Every autumn, new films from around the world screen right in central Tokyo. The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival runs for ten days, from Monday, October 26 to Wednesday, November 4, 2026, across the Hibiya, Yurakucho, Marunouchi, and Ginza districts.
You do not need press credentials or an industry pass to attend. Almost every screening is open to the public, and you buy a ticket the same way you would for any movie. It is a rare chance to catch a world premiere before its wider release, or to see a restored classic on the big screen.
For overseas visitors, the most useful thing to know is this: most screenings carry English or Japanese subtitles, so you can follow along even if you do not read Japanese. This guide covers when tickets go on sale, how much they cost, and how to spot screenings with English subtitles.
You do not need to be a film insider to attend. Public tickets go on sale online on October 17, with reserved seats you pick at booking.
Dates and venues (2026)
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Dates | October 26 (Mon) – November 4 (Wed), 2026 (10 days) |
Area | Hibiya, Yurakucho, Marunouchi, and Ginza |
Organizer | UNIJAPAN |
General ticket sale | October 17 (Sat), 2026 |
The venues cluster around Hibiya and Yurakucho, all within easy walking distance of one another. Because each film screens at a specific theater, check the venue at the same time you book your ticket.
Note that TIFFCOM (October 28–30, in Hamamatsucho), held during the same period, is a business-to-business market and is separate from the public screenings.
When and how to buy tickets
General sale opens on Saturday, October 17, 2026. You buy through the festival's official online ticket site, and you pick your seat when you book — all seats are reserved. The festival site has an English version. Details for the 2026 sale, such as account registration and accepted payment cards, are posted on the official ticket page as the sale date approaches, so check it before October 17.
A few more things to keep in mind. The points below reflect how the festival has run in recent years, so confirm the details on the official site for 2026.
- Tickets are sold mainly through the official online system; theater box offices do not sell them. In past years there was also a ticket center near Yurakucho Station during the festival (check the official site for the 2026 arrangement).
- You can buy up to two tickets per order (per the 2026 announcement).
- If a screening sells out in advance, same-day tickets may not be available.
One important exception: a set of high-profile titles were sold only through an advance lottery before October 17. That lottery closed on September 28. The nine films it covered — including the opening film SUKIYAKI, the centerpiece Godzilla Minus Zero, and the closing film Colony — are not part of the October 17 general sale (all nine are listed on the official advance-lottery page). From October 17, you can book any of the remaining screenings.
Ticket prices
Prices vary by program. The confirmed 2026 advance prices are below (tax included).
Program | General | Student |
|---|---|---|
Opening / Centerpiece / Closing | ¥3,500 | ¥2,700 |
Gala Selection | ¥2,700 | ¥2,000 |
All other public programs (Competition, etc. | ¥2,200 | ¥1,100 |
Student tickets are ¥1,100 for most titles — down from last year — and ¥700 on the day of the screening. The Kenji Mizoguchi retrospective at the National Film Archive of Japan is priced separately.
Note that the Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing films above are advance-lottery titles, so they are not included in the October 17 general sale (see "When and how to buy tickets").
What's playing
The public programs are wide-ranging, from world premieres to Japanese classics. For 2026, the festival has announced:
- Opening film: SUKIYAKI
- Centerpiece: Godzilla Minus Zero
- Closing film: Colony
These three, along with the rest of the nine advance-lottery films, are not on general sale on October 17 (see "When and how to buy tickets" above).
Beyond these, the lineup includes the Competition of new world cinema, the Gala Selection (15 titles), the Animation program, and a Kenji Mizoguchi retrospective (October 27 – November 1, at the National Film Archive of Japan) marking 70 years since his death. The full lineup for the Competition and other sections, along with the detailed screening schedule by theater, is being announced in stages from late September. Check the Tokyo International Film Festival official site for showtimes.
How to check for English subtitles
As a rule, every festival screening has English subtitles, Japanese subtitles, or both. You can enjoy most of the program even without any Japanese.
In practice, the pattern is simple: Japanese films get English subtitles, English-language films get Japanese, and films in other languages carry both.
There are exceptions from film to film, though. So rather than guessing from a film's country or language, pick the screening you want and check its subtitle information on the official schedule before you book.
Getting there and where to stay
The venues are spread across Hibiya and Yurakucho. The venues confirmed for 2026 so far are Marunouchi Piccadilly, TOHO Cinemas Hibiya, Hulic Hall Tokyo, and the National Film Archive of Japan for the Mizoguchi retrospective. The full list, including other venues, is posted on the official site as the festival approaches.
All are close to JR and subway access, with Hibiya, Yurakucho, and Ginza stations the nearest. Many people see several films in a day, so leave a little buffer between screenings to get between venues. Late October and early November evenings in Tokyo are cool, often around 10–16°C (50–60°F), so bring a light jacket for after-dark screenings and walks.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.
