Sydney Film Festival 2026 Dates Announced As The 73rd Festival Returns This June

The 73rd Sydney Film Festival (SFF) is officially locked in for 2026, returning to Sydney from Wednesday 3 June to Sunday 14 June for 12 days and nights of world premieres, red carpets and big-screen moments across the city.

Following a record-breaking box office year in 2025, the Festival is gearing up to once again transform Sydney into a global cinema capital—bringing filmmakers and audiences together for one of the country’s most anticipated cultural events.

Festival Director Nashen Moodley says the 2026 program will continue SFF’s commitment to bold storytelling and urgent, distinctive voices—films that feel made for the cinema experience.

Beyond screenings, the program will include filmmaker Q&As, industry talks, public forums, themed parties and special events that spill out across Greater Sydney.

The first titles for the 2026 Festival will be announced in April, with the full program unveiled on 6 May 2026.

When Is The Sydney Film Festival 2026?

The 73rd Sydney Film Festival runs from Wednesday 3 June to Sunday 14 June 2026.

Across nearly two weeks, audiences can catch premieres, Australian exclusives and headline gala screenings at venues throughout the city.

What Is The Sydney Film Festival?

Founded in 1954, the Sydney Film Festival is one of Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious film events.

Each year, SFF curates a program of international and local cinema—spotlighting emerging filmmakers, established auteurs and groundbreaking documentaries. It’s known for championing films with strong creative vision and cultural relevance, and for hosting red carpet premieres that draw global talent to Sydney.

What To See At The Sydney Film Festival

While the 2026 program is yet to be revealed, audiences can expect:

• World premieres and Australian exclusives
• International festival standouts
• In-competition feature films
• Documentary spotlights
• Retrospectives and special screenings
• Filmmaker Q&As and industry events

The first wave of films will drop in April 2026, with the full lineup announced on 6 May.

Sydney Film Festival 2026 Venues

Screenings and events will take place across Greater Sydney, including:

• State Theatre
• Sydney Opera House
• Event Cinemas George Street
• State Library of NSW
• Dendy Cinemas Newtown
• The Ritz Randwick
• Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne
• Palace Cinemas Central and Norton Street
• Art Gallery of NSW
• Sydney Town Hall
• Martin Place (SFFTV)

For 12 winter nights, Sydney’s most iconic venues will double as cinema hubs—turning the city into a meeting point for film lovers, creatives and industry insiders alike.

If 2025 was anything to go by, tickets for major premieres and gala screenings are likely to move quickly once the program drops—so consider this your early reminder to mark the calendar.

Image credit: Sydney Film Festival | Supplied