Iris Prize Festival 2026: Cardiff Dates, Venues and Tickets

The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival returns to Cardiff from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 October 2026 for its 20th anniversary. The week combines international and British short films, features, filmmaker conversations, industry events and parties. Cineworld Cardiff and Chapter in Canton are confirmed as the principal cinema partners, while Iris Online will make selected festival content available across the UK.

Iris Prize Festival 2026 Cardiff: what is it?

Iris began in Cardiff in 2006 and staged its first festival in 2007. It is built around LGBTQ+ storytelling, but the screenings are open to everyone. The central international short-film award is worth £40,000, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation. Its winner is invited to make a new LGBTQ+ short film in Wales.

The festival also presents a Best British competition. Iris says its British short-film strand is BAFTA and BIFA qualifying, while its Film4 partnership helps shortlisted work reach a wider audience through Channel 4’s streaming service.

Why the 2026 festival is different

The 20th edition returns to Cineworld Cardiff, the festival’s original cinema home, alongside Chapter in Canton. Organisers recorded 672 open submissions for 2026, 20% more than in 2025 and the highest total in Iris history. That does not tell you which film to choose, but it shows the scale of the selection process behind the anniversary programme.

The full programme is due to be unveiled closer to the festival. Avoid relying on an old Iris timetable: titles, ratings, venues, Q&As and party access can differ from year to year.

How to choose what to watch

A first visit is easier if you choose by format rather than trying to recognise every filmmaker:

• Short-film programmes group several films around a strand or theme and offer the broadest introduction.
• Feature films suit viewers who want one longer story and a conventional cinema visit.
• Q&As and talks add context from filmmakers and industry guests.
• Industry events are aimed more directly at people working in, or trying to enter, screen production.
• Parties and anniversary events may require a specific ticket or pass even when attached to a screening day.

Check the age certificate and content information for each programme. A collection of shorts can contain several different tones and subjects, so its overall description matters more than a single still image.

Iris Prize 2026 tickets and passes

The official 2026 box-office page currently advertises a weekend pass for £70 and says the wider box office opens in September 2026. Individual screening prices and the final range of day, full-festival, industry and online passes should be checked only when the 2026 programme is live.

A pass does not always remove the need to reserve a seat. Follow the instructions attached to the exact 2026 product, especially for small rooms, popular Q&As and special events. Do not use the still-visible 2025 ticket page as a 2026 price list.

Getting between Cineworld Cardiff and Chapter

Cineworld Cardiff is in the city centre, within walking distance of Cardiff Central station and the main bus interchange. Chapter is in Canton, west of the centre. Allow travel time between venues rather than booking back-to-back sessions as though they share one building.

Before travelling, check the final venue named on each ticket, current public-transport information and the last practical journey home. If you also plan to explore the centre, our Cardiff Half Marathon guide includes useful city-centre orientation, but its event-specific road information applies only to race weekend.

For another source-led introduction to the city's cultural history, see our Black History Month in Wales resources, scheduled to be available before the festival begins.

Accessibility and online viewing

Iris offers access-ticket options and has previously supported companion arrangements, but the exact 2026 process must be confirmed through the live box office. Check step-free access, seating, captioning, audio description, content information and quiet-space needs for the specific screening and venue.

Iris Online is planned for UK audiences who cannot attend in Cardiff. Availability windows and the films included online may differ from the physical programme, and geo-restrictions apply. Treat the online catalogue as its own programme rather than assuming every Cardiff screening will stream.

A calm first-timer plan

1. Wait for the confirmed 2026 programme before choosing individual films.
2. Pick one short-film programme and one feature or Q&A, leaving a real break between them.
3. Confirm the venue on both tickets and map the journey before the day.
4. Reserve seats required by your pass instead of assuming entry is automatic.
5. Save the festival contact and accessibility information with your tickets.

Publication check: on 12 October 2026, recheck dates, the full programme, venues, ticket and pass prices, seat-reservation rules, online availability, age ratings, accessibility details and public transport. Remove any option that is sold out or no longer offered.