From July 16 to August 2, 2026, the Fantasia International Film Festival returns to Montreal for its landmark 30th edition.
Recognized as one of the world’s premier genre film festivals, Fantasia will present more than 125 feature films, 200 short films, numerous world, international and Canadian premieres, as well as masterclasses, special events and filmmaker discussions.
A remarkable lineup
The festival opens with the Canadian premiere of Her Private Hell, the latest film from acclaimed Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, who will also receive the prestigious Cheval Noir Career Achievement Award and present a masterclass.
Festival highlights include:
- Her Private Hell
- Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
- Trauma Or, Monsters All
- Tight Lettuce
- Someone’s Daughter
- A special screening of Pontypool
International guests
Fantasia 2026 welcomes an impressive list of filmmakers and actors, including:
- Nicolas Winding Refn
- Jane Schoenbrun
- Hannah Einbinder
- Patrick Wilson
- Vera Farmiga
- Michael Gallagher
- Larry Fessenden
- Bruce McDonald
- Harrison Houde
- Pascale Bussières
- François Arnaud
and many more.
More than movies
Fantasia offers much more than film screenings.
Visitors can attend:
- Masterclasses
- Filmmaker Q&A sessions
- Panel discussions
- Red carpet premieres
- Special events
- World premieres
- Canadian premieres
Festival venues include:
- Concordia University’s SGW Alumni Auditorium
- J.A. de Sève Cinema
- Cinéma du Musée
Fantasia events on MTL TIMES
Several Fantasia screenings and special events are already available on the MTL TIMES event calendar.
Discover detailed event pages featuring schedules, venues, guest information and practical details to help plan your festival experience.
Why attend Fantasia
- Over 125 feature films
- More than 200 short films
- International filmmakers
- World premieres
- Industry guests
- One of the world’s leading genre film festivals
MTL TIMES Verdict
For three decades, Fantasia has helped establish Montreal as one of the world’s great destinations for fantasy, horror, science fiction, animation and independent cinema.
Whether you’re a lifelong genre fan or discovering the festival for the first time, Fantasia 2026 promises an unforgettable celebration of cinema.
Follow MTL TIMES throughout the festival for exclusive interviews, red carpet coverage, photos, videos and festival highlights.
