Asia’s largest and most influential film festival, the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), opens on 6 October 2026 and runs through 15 October. The festival brings ten days of world premieres, director Q&As, and industry events to South Korea’s second city — concentrated around Haeundae Beach and the purpose-built Busan Cinema Centre.
What’s in the Programme
This year’s edition features 315 films from 59 countries, with new sections expanding its representation of Central Asian and African cinema alongside the established focus on Korean and East Asian work.
Key sections include:
- New Currents — competitive section for first and second-time Asian directors, historically a reliable early platform for future major talents
- A Window on Asian Cinema — non-competition overview of the region’s year in film
- Korean Cinema Today — the best of recent Korean releases, including documentaries
- Gala Presentation — high-profile international premieres with red carpet events
- Wide Angle — documentaries, experimental films, and short form
Some screenings feature director appearances and post-screening conversations — these are among the most popular events and tickets sell out quickly. A handful of open-air screenings on Haeundae Beach are free with advance registration.
Getting There
From Seoul: KTX trains from Seoul Station reach Busan Station in approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, running throughout the day. From Busan Station, Line 2 of the metro runs directly to Haeundae Station, the main festival hub — the journey takes around 35 minutes.
By air: Gimhae International Airport (PUS) serves Busan with connections from Seoul Gimpo (50 minutes), plus direct international routes from Japan, China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. From the airport, the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail connects to Sasang Station for metro onwards to Haeundae.
Festival tickets go on sale on the BIFF website a few days before the programme opens. Demand for opening-night and competition screenings is extremely high — set a reminder.
Busan Beyond BIFF
Haeundae itself is worth a day on its own: the beach, Dongbaek Island, and the APEC House headland make a compact loop, and the surrounding area has some of Busan’s best seafood restaurants. Gamcheon Culture Village (the painted hillside neighbourhood) and the Jagalchi Fish Market both make good half-day trips from the festival base.
October in Busan brings mild temperatures around 17–21°C and reliable dry weather — the city is considerably more comfortable to explore than in summer.
For full city planning, our Busan travel guide covers beaches, food, transport, and neighbourhoods. Our South Korea practical guide has visa, currency, and transport information, and our things to do in South Korea section covers activities beyond the film festival.