A Complete Guide to the 64th New York Film Festival (NYFF): Dates, Lineup & Ticket Tips

The 64th New York Film Festival is set for September 25 through October 12, 2026, with screenings at Lincoln Center and partner venues across New York City. Presented by Film at Lincoln Center, NYFF remains one of the city’s signature fall cultural events, bringing together major world premieres, festival-circuit standouts, repertory discoveries, filmmaker talks, and audience-friendly side programs.

If you are planning to attend NYFF64, the key is to think of it less like a single red-carpet event and more like an 18-day citywide film season. The official lineup and schedule already includes Main Slate, Spotlight, Currents, Revivals, and Talks programming, with ticket availability tied to section, venue, and demand.

NYFF64 dates at a glance

According to Film at Lincoln Center, NYFF64 runs from Friday, September 25, 2026, through Monday, October 12, 2026. The festival is presented primarily at Lincoln Center, with additional screenings and events at other venues around the city. The official festival page and NYFF team page both confirm those dates. Official festival page NYFF team page

Three anchor nights define the spine of the festival’s Main Slate:

Opening Night: Paper Tiger directed by James Gray
Centerpiece: Behemoth! directed by Tony Gilroy
Closing Night: 14th directed by Ava DuVernay

Those designations appear in the official NYFF64 lineup and schedule and in Film at Lincoln Center’s Main Slate announcement.

What kind of festival is NYFF?

NYFF is not a market-driven industry festival in the same mold as Cannes or Sundance. Instead, it is a curated showcase from Film at Lincoln Center focused on significant international cinema, prestige premieres, repertory programming, and filmmaker conversations. Film at Lincoln Center describes it as an annual celebration of major films from around the world, and the festival has been a recurring part of New York film culture since 1963. NYFF overview NYFF team page

For attendees, that means the experience is usually a mix of:

high-profile premieres
repeat screenings of buzzy titles
Q&As and introductions
historical restorations and revivals
more adventurous sidebars for dedicated cinephiles
occasional free talks and public events

NYFF64 lineup: what’s in the festival this year

The easiest way to browse the festival is through the official NYFF64 lineup and schedule page, which lets you filter by section and ticket availability. Film at Lincoln Center also released separate official announcements for the Main Slate, Spotlight, Currents, Revivals, and Talks programs.

Main Slate

Film at Lincoln Center says the NYFF64 Main Slate includes 34 films spanning 31 countries, with four world premieres, nine North American premieres, and 12 U.S. premieres. The festival’s central gala selections are Paper Tiger, Behemoth!, and 14th. Main Slate announcement

A few of the most attention-grabbing Main Slate titles listed by Film at Lincoln Center include:

Paper Tiger — James Gray
Behemoth! — Tony Gilroy
14th — Ava DuVernay
All of a Sudden — Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Artificial — Luca Guadagnino
Bitter Christmas — Pedro Almodóvar
Fatherland — Paweł Pawlikowski
Misty Green — Chris Rock
NAZA — Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor

You can also see from the official schedule that many Main Slate titles have multiple showtimes rather than a single premiere-only screening, which is useful if your first choice sells out. Main Slate announcement Lineup and schedule

Spotlight

Film at Lincoln Center describes Spotlight as a curated survey of anticipated films, special presentations, festival favorites, shorts, and conversation-starting work. The official Spotlight announcement says the section includes 12 features, one medium-length film, and 10 shorts presented in two programs. Spotlight announcement

Officially highlighted Spotlight titles include:

Godzilla Minus Zero as the Spotlight Gala on September 26, 2026
A Statement directed by Tom McCarthy
Joy of Joys directed by Jonathan Glazer in collaboration with Mica Levi
You Can See Everything directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim

Because Spotlight mixes prestige titles with one-off events and shorts programs, it is often one of the fastest-moving sections for tickets. Spotlight announcement Lineup and schedule

Currents

For viewers who like experimental, formally adventurous, or less conventional work, Currents is one of the festival’s strongest sections. Film at Lincoln Center says NYFF64 Currents includes 15 feature films along with programs of shorter works, including five world premieres, five North American premieres, and three U.S. premieres. Currents announcement

The official Currents announcement highlights films such as:

Bardi — Tala Hadid, the Currents Centerpiece
At Night — Beatrice Gibson
For the Moon — Éric Baudelaire
Life of Jorge Luis Borges — Mariano Llinás
Red Rocks — Bruno Dumont

The section also includes themed Currents programs featuring filmmakers such as Laura Poitras, Rachel Lauren Mueller, Peggy Ahwesh, Kevin Jerome Everson, Martine Syms, and others. Currents announcement Lineup and schedule

Revivals

NYFF is not just about new releases. Film at Lincoln Center says the Revivals section this year includes 12 features and two programs of rare shorts, focused on restored, preserved, or digitally remastered works. Revivals announcement

That makes Revivals especially valuable for moviegoers who want something rarer than the typical awards-season preview. It is often one of the most rewarding sections if you care about film history, restoration, or repertory cinema.

Talks

NYFF64 also includes an official Talks program. Film at Lincoln Center’s announcement says the lineup features conversations tied to names including Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Pedro Almodóvar, Francis Ford Coppola, Ava DuVernay, Martin Scorsese, James Gray, Mike Leigh, and Lee Chang-dong. Talks announcement

These talks can be a smart addition to your schedule, especially if you miss out on a premiere ticket but still want a memorable festival experience.

