The 64th New York Film Festival, presented by Film at Lincoln Center in partnership with Rolex, is an 18-day celebration of the most significant international films of the year, running September 25–October 12, 2026. One of the longest-running and most prestigious film festivals in the United States, NYFF64 features a 34-film main slate with screenings at Lincoln Center and four additional venues across New York City's five boroughs.
Screenings daily; Opening Night Sept 25 at Alice Tully Hall; general public single tickets on sale from Sept 15 at noon ET
1 train to 66th St–Lincoln Center
The New York Film Festival is back for its 64th edition, and for 18 days this fall the city’s most serious movie conversation moves to the Upper West Side and out to all five boroughs. NYFF64 runs September 25 through October 12, 2026, presented by Film at Lincoln Center in partnership with Rolex. Expect a main slate of more than 30 films, red-carpet galas at Alice Tully Hall, 35mm projection, and director Q&As from Lincoln Center to BAM.
What is New York Film Festival?
NYFF started in 1963, which makes it one of the longest-running film festivals in the United States and easily one of the most prestigious. It has never been a market or a competition. There are no prizes, no juries, no bidding wars in hotel lobbies. A selection committee picks the films, and the festival simply presents what it considers the most significant international cinema of the season.
That curatorial approach is why the festival matters. A slot at NYFF is a stamp of taste rather than a trophy, and the lineup often becomes a shorthand for what the year in film actually looked like once the noise dies down. Since its inception the festival has played a pivotal role in shaping film culture in this city, and plenty of the filmmakers in this year’s program grew up sitting in those seats at Alice Tully Hall.
A typical year brings a Main Slate of 20 to 30 features alongside Currents (newer and more experimental work), Revivals (restorations and classics), Spotlight (bigger titles and galas), shorts, and Talks. NYFF64 follows that shape, with a few welcome twists.
What’s on this year
Opening Night, September 25, brings the North American premiere of James Gray’s crime thriller Paper Tiger, starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller, in a gala debut at Alice Tully Hall. Deadline reported the film premiered in competition at Cannes this year and that it marks Gray’s fourth film to screen at NYFF. Neon is distributing, with a theatrical release planned for November 13, 2026, so this is your chance to see it well ahead of the crowd.
The Centerpiece is Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!, which Variety reported is one of four world premieres anchoring the main slate. The Spotlight Gala, announced by Film at Lincoln Center on August 4, is Godzilla Minus Zero. Those three gala slots cover a lot of ground, which is very much the NYFF way.
Closing Night belongs to Ava DuVernay’s documentary 14th. Per Deadline, it is a direct follow-up to her acclaimed 2016 film 13th, which opened the festival that year. There is a nice symmetry to bookending a decade with the two films.
Hong Sangsoo is the only filmmaker with two titles in the main slate this year. Variety reported that his 34th and 35th features were both selected, which tells you something about both his pace and the committee’s affection for him.
The late addition everyone is talking about: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall joined the lineup on August 31, and Film at Lincoln Center will present it in 35mm. Celluloid is a theme this year. The Spotlight Shorts program is fully presented in 35mm at the Walter Reade Theater and includes three world premieres.
Beyond the galas and headline names, the broader Main Slate, Currents, Revivals, and Talks schedule is where the festival earns its reputation, so leave room in your calendar for titles you have never heard of. That is usually where the best discoveries live.
Tickets and how to go
Single tickets for the general public go on sale September 15 at noon ET. Grab what you want early. The Opening Night gala and the PTA title are the obvious sellouts, but main slate screenings with filmmaker Q&As tend to go quickly too.
Pricing by section:
- Main Slate and Spotlight: $30 for Members, $35 for the general public
- Currents, Revivals, and Talks: $17 for Members, $22 for the general public
- Opening Night at Alice Tully Hall: $95 for Members, $130 for the general public
- Centerpiece, Closing Night, and Spotlight Gala at Alice Tully Hall: $75 for Members, $90 for the general public
- Rush tickets: $15
- Opening Night Plus Pass: $650
Rush is the budget move. Fifteen dollars gets you into a sold-out show if seats free up, and they often do. Show up early, bring a book, and be prepared for a wait. Membership pays off fast if you plan to see more than a handful of films, since the discount is five dollars per ticket across the board and considerably more at the galas.
The main venues are Alice Tully Hall at 1941 Broadway (at the corner of Broadway and West 65th Street), the Walter Reade Theater at 165 West 65th Street, and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center at 144 West 65th Street, all clustered on the same block. Take the 1 train to 66th Street-Lincoln Center and you are basically at the door. The campus is small enough that hopping between venues on the same day is easy.
This year the festival also screens at four venues outside Manhattan: BAM in Brooklyn, Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on Staten Island, and AMC Bay Plaza Cinema in the Bronx. For Brooklyn readers, BAM is the obvious play, and the citywide screenings are frequently easier tickets than the Lincoln Center originals.
There is no dress code. Film at Lincoln Center says it awards bonus points for dressing to impress, and there will be public step-and-repeats at select venues if you want the photo. Otherwise, come as you are. Half the room will be in sneakers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New York Film Festival (NYFF)?
The New York Film Festival is an annual festival held in New York City and presented by Film at Lincoln Center. Founded in 1963, it is one of the longest-running and most prestigious film festivals in the United States, dedicated to the most significant international films of the season. It is noncompetitive, with every section curated by a selection committee, and typically features a Main Slate of 20 to 30 films alongside shorts, experimental work, and retrospectives.
Can anyone go to the New York Film Festival?
Yes. NYFF64 is open to the general public and tickets are available for every screening. Prices run from $17 for Members and $22 for the general public for Currents, Revivals, and Talks, up to $30 for Members and $35 for the general public for Main Slate and Spotlight screenings. Rush tickets are $15. Passes and single tickets are sold through Film at Lincoln Center’s tickets and passes page.
Is there a dress code for NYFF?
No. The official Film at Lincoln Center guide states there is no dress code, though it does promise bonus points for dressing to impress. Public step-and-repeats will be set up at select venues so you can capture the moment.
What is the film festival in New York?
The flagship is the New York Film Festival, now in its 64th edition. Presented by Film at Lincoln Center, it runs September 25 through October 12, 2026, with red-carpet premieres, contemporary features, documentaries, restored classics, and director Q&As across Lincoln Center and citywide venues.
Where is the film festival in 2026?
NYFF64 is centered at Film at Lincoln Center, meaning Alice Tully Hall at 1941 Broadway (corner of Broadway and West 65th Street), the Walter Reade Theater at 165 West 65th Street, and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center at 144 West 65th Street, New York, NY 10023. Screenings also take place at BAM in Brooklyn, Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, Alamo Drafthouse on Staten Island, and AMC Bay Plaza in the Bronx.
What are the dates of the New York Film Festival?
NYFF64 runs September 25 to October 12, 2026. It opens with James Gray’s Paper Tiger and closes with Ava DuVernay’s documentary 14th.
What are the biggest film festivals in New York?
NYFF is the most prestigious, running September 25 to October 12, 2026 at Lincoln Center. Other major festivals include DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival, returning November 11 to 29, 2026; the New York Asian Film Festival, July 10 to 26, 2026; and NewFest, the largest LGBTQ film festival in the United States, October 15 to 25, 2026.
