The 52nd Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) has officially locked its 2026 slate, confirming a lineup of 203 films set to take over the city from May 7–17. We previously reported that Boots Riley’s heist comedy I Love Boosters will kick off the festivities at the Paramount, while Olivia Wilde’s A24 relationship drama The Invite is set for the closing night slot.

Between those bookends, the festival is packing 66 narrative features and 34 documentaries over eleven days. The schedule covers everything from festival favorites (Sundance, SXSW), to archival restorations, to two “Secret Fest” screenings that require an NDA just to enter the theater. We’ve seen some good (and not so good) films at the Secret Fest, but the surprise of it all is always worth it.

On the narrative front, early buzz is building for Gregg Araki’s latest provocateur piece I Want Your Sex and the Hong Kong crime epic Sons of the Neon Night. You’ll also want to check out Valentina (starring Keyla Monterroso) if you get a chance, and the Goya Award standout Sundays. For those looking for something a bit more over-the-top, the WTF program returns. The Mexico City quinceañera flick Fifteen is bloody fun and definitely worth a watch. If you’re more up for a darkly comic martial arts brawler, then circle The Furious on your schedule.

On the doc side, there’s a ton of buzz around Nuisance Bear, which nabbed the U.S. Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. The slate also includes the American Doctor that follows three doctors with three distinct backgrounds who have traveled across the U.S. to volunteer their service in Gaza, and the political reconstruction love story Birds of War. If you’re a fan of KEXP and Kevin Cole specifically, the Face the Music program includes RADIOHEART: The Drive and Times of DJ Kevin Cole. 

As the fest winds down, the jury rooms will be busy picking out the award winners, while the ballots (or QR results) are being counted for the Golden Space Needle Awards. These prizes are decided entirely by the moviegoers as they cast their votes after each screening to determine winners for Best Film, Best Documentary, and Best Director. 

It all starts May 7 with the opening night film at the Paramount. The fest then moves to SIFF venues with the Uptown serving as the main hub, along with SIFF Cinema Downtown. For the full list of the SIFF 2026 lineup and ticket information, visit here.