BIFF 2026 at a glance
- Dates
- October 6–15, 2026 (31st edition)
- Main venue
- Busan Cinema Center, Centum City (Haeundae-gu)
- Official site
- biff.kr
What BIFF is
The Busan International Film Festival is one of Asia's largest film festivals, screening hundreds of films from Korea and around the world over ten days each October. As of 2026 it holds A-list festival accreditation alongside events like Cannes and Venice, reflecting its scale and industry weight in Asian cinema.
For visitors, BIFF is less a single event than a citywide atmosphere for its run: outdoor screenings, red-carpet events, and a noticeably busier, more festive Haeundae than usual.
Where it happens
The festival is centered on the Busan Cinema Center in the Centum City area of Haeundae-gu, which hosts the opening and closing ceremonies and many of the main screenings. Additional screenings run at partner theaters elsewhere in the city, so check the venue listed on each film's schedule rather than assuming everything is at one location.
Tickets, for visitors who just want to watch a film
General ticket sales open shortly before the festival through the official BIFF website and app, with popular screenings and any films with attending guests selling out quickly. If you don't manage to book a specific in-demand screening, the outdoor and public-facing events around the Cinema Center plaza are open to anyone without a ticket and are worth attending on their own.
Planning a trip around BIFF
- Book Haeundae-area hotels early — rooms fill up and prices rise noticeably during the festival window
- Expect Haeundae's restaurants and cafes to be busier than usual in the evenings
- Even without tickets, walking Centum City and the Cinema Center plaza during the festival is worth the trip on its own
- Combine a BIFF trip with the rest of Haeundae's usual attractions — the beach and Dongbaek Island are a short walk from the festival venues