Event Details
Welcome to the San Sebastián International Film Festival 2026
From 18 to 26 September 2026, San Sebastián (Donostia) in Spain's Basque Country becomes one of the world's most important meeting points for international cinema for the 74th time. The San Sebastián Film Festival is one of the few A category festivals worldwide, awarding its top prize, the coveted Golden Shell (Concha de Oro), to the best film in competition.
Highlights
- 74th edition of the festival, founded in 1953
- Official competition for the Golden Shell
- 2026 Donostia Award for lifetime achievement goes to Werner Herzog
- Sections including New Directors, Horizontes Latinos, Zabaltegi Tabakalera and Perlak
- Screening of Werner Herzog's new film "Bucking Fastard"
- Spanish productions competing for the Golden Shell
- Gala evenings at the Kursaal Centre by the sea
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Program
The 74th edition features around 200 to 250 films from around the world, spread across several sections: the official competition, New Directors (first and second features by emerging filmmakers), Horizontes Latinos (Latin American cinema), Zabaltegi Tabakalera (experimental cinema) and the audience favorite section Perlak, showcasing highlights from other major festivals. The opening gala takes place on 18 September, and the closing ceremony with the awards is held on 26 September. Screenings take place mainly at the Kursaal Centre and the Teatro Victoria Eugenia, with additional sessions at the Velódromo and other venues around the city.
Tickets
A standard ticket for one screening costs 8.75 euros; screenings shown in original Basque language (except at the Kursaal and unnumbered venues) cost just one euro. Buying ten or more tickets in a single purchase gives a 25 percent discount, and Velódromo screenings have their own price of 8.75 euros. Tickets can be bought online through the festival website, and from 17 September also at the box office in Zinemaldi Plaza inside the Kursaal Centre.
Visitor Tips
- Reserve tickets online early, as popular screenings sell out quickly.
- The Kursaal box office opens daily from 17 September, closing at 2:00 PM on the final day (26 September).
- San Sebastián is easy to reach by train or bus from Bilbao, Madrid or across the French border.
- Book accommodation well in advance, as the city fills up quickly during festival days.
- Take time for a walk along La Concha Bay, which gives the festival's main award its name.
