Skip to the programme
IDFA 2026

Country & language

Country & language
Appearance

An Evenitto guide · International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam · 12–22 Nov

IDFA 2026: the programme, day by day

Every public screening of the documentary festival on one contact sheet: what is on each day, where, which shows are sold out and which films have English subtitles.

  • 219 films and works
  • 940 screenings
  • 22 venues

What's on Friday 13 November The whole programmeThe sections

  1. The History of Concrete – Pathé TuschinskiThe History of Concrete
  2. Whispers in May – Pathé TuschinskiWhispers in May
  3. Time and Water – Pathé TuschinskiTime and Water
  4. Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest – Pathé TuschinskiTwo Mountains Weighing Down My Chest
  5. Gabin – Pathé TuschinskiGabin
  6. Tristan Forever – Pathé TuschinskiTristan Forever
  1. VPRO Preview Day – Pathé TuschinskiVPRO Preview Day
  2. The Calf Doll – Pathé TuschinskiThe Calf Doll
  3. Small Talk – Pathé CitySmall Talk
  4. To Be and to Have – Pathé TuschinskiTo Be and to Have
  5. The Battle Front for the Liberation of Japan – Summer in Sanrizuka – Pathé CityThe Battle Front for the Liberation of Japan – Summer in Sanrizuka
  6. DocLab Exhibition – Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke GrondDocLab Exhibition
  1. Microbiome Restaurant: Plural Tastings – @droogMicrobiome Restaurant: Plural Tastings
  2. Orgasmagoria – Casa RossoOrgasmagoria
  3. The Siege of Paradise – Koninklijk Theater CarréThe Siege of Paradise
  4. Alea Jacarandas – Pathé TuschinskiAlea Jacarandas
  5. >1.5°C Pyropolitics and the New World – Pathé City>1.5°C Pyropolitics and the New World
  6. Birds of War – EyeBirds of War

Friday 13 November

94 screenings at 14 venues. Pick a day; the red marks are sold out.

  1. 09:50VPRO Preview DaySpecialsPathé TuschinskiSold out
  2. 10:15The Calf DollPathé TuschinskiEN subsTickets
  3. 10:30Small TalkPathé CityThis one sold outOther times
  4. 10:30Whispers in MayPathé CityEN subsThis one sold outOther times
  5. 11:00To Be and to HavePathé TuschinskiEN subsThis one sold outOther times
  6. 11:00The Battle Front for the Liberation of Japan – Summer in SanrizukaPathé CityEN subsTickets
  7. 11:30DocLab ExhibitionDocLabVlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke GrondTickets
  8. 11:30Microbiome Restaurant: Plural TastingsDocLab@droogWPTickets
  9. 11:30OrgasmagoriaDocLabCasa RossoWPTickets
  10. 11:30The Siege of ParadiseKoninklijk Theater CarréTickets
  11. 11:45Alea JacarandasPathé TuschinskiEN subsTickets
  12. 12:00>1.5°C Pyropolitics and the New WorldPathé CityTickets
  13. 12:00Birds of WarEyeEN subsTickets
  14. 12:00Six Months in a Pink and Blue BuildingRialto De PijpEN subsTickets

+ 80 more this day The whole programme

The sections

IDFA shows its films in sections, each with its own idea. Each strip is one section.

Best of IDFA outside Amsterdam

On the last weekend the festival's favourites play in other cities too.

Where it plays

IDFA fills Amsterdam's cinemas and theatres, with Pathé Tuschinski as its heart.

IDFA's welcome sign outside Pathé Tuschinski in Amsterdam during the festival
Photo: Paul2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  1. Pathé Tuschinski153 screenings
  2. Pathé City106 screenings
  3. Cinema The Pulse70 screenings
  4. Eye65 screenings
  5. Het Ketelhuis47 screenings
  6. Kriterion44 screenings
  7. Rialto Silo43 screenings
  8. Rialto De Pijp39 screenings
  9. Cinema De Vlugt28 screenings
  10. Pathé Amsterdam-Noord28 screenings
  11. Het Documentaire Paviljoen25 screenings
  12. De Balie22 screenings
  13. Podium Mozaïek18 screenings
  14. Koninklijk Theater Carré10 screenings

Tickets in short

Tickets are sold by IDFA itself; these are its prices for a single screening.

Regular screening
€13.50
Students and CJP
€8
Stadspas
first screening free, then €10
Discount Pass
5 for €52.50 · 10 for €95 · 20 for €170 (not for specials or long screenings)
Cineville
free on 13, 14, 20 and 21 Nov at the Cineville venues; reservations open two days before, from 09:00 (Wednesday for Friday, Thursday for Saturday)
Exchange
up to 24 hours before, for a screening at the same price; no refunds
Box office
Pathé Tuschinski (Café Abraham), 12–22 Nov, 10:00–21:00

Our full guide to tickets and discounts IDFA's ticket page

Questions

What people ask before their first IDFA.

When is IDFA 2026?

IDFA 2026 is from Thursday 12 to Sunday 22 November 2026 in Amsterdam. Best of IDFA, the audience favourites and award winners, plays on the last weekend, also in Groningen and Nijmegen.

What is IDFA?

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, one of the largest documentary festivals in the world. Its 39th edition shows feature and short documentaries, VR and interactive works (DocLab), talks and special days.

How many films are there?

This guide lists 219 films and works with public screenings, at 22 venues. The festival also has screenings for industry passholders, which are not in this guide.

Where are the screenings?

Mostly in Amsterdam's city centre: Pathé Tuschinski is the festival's heart and box office, with screenings at Eye Filmmuseum, De Balie, Pathé City, Het Ketelhuis, Kriterion, the Rialto cinemas, Stadsschouwburg and more. DocLab is at de Brakke Grond and other places.

Are the films in English?

Many films are spoken in other languages; the programme marks the films that are fully subtitled in English (EN subs). Films spoken in English carry no subtitle mark, and Best of IDFA is in English or English-subtitled. Check the festival's page of a film before you buy.

How much does a ticket cost?

A regular screening is €13.50 and €8 for students and CJP; the Discount Pass brings it down when you see five or more films. Our ticket guide compares every discount.

Can I use Cineville at IDFA?

Yes, on Friday 13 and 20 and Saturday 14 and 21 November, at the Cineville venues taking part (Eye, De Balie, Het Ketelhuis, Kriterion, the Rialto cinemas, Cinema de Vlugt and Het Documentaire Paviljoen). Reservations open two days before, from 09:00: on Wednesday for Friday, on Thursday for Saturday.