The Program · 2026
Program
Three days in Downtown Dubai: screenings, the awards ceremony, and a day of panels and workshops.
Announcement
Screenings, panels and workshops announced by 15 September
The 2026 program is being assembled now. Titles and session times are published by 15 September 2026, along with the venue for the industry day. Screenings are at CinemaCity Fountain View, Dubai Mall, and the awards ceremony on 29 November is at Belcanto on the rooftop of Dubai Opera.
Submissions close 20 October. Official Selections are announced 12 November.
The Schedule
Three days
Each day has its own centre of gravity. Screenings first, the awards on the middle night, then a day given over to the industry.
A full house at the 2025 screenings
Day 01
Screenings
Saturday 28 November 2026
The Official Selection plays across the day, grouped into programmed blocks by category. Filmmakers in attendance are introduced before their work, with Q&A sessions after the key screenings.
CinemaCity Fountain View, Dubai Mall.
Sixteen competition categories
Belcanto · the rooftop of Dubai Opera
Day 02
The awards ceremony
Sunday 29 November 2026
Sixteen 24-karat gold Clapboards are presented at Belcanto, on the rooftop of Dubai Opera, before an invited audience of one hundred: the jury, the 2026 winners, festival partners and accredited press.
Reception, dinner and the presentation all take place in the same room, beginning at 6:00pm.
Inside the venue
The interview stage, 2025
Day 03
Panels and workshops
Monday 30 November 2026
The industry day. Panels on production, distribution and AI in cinema, alongside acting and producing workshops led by jury members Ron Perlman and Shohreh Aghdashloo.
Venue to be announced by 15 September.
Meet the 2026 jury