The 2026 Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will showcase more than 250 films from August 5 to 22, with a program that includes world premieres, restored classics, and a strong focus on Australian and international cinema. The festival, now in its 74th year, will open with the Australian premiere of Jane Campion's new film The Piano at Sea and close with the documentary Kangaroo Island: A Story of Survival.
Opening and Closing Night Highlights
The opening night gala on August 5 will feature The Piano at Sea, a drama set on a cargo ship transporting a grand piano across the Pacific. Director Jane Campion, a New Zealand-born filmmaker, returns to MIFF after her 1993 classic The Piano premiered at the festival. The closing night on August 22 will screen Kangaroo Island: A Story of Survival, a documentary about the island's recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires, directed by Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde.
International Lineup and World Premieres
MIFF 2026 will host 12 world premieres, including the French thriller The Last Metro from director Céline Sciamma and the Japanese anime Spirit of the Forest by Hayao Miyazaki. The festival's international competition includes 15 films vying for the Grand Prix, with jury president Bong Joon-ho, director of Parasite. According to MIFF artistic director Al Cossar, the program reflects "a global conversation about resilience and transformation."
Restored Classics and Retrospectives
A restored 4K version of Peter Weir's 1975 film Picnic at Hanging Rock will be screened, along with a retrospective of Australian director Gillian Armstrong. The festival will also feature a tribute to late Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, with digital restorations of Seven Samurai and Rashomon.
Australian Focus and Local Talent
More than 60 Australian films are in the lineup, including 10 world premieres. Notable Australian titles include The Dry 2: Flood, a sequel to the 2020 thriller, and Red Earth, a drama about Indigenous land rights. The festival's Australian competition will award $50,000 to the best feature film.
Special Events and VR Program
MIFF will host a masterclass with Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, who will discuss his upcoming project Frankenstein. The festival's virtual reality program, MIFF VR, will feature 20 immersive experiences, including a piece about the Great Barrier Reef. Tickets go on sale July 15 for MIFF members and July 22 for the general public.
