Doha Film Festival 2026: Dates, Programme & Tickets

The Doha Film Festival 2026 returns from 19 to 27 November 2026, bringing nine days of international cinema, Qatari filmmaking, youth programmes, gala screenings and community events to Doha.

The full screening timetable and 2026 ticket prices are still being rolled out, but several major details are already confirmed — including this year's opening film, the four competition sections and the return of the Ajyal youth programmes.

Here's everything confirmed so far about Doha Film Festival 2026, plus what is still to be announced.

Doha Film Festival 2026 at a glance

• Dates: 19–27 November 2026
• Location: Doha, Qatar
• Opening film: The Station (Al Mahattah) by Sara Ishaq
• Programme: International Feature, International Short, Ajyal Film Competition and Made in Qatar, plus gala, outdoor, special and family screenings
• Ajyal Jury: Ages 16–25
• Ajyal Film Club: Ages 8–15
• 2026 ticket prices: Not yet officially confirmed
• Full screening timetable: Still to be announced

Doha Film Institute currently says more festival details will be shared as they are confirmed.

When is Doha Film Festival 2026?

The festival takes place from:

Thursday, 19 November to Friday, 27 November 2026

That's nine days of screenings, competitions, youth programmes and industry activity across Doha.

The opening film: The Station

One major title has already been officially announced.

The 2026 Doha Film Festival will open with the MENA premiere of The Station (Al Mahattah), the debut feature from Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq.

Set around a women-only petrol station in war-torn Yemen, the film follows women who gather there for fuel, conversation and moments of respite from the conflict around them.

The film previously premiered in competition at Cannes Critics' Week in May 2026 and received support from the Doha Film Institute's grants programme.

What's in the 2026 programme?

The official festival structure is already confirmed.

International Feature Film Competition

Feature-length films from established and emerging filmmakers will compete for awards including Best Narrative, Best Documentary, Best Artistic Achievement and Best Performance.

International Short Film Competition

Short-form filmmakers compete for awards including Best Film, Best Director and Best Performance.

Made in Qatar

This competition focuses on films created by filmmakers based in Qatar, giving local and resident storytellers a dedicated platform.

Ajyal Film Competition

Films in this section are judged by the festival's youth jury, made up of young cinema enthusiasts aged 16 to 25.

The wider programme also includes:

• Gala screenings
• Outdoor screenings
• Special screenings
• Family programming
• Community events
• Ajyal Film Club activities

The full film-by-film timetable has not yet been published.

Ajyal at Doha Film Festival 2026

One area where the 2026 details are already quite specific is the youth programme.

Ajyal Jury — ages 16 to 25

The Ajyal Jury runs throughout the festival from 19 to 27 November at Katara Cultural Village.

Participants watch selected international films, take part in discussions and vote for the Ajyal competition awards.

Current registration details are:

Standard fee: QAR 500

Sibling fee: QAR 350

Registration closes: 8 November 2026

The early-bird QAR 250 offer ran until 3 October and has now ended.

Participants under 18 require parent or guardian consent.

Ajyal Film Club — ages 8 to 15

For younger film fans, the Ajyal Film Club: Festival Edition runs from 20 to 25 November at Katara.

It is split into two age groups:

Mohaq, ages 8–11: 20, 21 and 22 November

Hilal, ages 12–15: 23, 24 and 25 November

The participation fee is:

QAR 150

Registration closes on 8 November 2026.

How much are Doha Film Festival 2026 tickets?

The 2026 film-screening prices have not yet been officially confirmed.

This is important because the Doha Film Festival ticket page currently displays prices including:

• QAR 100 for an opening film
• QAR 40–50 for general screenings
• QAR 30 for MIA short-film programmes

However, that same page still contains the promo code DFF2025Student, refers to a 2025 Platinum Package and lists box-office dates from the 2025 festival.

That means those figures should be treated as previous-edition pricing, not confirmed 2026 prices.

For a 2026 guide, I would write:

Ticket prices for individual 2026 film screenings have not yet been officially announced. Check the Doha Film Festival ticketing page closer to November for the confirmed rates.

