The 10 Best International Film Festivals to Attend in 2027
By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Direct answer
The Berlin International Film Festival is the best international film festival to attend in 2027, with Toronto at #2 and Venice at #3. Busan, the big festival in Asia, is #5; its 2027 dates are not yet announced. The order is based on published audience figures, compared like with like.
Photo: Tuluqaruk / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe biggest audience of any festival here, with 455,814 admissions in 2025.
When: February 10-21, 2027, opening one day earlier than in past years, with the first two Audience Days on February 20 and 21Where: Berlin, GermanyAdmissions: 455,814 in 2025 (FIAPF key figures)Tickets sold: 350,000 in 2026 (2025: 340,000), per the BerlinaleProgramme: 278 films from 80 countries in 2026; about 19,500 industry professionals from 135 countries attended
The Berlinale runs February 10-21, 2027, opening a day earlier than before and adding its first two Audience Days on February 20 and 21. It sold 350,000 tickets in 2026 for 278 films from 80 countries, and FIAPF lists 455,814 admissions in 2025.
Go ifThe biggest audience on this list, with 350,000 tickets sold in 2026
Skip ifYou want warm weather: it runs in February
Why #1 over #2: FIAPF lists 455,814 admissions for Berlin in 2025, against 283,451 for Toronto.
2
Toronto International Film Festival
Photo: Dillan Payne / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictToronto’s public festival, with 283,451 admissions in 2025.
When: 2027 dates not yet announced; the 51st edition ran September 10-20, 2026Where: Toronto, CanadaAdmissions: 283,451 in 2025 (FIAPF key figures)Tickets: From $15 for select screenings in 2026Programme: 285 films selected in official sections in 2025, from 9,020 submissions
Toronto’s 51st festival ran September 10-20, 2026, with tickets from $15 for select screenings. FIAPF lists 283,451 admissions in 2025 and 285 films in official sections. 2027 dates not yet announced.
Go ifA big September festival with public tickets from $15
Skip ifYou want a competition: Toronto is non-competitive
Why #2 over #3: FIAPF lists 283,451 admissions for Toronto in 2025, against 254,443 for Venice.
3
Venice International Film Festival
Photo: Bart ryker / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe world’s oldest film festival, held since 1932.
When: 2027 dates not yet announced; the 83rd festival ran 2-12 September 2026Where: Lido di Venezia, Venice, ItalyAdmissions: 254,443 in 2025 (FIAPF key figures)Tickets: Sala Grande full-price tickets €18-€50 in 2026; other halls from €10Since: 1932; billed as the world’s oldest film festival
Venice, held since 1932, is billed as the world’s oldest film festival. Its 83rd edition ran 2-12 September 2026 on the Lido, with Sala Grande full-price tickets from €18 to €50. FIAPF lists 254,443 admissions in 2025. 2027 dates not yet announced.
Go ifThe oldest film festival in the world, on the Lido beside the sea
Skip ifYou want cheap seats at the big premieres: the evening Sala Grande screenings cost the most
Why #3 over #4: FIAPF lists 254,443 admissions for Venice in 2025, against 230,000 for Cannes.
4
Festival de Cannes
Photo: ManoSolo13241324 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictCannes turns 80 in May 2027.
When: May 11-22, 2027 (the 80th edition)Where: Palais des Festivals, Cannes, FranceAdmissions: 230,000 in 2025 (FIAPF key figures)Access: Reserved for accredited film professionals; the public can attend through Cannes Cinéma, 3 Days in Cannes and the free Cinéma de la Plage screeningsSince: 1946
The 80th Festival de Cannes runs May 11-22, 2027, at the Palais des Festivals. The festival is reserved for accredited professionals, but the public can get in through Cannes Cinéma, 3 Days in Cannes and the free Cinéma de la Plage screenings. FIAPF lists 230,000 admissions in 2025.
Go ifThe 80th edition of Cannes, in May 2027
Skip ifYou are not in the film business and want a seat at the gala premieres
Why #4 over #5: FIAPF lists 230,000 admissions for Cannes in 2025, against 167,547 for Busan.
5
Busan International Film Festival
Photo: 399scout / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAsia’s big film festival, in Busan every autumn.
When: 2027 dates not yet announced; the 31st festival runs 6-15 October 2026Where: Busan Cinema Center and Centum City cinemas, Busan, South Korea (31 screens in 7 theaters in 2025)Admissions: 167,547 in 2025 (FIAPF key figures)Total attendance: 238,697 in 2025, counting screenings, Community BIFF, BIFF Everywhere and program events (festival count)Tickets: General screenings 10,000 KRW in 2026
Busan runs its 31st edition 6-15 October 2026 around the Busan Cinema Center. General screenings cost 10,000 KRW. In 2025 FIAPF listed 167,547 admissions, and the festival counted 238,697 in total attendance across 31 screens in 7 theaters. 2027 dates not yet announced.
Go ifAsian cinema, with general screenings at 10,000 KRW
Skip ifYou need 2027 dates now: they are not out yet
Why #5 over #6: On whole-festival counts that include events, Busan’s 238,697 in 2025 top London’s 235,853 attendances.
6
BFI London Film Festival
Photo: MaryG90 / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictLondon’s 70th festival, with 251 titles in 2026.
