Free Things to do in South Bank
You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.
From navigating the huge programme of events and screenings, to what to expect at Gala Screenings, how to get tickets and where to catch free talks and film events - here's our ultimate guide to how to make the most of Britain's biggest film festival.
When and where is the London Film Festival 2026?
The 70th edition of the London Film Festival comes to South Bank from 7 to 18 October.
Film screenings and events are happening across the South Bank, including at BFI Southbank’s cinemas, at the BFI IMAX and at the Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre.
The festival also spreads out across the rest of London with screenings taking place at central London cinemas, including the Prince Charles, Curzon Soho and Vue West End.
How to book tickets for London Film Festival
Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Thursday 17 September. BFI Members get priority access to booking from 10am on Wednesday 9 September. Tickets can booked online at bfi.org.uk/lff
If there is something in particular that you want to catch, make sure to plan and book as early as possible. The most highly anticipated features and talks tend to sell out very quickly. Fastest fingers first!
STANDBY TICKETS are available on the day. During the festival, check on the festival website at 10am each morning to view any standby availability or get to the box office 30 minutes before the start time to check for any last-minute tickets.
25 & UNDER TICKETS If you're aged 16 to 25, you can sign up for a 25 & Under account to get discounted tickets to films at the festival. Find out more and sign up for your 25 & Under account here.
Exploring the festival programme
The festival programme is huge with 250+ films, short films and TV series all to enjoy during the 11-day festival.
Broadly speaking the festival programme is divided into: Red Carpet Gala Screenings, Special Presentations, Thematic Strands, and LFF Awards contenders, complemented by an exciting programme of Screen Talks and other events such as DJ nights, exhibitions, debates and more.
Red Carpet Gala screenings
Always a major highlight of the festival, the Red Carpet Gala Screenings see the world’s biggest stars coming to South Bank to enjoy the premieres of their new films. Gala Screenings aren’t just for the celebs – tickets are open to all, and the dress code is as fancy as you want it to be!
Gala Screenings take place at Southbank Centre’s 2,000-seater Royal Festival Hall, screened on an immense 18-metre screen with full high-spec 7.1 channel surround sound installed especially for the occasion.
Thematic Strands
To help contextualise the hundreds of new films from across the world showing as part of the festival, the main part of the festival programme is divided into thematic stands. These thematically listed strands have been curated to encourage wider discovery of the broad range of films featured and to help open out the festival to new audiences.
In addition to feature films, these strands include short films, documentary films and new TV series. In the mix are plenty of premieres, as well as the chance to revisit classic films with newly remastered versions screening.
For many regular festivalgoers, the film strands are where many of the hidden gems that you may be unlikely to see anywhere else lie waiting to be discovered!
This year’s strands are themed:
LOVE... in all its glory
DEBATE, films that spark conversations
LAUGH, from riotous romcoms to skewering satires
DARE, boundary-films from across the world
THRILL, from the wildest ride to the slowest burn
CULT, from the mind-altering and unclassifiable to fantasy, sci-fi and horror
JOURNEY, eclectic stories to shift our perspectives
CREATE, films exploring the electricity of the creative process
EXPERIMENTA, artists and the moving image, including short films and feature-length films
FAMILY, films for young and the young at heart suitable for younger audiences
SHORTS Short film screenings typically showcase 6-8 new works each
Support new talent with First Features
The Sutherland Award recognises the most original and imaginative directorial debuts from around the world. There are eleven films selected to screen in the First Feature competition. If you are interested in discovering new indie film talent, this is the place to look!
Screen talks with leading filmmakers
The London Film Festival’s Screen Talks programme is a highly-anticipated opportunity to hear in-depth interviews from some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
This year’s lineup is a stunner with a wealth of major stars sharing their take on contemporary cinema at South Bank’s biggest venues. Get those bookings in quick smart, these events are set to be some of the hottest tickets in town! Highlights include:
Thu 8 Oct at 1pm ANDREW SCOTT at BFI NFT1
Thu 8 Oct at 2:30PM SOFIA COPPOLA at Southbank Centre
Sun 11 Oct at 12:50pm JOHN MALKOVICH at BFI NFT1
Mon 12 Oct at 1:30am AVA DUVERNAY at BFI NFT1
Mon 12 Oct at 3:45pm CYNTHIA ERIVO at BFI NFT1
Sun 18 Oct at 1:30pm JESSE EISENBERG BFI NFT1
LFF for Free
Throughout the festival there is a busy programme of free events happening at the BFI Southbank’s Festival Cafe, including talks, short film screenings, DJ nights, fun family workshops, gaming and much more.
Note that as space is limited at venues, prior booking online is usually required for free talks, although tickets do not guarantee entry if you are late! Arrive early to avoid disappointment, and if you don't have tickets join the queue for last-minute standbys on the day.
Highlights of the LFF for Free programme to look out for include:
LFF FOR FREE TALKS & WORKSHOPS
Look out for a fascinating line-up of film talks exploring topics such as activism on screen, the depiction of female vampires, the audience obsession with true crime, modern masculinity and its translation into cinema, how internet culture is influencing filmmaking and the beauty of 'Slow Cinema'. Explore the free talks programme here.
FILM IN PRINT (10 & 11 Oct)
Returning to LFF for Free for its third year, in its home at the BFI Reuben Library, Film in Print is a celebration of writing about film – from the ever-thriving world of magazines to the rise of new authors whose books are filling shelves around the country. Look out for author Q&As, signings and panel discussions celebrating the art of writing about film. Explore the Film in Print programme here.
More useful LFF tips
Be on time!
Unlike in regular film screenings, during the festival all films start straight away at the advertised time! No waiting around for trailer after trailer, it’s straight to the action. Make sure you arrive early – i.e before the listed start time, to ensure you are seated and ready for the film to start. You may be turned away from admission if you arrive late.
Look out for smaller films
While it can be tempting to focus your attention on the biggest names, large festivals like this one present a unique opportunity to watch on the big screen interesting independent films that are unlikely to have mainstream cinema distribution, or which may even go straight to streaming sites after debuting at major festivals.
Focus on one location
The bulk of film screenings take place at South Bank's cinemas and at cinemas in Mayfair and Soho. If you want to fit in a few screenings in one day, it's best to plan your screenings to all be at venues in one neighbourhood. South Bank has tons of great place to grab a bite to eat between screenings, or for a casual coffee between films find a seat at one of the BFI's bars or head next door to the impressive lobby cafe-bars at the National Theatre.
Grab a copy of the festival programme
You can pick up paper copies of the glossy 120-page film festival programme at the BFI Southbank. While the festival website is in-depth and extensive, it's easy to bookmark favourites and mark down tips from other festivalgoers in the programme
Eating out before or after the film
You are spoiled for choice when it comes for venues to grab a meal before or after the film, and great pubs and bars for when you want to stick around and discuss the movies with your friends over a drink or two. Explore our Where to Eat & Drink pages here for inspiration.
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