erivo and Jesse Eisenberg.
Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, said: "When this Festival first sprung to life 70 years ago, little more than a decade after the end of the Second World War, British society was in a period of rapid social change. Then, like now, we turn to artists to synthesise our times."
She continued: "And what a vision they have for us in 2026; tumults of the era live inside our programme, but so too do cinematic thrills, moral conundrums and a reoccurring exploration of care and community. If you find yourself in London, or across the UK, this October, the opportunity to experience worlds outside ourselves will be on offer. We hope you can join us."
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Ben Roberts, chief executive, BFI, added: "This year, the blockbusters, the indie breakouts and the debuts have drawn audiences to cinemas in record numbers. A reminder that discovering a new film in a room of fellow fans is a thrill like nothing else.
"As our anticipation builds for LFF, we’re grateful to everyone who helps us fill screens across the UK: to our brilliant audiences, Members and Patrons; the visionary filmmakers and film teams who bring their work; our generous funders, sponsors and industry partners; and, of course, the excellent teams at the BFI."
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The 70th BFI London Film Festival takes place from Wednesday 7 October to Sunday 18 October 2026.
Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.