Where NYFF64 takes place

The core venues are at Lincoln Center:

Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway, with 1,086 seats
Walter Reade Theater, 165 W 65th Street, with 268 seats
Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 W 65th Street, including the Francesca Beale Theater (144 seats), Howard Gilman Theater (85 seats), and Amphitheater (75 capacity)

Film at Lincoln Center lists those capacities and addresses on the official venues page.

NYFF64 is also screening at additional city venues, including:

BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in Brooklyn
Museum of the Moving Image in Queens
Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island
AMC Bay Plaza Cinema in the Bronx

Those citywide screenings were confirmed by Film at Lincoln Center in its venues page and its citywide venue announcement.

Ticket prices for NYFF64

The official tickets and passes page lists these current single-ticket prices:

Main Slate and Spotlight: $30 for members / $35 general public
Currents, Revivals, and Talks: $17 for members / $22 general public
Free Talks and events: distributed first come, first served beginning one hour prior to each event at the box office

For the Opening Night screening of Paper Tiger, the same page lists premium pricing:

Alice Tully Hall: $95 members / $130 general public
Walter Reade Theater and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center: $40 members / $50 general public

If you are comparing value, the less expensive Currents, Revivals, and Talks tickets can be a very good way to build a fuller festival schedule without paying Main Slate prices for every slot. Tickets and passes

Ticket-sale timing and pre-sale details

For NYFF64, Film at Lincoln Center states that general public single tickets went on sale Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET. The official pre-sale guide also notes that there were no NYFF ticket sales from Monday, September 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET until Tuesday, September 15 at 12:00 p.m. ET, during the transition into general public sales. Pre-sale guide Currents announcement

As of September 18, 2026, those public sales have already opened, so your best move now is to check the live NYFF lineup and schedule and the Film at Lincoln Center Now Playing page for current availability.

Best ticket tips for NYFF64

1. Do not stop at the premiere listing

Many first-time attendees focus only on the very first showing of a buzzy title. But the official schedule shows that many films have multiple screenings, often with at least one later daytime or weekday option. If the gala or first screening is sold out, the repeat screening may be much easier to get. Lineup and schedule

2. Use the official availability tools

Film at Lincoln Center specifically directs attendees to the lineup and schedule and Now Playing pages to see what is available. The help center says the Now Playing page is the fastest way to check tickets, including for newly added inventory. NYFF how-to guide FLC help center

3. Sold out does not always mean impossible

Film at Lincoln Center says that when a screening is sold out, attendees may still have options:

standby lines may yield tickets on a first-come, first-served basis
small batches of tickets may be released leading up to screenings, including sold-out ones
partial-view tickets may be available by request at the Alice Tully Hall box office for some screenings

Those policies are spelled out in the official help center ticketing guidance and the NYFF How-To Guide.

4. Follow the channels where added tickets are announced

Film at Lincoln Center says added tickets and screenings may be announced through:

Discord
FLC Member email alerts
NYFF newsletters
Reddit
X
Instagram

If you are chasing a hot ticket, monitoring those channels can matter. NYFF How-To Guide FLC help center

5. Arrive earlier than you think

The official how-to guide recommends arriving at least 15 minutes before showtime, and notes that bag checks are required. All screenings begin at the listed time. NYFF How-To Guide

For popular screenings, especially at Alice Tully Hall, arriving earlier than the minimum is the safer choice.

6. Know the refund rule before you buy

Film at Lincoln Center’s help center says no refunds or exchanges are offered on tickets purchased, except if a screening is canceled. That means speculative buying is risky unless you are certain you can attend. FLC help center

Practical tips for first-time attendees

Choose one prestige screening and one flexible section

A good NYFF day often combines one high-demand Main Slate or Spotlight title with one easier-to-book Currents, Revivals, or Talks event. This reduces stress and gives you a broader sense of what makes NYFF different from a regular multiplex weekend.

Pay attention to venue size

Alice Tully Hall has far more seats than Walter Reade or the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center theaters, so your odds can vary significantly by venue. A high-profile screening in a smaller house may become difficult faster even if the film itself seems less flashy on paper. Venues page

Build in transit time

Because NYFF64 includes screenings outside Lincoln Center, a tight schedule can become unrealistic if you jump between Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island. Check venue assignments before locking in back-to-back tickets. Venues page Citywide venue announcement

Accessibility is available, but ask early

Film at Lincoln Center says all theaters are accessible for guests using wheelchairs, and attendees with specific seating accessibility needs should buy their ticket and then contact the venue team with their order number and seating requirements. The official how-to guide provides the relevant contact information. NYFF How-To Guide

Is NYFF64 worth it if you are not an industry insider?

Yes. Nothing in the official attendee materials suggests NYFF is restricted to press or industry professionals. On the contrary, Film at Lincoln Center provides public ticket sales, public venue information, public how-to guidance, and free first-come talks for some events. Tickets and passes NYFF How-To Guide

The best version of NYFF for most regular moviegoers is not trying to “win” the whole festival. It is choosing a handful of screenings carefully, mixing one or two headline films with a repertory or Currents pick, and staying flexible as availability changes.

Bottom line

The 64th New York Film Festival runs September 25 to October 12, 2026, with its biggest draws anchored by James Gray’s Paper Tiger, Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!, and Ava DuVernay’s 14th. Beyond the red-carpet titles, NYFF64 also offers a deep bench of Spotlight, Currents, Revivals, and Talks programming across Lincoln Center and additional New York venues. Official festival page Lineup and schedule

If you are buying now, the smartest approach is simple: check live availability, prioritize repeat screenings, watch for last-minute ticket drops, and keep at least one backup choice in a smaller section like Currents or Revivals.