Melbourne International Film Festival 2026: tickets, tips & access
MIFF turns Melbourne’s cinemas into the best seat in the world for three weeks every August, and 2026 marks its 74th year.
The Melbourne International Film Festival is one of the longest-running film festivals anywhere, and this year’s edition runs from 6 to 23 August across the city’s most-loved cinemas. Whether you go for one carefully chosen session or make a habit of it, MIFF offers something that suits us particularly well: comfortable indoor venues, daytime sessions, and a genuinely world-class program on our own doorstep. Here’s what you need to know to plan your outing.
Related reading: Cheapest Cinemas Melbourne: Best Movie Deals
Is MIFF worth it?
We think so. MIFF is easy to enjoy at your own pace: sessions run right through the day, not just evenings, so you can pick a quiet Tuesday afternoon screening instead of fighting opening-weekend crowds. Venues are mostly clustered in the CBD, seating is allocated at several cinemas so you’re not left standing, and the program is broad enough that there’s a genuine choice beyond the loud blockbuster fare. If you already enjoy a trip to the cinema, MIFF is simply that same outing with a far more interesting program attached.
When and where
MIFF 2026 runs from 6 to 23 August, with the full program already live and general tickets on sale from 14 July. Screenings take place across ACMI, Cinema Nova, Hoyts Melbourne Central, IMAX Melbourne, Kino Cinemas, The Astor, The Capitol, The Forum and Village Crown, plus a number of regional Victorian venues and an online streaming option for anyone who’d rather watch from home.
What’s on this year
The full 2026 program was released on 9 July, with more than 300 features, shorts, documentaries and immersive works to choose from. A few picks that we think will appeal to our readers:
- Tina Arena: Unravel Me – a world premiere documentary tracing Tina Arena’s five-decade career, from her start on Young Talent Time through to international success, with new interviews including Céline Dion and Lionel Richie
- John Cameron Mitchell Presents: Hedwig and the Angry Inch – a 25th anniversary 4K restoration at The Astor, with the director attending in person to give live commentary
- A run of music documentaries covering Marianne Faithfull, jazz pianist Bill Evans and cult band The Shaggs, all likely to appeal if you grew up with their music
- Wicker, the Opening Night Gala film, starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård and Elizabeth Debicki, screening at Hoyts Melbourne Central
- The return of the Food and Film program, pairing selected screenings with a matched meal at partner restaurants including Cumulus Inc. and Supernormal
MIFF Regional also runs this year in Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Geelong, Healesville, Rosebud, Sale and Warrnambool across 14–16 and 21–23 August, and MIFF Online streams a selection of the program nationally from 14–30 August for anyone who’d rather watch from home.
The Film Finder tool on the MIFF website is a handy way to browse by theme rather than scroll the full program.
You can also order a hard copy of the program for a $6 postage fee.
Tickets, passes and concessions
General tickets went on sale from Tuesday 14 July. Seniors Card, Health Care Card and Carer Card holders are all eligible for concession-priced tickets, and there are also Multipasses if you’re planning to make a few trips:
- Multipass-3: Full $81.40 / Concession $73.30 / MIFF Members $69.20
- Multipass-6: Full $154.20 / Concession $138.80 / MIFF Members $131.00
- Multipass-12: Full $291.30 / Concession $262.20 / MIFF Members $247.70
There’s also a Bright Horizons 3-Pass (Full $72.90 / Concession $65.60 / MIFF Members $61.90) if you’d like to see three films from the Bright Horizons Competition at a discounted rate. For those who want to see everything, a Festival Passport (a single ticket to every standard session) is available exclusively as part of a Deluxe Membership.
Valid concession ID needs to be shown when booking and again on entry.
Rush Tix: $12 tickets if you’re flexible
If you don’t mind deciding on the day, MIFF releases a fresh batch of $12 Rush Tix for selected sessions each morning at 11.30am. They go on sale online from 12pm to 2pm, or you can buy them any time from 12pm at the ACMI Box Office or the venue itself, and they’re available until that session sells out.
It’s a handy option if you fancy a spontaneous afternoon at the cinema, or if you’d rather see what’s still available before committing. MIFF posts the day’s Rush Tix films on Instagram, so it’s worth a quick check that morning if you’re hoping to grab one.
Accessibility
MIFF has invested seriously in access in recent years, and this is one of the more thorough festival access programs we’ve come across:
- Step-free, wheelchair access at 100% of metropolitan venues
- Priority seating for patrons with access requirements
- A complimentary companion ticket for Companion Card holders
- A selection of open-captioned and fully subtitled films
- Hearing loops and assistive listening in select venues
- A selection of films with audio description
- Auslan interpretation at key events
MIFF has a dedicated Festival Access Coordinator who can be reached at access@miff.com.au for questions or to request information in another format.
Seating is allocated (rather than general admission) at ACMI, The Forum, IMAX, Cinema Nova, The Capitol and Village Crown, which is worth knowing if you’d rather not queue to secure a good seat.
Getting there
Public transport: Because most venues sit within the CBD, MIFF is easy to reach by train or tram. Flinders Street Station is a short walk to ACMI, The Forum and Village Crown, and the Free Tram Zone covers the city centre at no cost.
Driving: Secure Parking offers MIFF Member discounts at several CBD carparks close to festival venues, though non-members should compare standard CBD parking rates and book ahead where possible.
Timing tip: Arrive at least five minutes before your session. Latecomers may not be admitted, even to allocated-seating sessions, so build in a little buffer, especially if you’re catching a tram in from further out.
A few practical tips
- Daytime and weekday sessions are your best bet if you’d rather avoid queues and a full house
- Box Office at ACMI opens daily from 10am from 12 July, so you can collect tickets or ask questions in person well before opening night
- If a session shows as “standby,” a small number of tickets can sometimes become available roughly 48 hours out
- The MIFF app lets you keep tickets on your phone, so there’s no need to print anything if that suits you better
For ticketing enquiries, contact the MIFF Box Office via miff.com.au or call +61 3 8660 4888.
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