Zurich Film Festival 2026: Dates, Tickets, Films, Stars & Visitor Guide
22nd Zurich Film Festival: 24th Sept – 4th Oct 2026
Zurich will once again become one of the centres of the international film world when the 22nd Zurich Film Festival – ZFF – takes place from 24th September to 4th October 2026.
This year’s motto for 2026 is “Dream Big”, the Zurich Film Festival will present 133 films over 11 days, including a record 46 world and European premieres and 21 Swiss productions – another record for the festival. Around 500 filmmakers are expected in Zurich to present their work and meet audiences. Even better for film fans, the full Zurich Film Festival 2026 programme is now live, having been released on 9th September, with public ticket sales opening at 10am on Monday 14th September 2026.
Whether you’re interested in Hollywood premieres, independent cinema, documentaries, Swiss films, Green Carpet appearances or simply soaking up the atmosphere around Bellevue and Sechseläutenplatz, here’s everything you need to know about the Zurich Film Festival 2026.
The Zurich Film Festival has grown enormously since it was founded and is now regarded as the second-largest film festival in the German-speaking world, bringing international stars, filmmakers and audiences together in the heart of Zurich.
Hollywood Comes to Zurich – ZFF 2026 Stars
One of the reasons the Zurich Film Festival is so much fun is that it brings major international actors and filmmakers right into the centre of the city – often allowing the public to get surprisingly close to the action on the Green Carpet.
The 2026 guest list is particularly impressive. Stars and filmmakers expected in Zurich include Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Olivia Colman, Jesse Eisenberg, John Turturro, Juliette Binoche, Leïla Bekhti, Wim Wenders, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Alexander Skarsgård, Richard Linklater, Joe Locke, Martin McDonagh and Danny Boyle, among many others. More guests are usually announced as the festival approaches, so it is worth checking the official ZFF guest page regularly.
Julianne Moore to Receive the Golden Icon Award
One of the biggest names at ZFF 2026 will be Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore, who will receive the festival’s prestigious Golden Icon Award. Moore will be honoured both for her extraordinary career and for her performance in THE DEBUT, directed by Jesse Eisenberg, who is also expected in Zurich. The Golden Icon Award recognises actors whose work has had an enduring impact on cinema. Previous recipients have included stars such as Kate Winslet, Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone.
Naomi Watts, John Turturro, Luna Wedler and More
There are plenty more high-profile award recipients in 2026. Naomi Watts will receive a Golden Eye Award on 26th September for her performance in THE HOUSEWIFE and will also take part in a ZFF Masters session. Actor John Turturro will also receive a Golden Eye Award and is scheduled to appear at a ZFF Masters on 27th September. He stars in THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK.
Zurich-born actress Luna Wedler will receive her Golden Eye during Opening Night on 24th September. Her connection with the festival goes back to the beginning of her career, making this a particularly special Swiss moment at ZFF 2026. French actress Leïla Bekhti is another Golden Eye recipient, while celebrated filmmaker Martin McDonagh will receive the A Tribute To… Award and present his new movie WILD HORSE NINE.
Richard Linklater Retrospective in Zurich
Another major highlight is the appearance of acclaimed American filmmaker Richard Linklater, director of films including Before Sunrise, Boyhood, School of Rock and Dazed and Confused.Linklater will receive a Career Achievement Award on 28th September at the Filmpodium Zürich.The festival is also presenting an extensive retrospective of his work together with the Filmpodium Zürich and Cinémathèque suisse, giving cinephiles the chance to rediscover some of his best-known films on the big screen.
TENZING Opens the Zurich Film Festival 2026
The 22nd ZFF officially opens on Thursday 24th September at the Zurich Convention Center with the European premiere of TENZING. The film tells the story behind the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary and fits perfectly with the festival’s “Dream Big” theme. Hollywood stars Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe are due to attend Opening Night along with director Jennifer Peedom. More than 1,000 guests from culture, film, politics and business are expected at the opening event.
Films To Look Out For at ZFF 2026
The 2026 programme mixes major international productions and potential awards-season contenders with documentaries, independent cinema and new filmmaking talent.
Among the titles already generating attention are TENZING, I PLAY ROCKY, THE DEBUT, THE HOUSEWIFE, WILD HORSE NINE, BUNKER, EUROTRASH and BLOOD MONEY. BUNKER, directed by Florian Zeller, stars Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, while other productions across the programme feature names including Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Casey Affleck, Anna Kendrick and Juliette Binoche.
World premieres at the festival include titles such as LOVE, AFTER ALL, HOW CAN I HELP?, THE HAMMER, BLOOD MONEY, EUROTRASH, DOLPHINS: MY CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and LONG SHOT – A FILIPINO CURLING TALE.
Competitions and New Film Talent
ZFF isn’t just about established Hollywood names. Discovering new talent remains an important part of the festival. There are 14 films in the Feature Film Competition and 14 in the Documentary Film Competition. Directors presenting their first, second or third films compete for the Golden Eye, worth CHF 25,000 in each competition.
Among this year’s competition highlights are British mystery thriller BLACK CHURCH BAY, starring Joe Locke, Danish drama THE GUEST, Iranian film HEAD TO HEAD, football documentary THE MATCH and THE SIEGE OF PARADISE, which looks at overtourism in Italy’s Cinque Terre.
A Record Year for Swiss Films
Swiss cinema is particularly well represented in 2026, with 21 Swiss productions – around 40 per cent more than previously and a new ZFF record. For local audiences, this gives the festival an important Swiss dimension alongside its international premieres. Among the Swiss-connected titles is EUROTRASH, featuring Luna Wedler, while the programme also includes Swiss stories and filmmakers from both German- and French-speaking Switzerland.
