The 2026 Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) returns this August with one of its most exciting programmes in years, peppered with stars from Ewan McGregor to Kenneth Branagh, as the 79th edition prepares to take its place among all the other festivals in the capital from 13 to 19 August 2026.
Under the leadership of CEO and Festival Director, Paul Ridd, and Festival Producer, Emma Boa, this year’s festival promises to cement its reputation as the home of independent cinema in the UK, with a programme ranging work from countries including Scotland, Ireland, the US, Japan, Lithuania and France.
New venue partner, Cineworld Fountainbridge, joins returning favourites Filmhouse, Cameo Cinema, and Monkey Barrel Comedy, while Leith Theatre makes its debut as a film festival venue.
The Festival Hub will once again be at Central hall where industry talks, networking events and the popular In Conversation series will be held. The venue also offers a space for informal meetings and working during the EIFF
The festival opens with Louis Paxton’s debut feature The Incomer and closes with the world premiere of Louise Lockwood’s documentary Bel.
Headlining the Special Retrospective Screenings there is to be a landmark 30th anniversary celebration of Trainspotting at Leith Theatre on 14 August, featuring a live cast and crew commentary followed by a club night with author Irvine Welsh acting as DJ along with Darren Emerson.
Kenneth Branagh will receive the inaugural EIFF Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award, with the Belfast-born actor and director also taking part in a wide-ranging career conversation. He is joined in the In Conversation strand by Bruce Dern, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, producer Christine Vachon and Golden Globe-winner, Ewan McGregor.
The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence returns with ten world premiere features all competing for a £50,000 prize, decided by audience vote. Highlights include Paul Wright’s psychological portrait Mission starring George MacKay, Michael Sheen in the UFO comedy Out There, and Kieron J. Walsh’s Skintown, set in 1990s Northern Ireland.
Last year’s winner Abdolreza Kahani’s Mortician was shot on iPhone and declared a worthy winner when Jason Connery presented the prize at the Cameo during the 2025 EIFF.
Other retrospective screenings include a 4K restoration of the delightful Little Miss Sunshine marking its 20th anniversary, a special screening of Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast celebrating 25 years since its UK release, and a 30th anniversary screening of Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet.
There will also be a a special screening of Hal Ashby’s complex and deeply humane portrait of the impacts of war, Coming Home, starring Bruce Dern, Jane Fonda and Jon Voight. The screening will be introduced by Bruce Dern.
EIFF also presents a 30th anniversary screening of Michael Bay’s action-packed film The Rock introduced by Jason Connery and a 25th anniversary screening of Takeshi Miike’s darkly subversive masterpiece of extreme cinema Visitor Q. Alongside this, the Festival presents Martin Scorsese’s sprawling and endlessly fascinating 1995 documentary A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies produced with the BFI, screened in its entirety with a special introduction from producer Bob Last.
The Midnight Madness strand delivers its usual ferocious genre thrills with the opening film Bad Day at the Office, while the Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence offers £15,000 to the best short from an international field.
Tickets for the films and events are on sale from 10am on 2 July at edfilmfest.org.uk.
Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Director of EIFF said “Heading into the third edition of our revamped, reimagined and reinvigorated Edinburgh International Film Festival feels like hitting a stride we have been working towards since the start of 2024. With stellar Competitions, fantastically varied and essential new films from Scotland, from the wider UK and from the rest of the world, and more World Premieres than we have ever screened before, this year’s line-up offers a panoramic vision of cinema at its most exciting, dynamic and full of potential. Edinburgh is quite simply the only place to be in August. Bring it on.”
Isabel Davis, Executive Director at Screen Scotland said: “EIFF 2026’s programme is replete with Scottish talent, from the opening and closing titles to the 30th anniversary of Trainspotting. The Festival’s role as the home of independent cinema in the UK is coming into its own: strengthening its international premiere platform and bringing together filmmakers and the screen community for the urgent conversations affecting our industry.”
Cllr Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener on The City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re proud to continue our support of the world’s longest-running film festival, celebrating bold storytelling, fresh ideas and the future of cinema. This year promises another exceptional programme, with a diverse line-up of films, special anniversary screenings and conversations with industry icons. There truly is something for everyone.
“Edinburgh’s festivals are one of the things that make our city so special, and the EIFF’s impact extends beyond the red carpet. Bringing together residents and visitors alike, this year’s festival is set to be an unforgettable celebration of world-class cinema.”
Ben Luxford, Director of UK-Wide Audiences at BFI, said: “We’re pleased to support Edinburgh International Film Festival to present a packed programme of premieres across the city this August. Audiences can expect an expansive programme of new and retrospective works as well special events.”
Rob Dickson, Director of Industry & Events at VisitScotland, said: “VisitScotland is thrilled to be supporting the Edinburgh International Film Festival, an important part of Edinburgh’s world-renowned August festival season, which will put Scotland on the global stage again this summer.
“With such a remarkable programme of premieres, screenings and workshops at venues across the city, this hugely popular festival will engage audiences and visitors from far and wide – all inspiring potential future visits.
“Events and festivals play an important role in supporting Scotland’s visitor economy, helping to create a strong sense of place, bringing people together and delivering social, cultural and economic benefits, while showcasing Scotland to new global audiences and inspiring potential future visits—particularly as around one in five visitors choose Scotland as a destination because of film or TV productions.”
Festival listings are now live on the EIFF website. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 2 July online at edfilmfest.org and also on the official EdFringe app.
Ticket details and full programme listings can be found on the EIFF website.
EIFF 2026 is supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, the Industry Programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, and VisitScotland.
Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from 13 to 19 August 2026.
