IFI Documentary Festival 2026, the annual celebration of non-fiction filmmaking, will take place from Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th September. From the thrilling to the thoughtful, from the historical to the topical, this brilliant selection of films showcases a diverse range of topics told with candour, artistry and a profound humanity. Documentary, as a form, has never been more popular or vital, and the numerous Q&As and panel discussions will deepen audiences' engagement with the films and the artists who create them. With 13 feature documentaries which include 7 Irish premieres, 2 shorts programmes, and a public-facing industry panel illuminating the challenging landscape of documentary filmmaking today. The 2026 festival will open with the Irish premiere of Bucks Harbor, Pete Muller's beautifully observed film exploring the inner lives of a generation of fishermen on the northeastern coast of the United States.

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Booking Information:

Cinema tickets cost €15.00 each, except for the opening film which includes a post-screening reception and costs €17.00.

Packages for IFI Members: €40.00 for 3 films. €60.00 for 5 films. Both packages exclude the opening film. These packages can only be booked in-person or by calling the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477.

Free list suspended for IFI Documentary Festival.

 

Membership: is required for all in-cinema screenings. Daily membership costs €1.50 and is applicable to all festival screenings for Non-Members. Annual membership is just €40.00 (Concession: €25.00), and entitles the bearer to discounts on screenings, free preview screenings of selected films throughout the year, one complimentary ticket, and a host of other benefits.

    FESTIVAL SUPPORT  IFI Documentary Festival is supported by RTE Supporting the Arts and DCU. The Irish Times is the official media partner of the IFI Documentary Festival.  The IFI Documentary Festival Audience Award is supported by Screen Scene. IFI is principally funded by the Arts Council. 

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