Cinema in Concert at the Tonhalle Zurich
Film music fans should save Thursday 1st October 2026 for Cinema in Concert and the 14th International Film Music Competition at the Tonhalle Zürich. Three finalist compositions will be performed live by the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich under conductor Frank Strobel.
This year’s jury is chaired by Oscar-winning composer Gabriel Yared, famous for films including The English Patient. Yared will also receive the ZFF Career Achievement Award during the evening. The winning young composer receives the Golden Eye for Best International Film Music 2026 and CHF 10,000.
Zurich Film Festival 2026 Tickets and Prices
Public ticket sales start on Monday 14th September at 10am online and at blue Cinema Corso at Bellevue. For 2026, a regular film ticket costs CHF 27, Gala Premieres CHF 39, standard ZFF Masters CHF 39 and ZFF for Kids CHF 17.90. Premium screenings and ZFF Masters with stars cost CHF 89, while Golden Icon and Golden Eye Award screenings cost CHF 119.
Discounts of 30% are available with IV, student ID or KulturLegi and for wheelchair-accessible seats, while AHV holders receive 15% off most categories. One particularly useful ZFF tip: don’t automatically give up if a screening is shown as sold out. Unused industry and press tickets for the following day are released for public sale each morning at 8am.
Where Does the Zurich Film Festival Take Place?
One of the advantages of ZFF is that much of the action takes place in central Zurich. The main Festival Center is on Sechseläutenplatz, beside Bellevue, the Zurich Opera House and Lake Zurich. It is the heart of the festival and is open to the public whether or not you have a cinema ticket. Screenings and events also take place at venues including blue Cinema Corso at Bellevue, Arthouse Le Paris, Arthouse Piccadilly, Arena Cinemas Sihlcity, KINOKONI Zürich and the Zurich Convention Center, as well as other locations around the city.
Visit the ZFF Festival Center at Sechseläutenplatz
Even if you don’t have tickets for a particular film, it’s worth stopping by the Festival Center on Sechseläutenplatz. Here you’ll find the ZFF bar, food trucks, ticket and information desks, merchandise and a terrace overlooking the Green Carpet. It’s also one of the best places in Zurich to soak up the festival atmosphere – and potentially catch a glimpse of actors and directors arriving for premieres.
Where Can You See the ZFF Stars?
The Green Carpet is one of the most accessible parts of the Zurich Film Festival for the general public. Star appearances generally correspond with premieres, awards and special events, and ZFF updates its online guest schedule as the festival progresses. If there’s somebody you particularly want to see, check both the official ZFF Guests page and the individual film screening shortly before travelling, as guest appearances and timings can change.
Getting to the Zurich Film Festival
Public transport is by far the easiest way to get around during ZFF. Sechseläutenplatz, Bellevue and many of the main cinemas are within easy walking distance of Zürich Stadelhofen, Bellevue tram stop and the lake. There is also a useful offer for anyone travelling to Zurich by train in 2026: the code ZFFSBB26 gives a CHF 6 discount on eligible SBB journeys to the festival while stocks last. The offer is valid from 24th September to 4th October and can be used for journeys to selected Zurich stops including Zürich HB, Bellevue, Stadelhofen and Opernhaus.
Is the Zurich Film Festival Worth Visiting?
Definitely- and you don’t need to be a film buff to enjoy it. One of ZFF’s strengths is that it combines the glamour of an international film festival with the accessibility of central Zurich. You can watch a world premiere, attend a discussion with a director, see stars on the Green Carpet, discover an emerging filmmaker and then walk just a few minutes to Lake Zurich or Zurich’s Old Town. For visitors looking for things to do in Zurich in late September and early October, the Zurich Film Festival is one of the city’s biggest cultural events of the autumn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zurich Film Festival 2026
When is the Zurich Film Festival 2026?
The 22nd Zurich Film Festival takes place from Thursday 24th September until Sunday 4th October 2026.
When do ZFF 2026 tickets go on sale?
Public ticket sales open at 10am on Monday 14th September 2026.
Where is the Zurich Film Festival held?
ZFF takes place at various cinemas and cultural venues across Zurich. The main Festival Center is on Sechseläutenplatz at Bellevue, close to Zurich Opera House and Lake Zurich.
Which stars are coming to Zurich Film Festival 2026?
Confirmed or expected guests currently include Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Olivia Colman, John Turturro, Jesse Eisenberg, Juliette Binoche, Alexander Skarsgård, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Richard Linklater, Martin McDonagh and Danny Boyle. Further names may still be announced.
Can you see celebrities without buying a ZFF ticket?
Yes. The public can visit the Festival Center on Sechseläutenplatz, and the Green Carpet offers opportunities to see arriving stars and filmmakers. Exact appearances depend on the day’s premieres and events.
How much are Zurich Film Festival tickets?
Regular film tickets cost CHF 27, Gala Premieres CHF 39 and premium events can cost up to CHF 119. Reduced tickets are available for several groups. 
Zurich Film Festival 2026 – Practical Information
What: 22nd Zurich Film Festival – ZFF
When: 24th September – 4th October 2026
Where: Sechseläutenplatz, 8001 Zurich
Programme: See the full ZFF 2026 programme
Tickets: Public ticket sales from 10am on 14th September 2026
Website: Visit the ZFF Website here
With 133 films, a record number of world and European premieres, 21 Swiss productions and an exceptional line-up of international stars, the Zurich Film Festival 2026 looks set to be one of the highlights of Zurich’s autumn cultural calendar. And with the programme now announced and ticket sales about to open, now is the perfect time to start choosing the films, talks and Green Carpet moments you don’t want to miss.
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