Is there a student discount?

A 20% student discount was offered for the 2025 festival, with valid student ID required.

However, the current ticket page still displays the specifically dated code:

DFF2025Student

So there is not yet enough evidence to say the same discount applies to 2026.

Students should wait for the updated 2026 ticket announcement before budgeting around a discount.

Is there a six-ticket booking limit?

The existing festival ticket page states a maximum of six tickets per event per order, but that information sits alongside the 2025 ticketing material.

Until the ticket page is updated for 2026, I would not present the six-ticket rule as confirmed for this year's edition.

Where will the festival take place?

Doha Film Institute has confirmed that the festival takes place across Doha, but the complete 2026 venue map has not yet been published.

One venue that is already confirmed is:

Katara Cultural Village

Katara will host the Ajyal Jury and Ajyal Film Club programmes.

Past festival editions have also used locations including the Museum of Islamic Art, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Lusail and VOX Cinemas at Doha Festival City, but do not automatically carry those venue arrangements into the 2026 guide until this year's schedule confirms them.

What about free outdoor cinema?

Outdoor screenings are officially listed as part of the 2026 festival programme.

However, the current 2026 programme does not yet confirm that they will specifically be:

• Cinema by the Sea at West Bay Beach
• Cinema Under the Stars at MIA Park

Those titles and free-entry arrangements appear on the festival's ticket page alongside clearly identifiable 2025 ticket information.

So for now, say:

Outdoor screenings are confirmed for DFF 2026, with venues, films and access details still to be announced.

Getting to Katara

For confirmed Ajyal events at Katara Cultural Village, the Metro is straightforward.

Take the Doha Metro Red Line to Katara Station, which provides direct access to the cultural district.

There is no need to get off at Legtaifiya and take a taxi.

Getting to the Museum of Islamic Art

If MIA is confirmed as a 2026 screening venue, the nearest Metro access identified by Visit Qatar is National Museum Station on the Gold Line.

Taxi and ride-hailing are also convenient because the museum sits directly along the Corniche.

Getting to Doha Festival City

If VOX Cinemas at Doha Festival City returns as a 2026 venue, do not direct readers through National Museum Station.

Visit Qatar currently identifies Lusail–Qatar National Bank Station on the Red Line as the nearest Metro station to Doha Festival City.

The M145 feeder route also connects Lusail Station with Doha Festival City.

Tips for planning Doha Film Festival 2026

Don't budget around last year's prices yet

Wait for the official 2026 ticket page to be updated before publishing QAR 30, 40, 50 or 100 as confirmed prices.

Keep an eye on the programme

The opening film is already announced, but the complete film timetable is still being finalised.

Register separately for Ajyal

Ajyal Jury and Ajyal Film Club are participation programmes, not ordinary cinema tickets, and already have their own registration fees and deadlines.

Use the Metro for Katara

Katara has its own station on the Red Line.

Check venue details before booking transport

The complete 2026 venue schedule has not yet been announced, so don't assume every 2025 festival location will return in exactly the same format.

FAQs

When is Doha Film Festival 2026?

The festival takes place from 19 to 27 November 2026.

What is the opening film?

The opening film is The Station (Al Mahattah) by Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker Sara Ishaq.

It will have its MENA premiere at the festival on 19 November.

How much are Doha Film Festival 2026 tickets?

The official 2026 film-screening prices have not yet been clearly published.

The prices currently visible on the festival ticket page are attached to 2025-specific information, so don't treat them as confirmed 2026 prices yet.

Are there free screenings?

Outdoor screenings are confirmed as part of the 2026 programme, but their venues, ticketing arrangements and individual films have not yet been announced.

Is Katara a festival venue?

Yes, Katara Cultural Village is confirmed for the 2026 Ajyal Jury and Ajyal Film Club programmes.

How do I get to Katara by Metro?

Take the Red Line to Katara Station.

Is there a youth programme?

Yes.

The Ajyal Jury is for ages 16–25, while the Ajyal Film Club: Festival Edition is for ages 8–15.

Registration for both closes on 8 November 2026.

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