Singapore International Film Festival 2026 moves to October

The Singapore International Film Festival has moved its calendar. The 37th edition runs from Wednesday 21 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, rather than the late-November-to-December slot many regular festivalgoers will remember. Public ticket sales open on Monday 28 September at 12pm on SGIFF.com.

That leaves a short window to shortlist films, check each film’s age rating and work out how many screenings you can realistically attend. The festival’s schedule went live on 25 September, when early-bird access also began.

SGIFF’s announcement of the new dates explains the move: an October window lets independent films reach local audiences without competing directly with the year-end slate of major Hollywood releases.

At a glance

• Dates: Wednesday 21 October – Sunday 1 November 2026.
• Public sale: from Monday 28 September, 12pm, on SGIFF.com; early-bird access opened on 25 September.
• Booking: tickets, passes and Rush Queue access are all managed on SGIFF.com; booking requires an account.
• Cost: screenings are ticketed; students, National Servicemen and seniors aged 55 and above get S$2 off regular prices, with ID checked at the door.
• Age rules: films rated M18 or R21 do not admit anyone below the rating’s age.
• Next step: check each film’s rating, venue and time via the official ticketing page before paying.

What is on the 2026 programme?

According to the festival’s homepage, this year’s line-up has more than 100 films from over 50 countries. It introduces Junior Explorers, a new section for young audiences, and expands Undercurrent, the strand that includes live performances. The festival’s 2026 call for entries sought Asian feature films and Southeast Asian short films for its competitions.

We have not seen any of these films. A festival description is a reason to look closer, not a review. Read the synopsis and rating before committing an evening to a title you do not know.

If your group is also weighing Halloween Horror Nights, note that both end on Sunday 1 November, so leaving either to the final weekend narrows your choices.

Build a shortlist before 28 September

A practical sequence for one person or a small group:

1. Mark every film you would genuinely travel for, then note which have only one screening.
2. Check the rating of each title against the youngest person who might come.
3. Note the venue and start time; do not assume two screenings on the same evening are in the same building.
4. Choose between single tickets and a pass only after counting the screenings you can actually attend.
5. Share the list with anyone joining you, and buy once everyone has confirmed.

Illustrative example: three friends shortlist four films. One has only a weekday-afternoon screening, so the friend who can attend goes alone. The other three fit into one Friday evening and one Saturday. The group now knows how many tickets it needs, and whether anyone will see enough films to make the festival passes worth pricing.

Can teenagers or children go?

It depends on the film. The ticketing page explains that M18 films are for people aged 18 and above and R21 films for adults aged 21 and above, and that minors who do not meet a film’s rating will not be admitted. Check the rating on the film’s listing before buying, not at the door.

Families have a new option. Junior Explorers is described as an entry point for young audiences, with three films. For its relaxed screenings, the festival sells a combo ticket that admits one adult and one child below 16, and every child must be accompanied by an adult. Two parents with two children would need two combo tickets if they choose this format. Read the festival’s description of the relaxed format so everyone knows what to expect.

Concessions, changes and sold-out screenings

The S$2 concession for students, National Servicemen and seniors is checked at the door, so carry the document that proves it. For an M18 or R21 film, carry identification that shows your age if you could be asked.

The festival says changes to a screening’s date, time or location will be noted on SGIFF.com. Check your film’s listing on the day, particularly if you have booked screenings back to back.

Rush Queue access is managed on SGIFF.com this year. We have not verified how the 2026 Rush Queue operates, so read its rules before relying on it. For a group outing, treat a sold-out screening as a reason to choose another date, not a plan built around released seats.

What is still unconfirmed

At our 26 September check we could not confirm the full 2026 venue list, pass prices, individual ticket prices or any free programmes. This guide therefore gives no travel directions: use the venue named on your ticket and that venue’s own access information.

Common questions