September is almost here, and you know what that means: TIFF season!
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) returns this September 10 to 20, 2026, bringing 11 days of highly anticipated films, star-studded premieres, red carpets, filmmaker conversations and so much more to experience.
Whether you’re hoping to catch an Oscar contender, discover an under-the-radar indie, spot a celebrity on King Street West or simply soak up the atmosphere, here’s everything you need to know about TIFF 2026 in Toronto.
Where does TIFF take place?
Most of the action is concentrated around King Street West and Toronto’s Entertainment District, making it relatively easy to hop between screenings and experience the Festival atmosphere on foot.
The main TIFF hub is TIFF Lightbox, located at 350 King Street West, although major premieres will also take place at iconic stages like Roy Thomson Hall, the historic Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre, and the Princess of Wales Theatre.
TIFF 2026 programmes to know
One of the easiest ways to navigate TIFF is by getting familiar with its different programmes.
Gala Presentations – The big, star-powered premieres and some of the Festival’s most anticipated films.
Special Presentations – Major films from acclaimed filmmakers and highly anticipated international releases.
Centrepiece – A showcase of international cinema featuring new films, festival favourites and major premieres.
Discovery – A great programme to explore if you want to find emerging filmmakers and exciting new voices.
Midnight Madness – The place to go for horror, genre movies, cult favourites and films designed to get a late-night TIFF crowd screaming.
Platform – TIFF’s juried competition highlighting bold and distinctive filmmaking.
TIFF Docs – Documentary films covering a wide range of real-world stories and subjects.
Wavelengths – Experimental and avant-garde cinema for those looking to venture beyond traditional filmmaking.
Primetime – A selection celebrating the best in television and episodic storytelling.
Short Cuts – A collection of short films from filmmakers around the world.
TIFF Classics – A chance to revisit important films from cinema history on the big screen.
What to see at TIFF 2026?
This year’s Festival features nearly 300 titles across its various programmes, spanning everything from major Hollywood premieres and international cinema to documentaries, shorts and television.
Some of the most anticipated titles and events include:
Being Heumann
Being Heumann will open TIFF 2026, bringing the story of disability rights activist Judith Heumann to the big screen.
Prima Facie
Cynthia Erivo stars in Prima Facie, one of the major Gala and Special Presentation titles generating buzz ahead of the Festival.
The Assassin(s)
South Korean star Lee Min-ho heads to Toronto with The Assassin(s), giving fans another reason to keep an eye on TIFF’s red carpets this year.
Misty Green
Chris Rock will be in Toronto for the world premiere of Misty Green, adding another major Hollywood name to the 2026 lineup.
The Last Photograph
Making its World Premiere at TIFF, this action-thriller stars Stuart Martin and Fra Fee following an ex-DEA agent on a high-stakes revenge mission in South America.
Babies
A buzzworthy world premiere comedy exploring the chaotic realities of new parenthood, starring Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, and Halle Bailey.
Villeneuve: Rise of a Legend
The Festival’s Closing Night Gala will spotlight Villeneuve: Rise of a Legend, a documentary about Canadian Formula One racing legend Gilles Villeneuve.
And that’s just scratching the surface. The Centrepiece programme alone features 54 films from 50 countries, including world premieres, award-winning international films and new works from established filmmakers. You can see their full schedule now posted here on the TIFF website.
Who is coming to TIFF 2026?
As always, the celebrity factor is expected to be a huge part of TIFF.
The Festival’s 2026 In Conversation With… lineup includes Chris Rock, Lee Min-ho, Rachel Morrison and Andrew Scott, while Heated Rivalry breakout star Hudson Williams will appear in a special Making Waves With… conversation.
As well, celebrities attached to anticipated premieres that are expected to be in attendance this fall include Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan (Josephine), Amanda Seyfried (The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd), Cate Blanchett and Dave Bautista (Alpha Gang), Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe (Tenzing), Jesse Eisenberg and Julianne Moore (The Debut), and Jon Hamm, Gary Oldman and Carrie-Anne Moss (Primetime lineup).
TIFF’s celebrity sightings also aren’t limited to official events. During Festival week, Toronto’s King West, Yorkville, restaurants, hotels and bars become unofficial extensions of the Festival, making September one of the best times of year to keep your eyes peeled around the city.
How to get TIFF 2026 tickets
Tickets are available through TIFF’s official ticketing system, with different access periods for members and the general public.
If you’re attending as a regular moviegoer, the easiest approach is to browse the official Festival schedule, choose your films and check the individual screening pages for ticket availability.