When: 2027 dates not yet announced; the 70th festival runs 7-18 October 2026, over 12 daysWhere: BFI Southbank and Central London cinemas, plus 10 partner venues around the UKAttendances: 235,853 in 2025, including industry events and the LFF for Free programme (festival count)Programme: 251 features, shorts, series and immersive works from 88 countries in 2026Occupancy: 94% across London screenings and events in 2025 (92% in 2024)
The 70th BFI London Film Festival runs 7-18 October 2026 at BFI Southbank and Central London cinemas, with 251 works from 88 countries and 10 partner venues around the UK. In 2025 it counted 235,853 attendances, and occupancy rose to 94%. 2027 dates not yet announced.
Go if251 titles over 12 days in October, with 94% occupancy in 2025
Skip ifYou need 2027 dates now: they are not out yet
Why #6 over #7: London counted 235,853 attendances in 2025; Sundance redeemed 130,710 in-person tickets that year.
7
Sundance Film Festival
Answrs VerdictSundance moves to Boulder for January 2027.
When: January 21-31, 2027Where: Boulder, Colorado: the first edition in its new home, after Park City, UtahIn-person tickets: 130,710 in-person tickets redeemed in 2025 (Park City)Attendees: 85,472 in-person attendees in 2025Since: 1985
Sundance moves to Boulder, Colorado, for its 2027 edition, January 21-31, after its years in Park City, Utah. Its 2025 attendance report, from Park City, counted 85,472 in-person attendees and 130,710 in-person tickets redeemed.
Go ifAmerican independent film and its first Boulder edition
Skip ifYou want the old Park City festival: it has moved to Boulder
Why #7 over #8: Sundance publishes its audience, 85,472 in-person attendees in 2025; Telluride publishes no attendance figure.
8
Telluride Film Festival
Photo: Jennifer 8. Lee / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA pass-only festival in the Colorado mountains.
When: 2027 dates not yet announced; the 53rd festival ran September 4-7, 2026Where: Telluride, ColoradoPasses: Cinephile Pass $390, Festival Pass $780, Patron Pass $4900 (2026; sold out)Programme: More than sixty feature films, short films and revival programs in 2026Since: 1974
Telluride, held since 1974, ran its 53rd festival September 4-7, 2026, with more than sixty films and programs. It sells passes, not single tickets: $390 for the Cinephile Pass, $780 for the Festival Pass and $4900 for the Patron Pass, and 2026 passes sold out. 2027 dates not yet announced.
Go ifA pass-only festival in a Colorado mountain town
Skip ifYou want single tickets: it is sold by pass, and 2026 passes sold out
Why #8 over #9: Telluride began in 1974, before SXSW began in 1987.
9
SXSW Film & TV Festival
Answrs VerdictAustin’s film and TV week inside SXSW.
When: March 15-21, 2027Where: Austin, Texas; ACL Live at The Moody Theater replaces the Paramount Theatre, which is under constructionProgramme: Seven days of premieres, episodic showcases, documentaries, midnighters, shorts and immersive XRAccess: Platinum and Film & TV Badges get unlimited, non-conflicting screening reservationsSince: 1987
SXSW Film & TV runs March 15-21, 2027, in Austin, with seven days of premieres, episodic showcases, documentaries, midnighters, shorts and immersive XR. With the Paramount Theatre under construction, ACL Live at The Moody Theater hosts big premieres.
Go ifFilm and TV premieres alongside music, comedy and tech in Austin
Skip ifYou want a pure film festival: SXSW also runs music, comedy and tech
Why #9 over #10: SXSW began in 1987, before Tribeca began in 2002.
10
Tribeca Festival
Photo: David Shankbone / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictNew York’s festival returns June 3-12, 2027.
When: June 3-12, 2027 (the 26th edition)Where: New York City2026: 57 first-time feature filmmakers, in a record box office yearPasses: On sale now, including the Under 25 Pass and the new Hudson Opening Weekend PassSince: 2002
Tribeca’s 26th edition runs June 3-12, 2027, in New York City, after a record box office year in 2026 that welcomed 57 first-time feature filmmakers. Passes are on sale, including the Under 25 Pass.
Go ifA June festival in New York
Skip ifYou can only travel outside June
How we ranked these
We ranked festivals like with like. First come the five with 2025 admissions published by FIAPF, the international federation of film producers, ordered by those admissions. Next come festivals that publish their own audience counts (London’s attendances and Sundance’s tickets redeemed), labelled and not mixed with FIAPF figures. Last come festivals that publish no comparable audience figure, ordered by founding year. Dates come from each festival’s own site; where 2027 dates are not out, we say so. All ten picks from the earlier version of this list are real and still running, but some facts changed: Sundance has moved from Park City to Boulder for 2027, and Busan’s general screening price is now 10,000 KRW. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
When is the Busan International Film Festival 2027?
2027 dates not yet announced. The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs 6-15 October 2026, centred on the Busan Cinema Center.
How big is the Busan International Film Festival?
FIAPF lists 167,547 admissions for Busan in 2025. The festival’s own count of total attendance in 2025, including program events, was 238,697.
How much are tickets at the Busan International Film Festival?
General screenings cost 10,000 KRW in 2026; opening and closing ceremony tickets cost 30,000 KRW.
When is the Festival de Cannes 2027?
May 11-22, 2027. It is the 80th edition.
Admissions in 2025 (FIAPF key figures) at a glance
Busan International Film Festival167,547 admissions
Festival de Cannes230,000 admissions
Venice International Film Festival254,443 admissions
Toronto International Film Festival283,451 admissions
Berlin International Film Festival455,814 admissions
Admissions in 2025 (FIAPF key figures), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
