San Sebastián International Film Festival (Zinemaldia)

Zinemaldia — the San Sebastián International Film Festival — has been held every year in late September since 1953 (the first edition opened on 21 September 1953). In 2026, the 74th edition runs from 18 to 26 September. Ranked category A by FIAPF since 1957, it is the only festival in this category in Spain.

The 2026 edition at a glance

• Opening film: Bucking Fastard, by Werner Herzog, starring Rooney Mara, Kate Mara, Orlando Bloom and Domhnall Gleeson
• Donostia Award 2026: Werner Herzog, who receives it on 18 September at the opening ceremony from Orlando Bloom, and Naomi Watts, on 19 September at the Kursaal, from J.A. Bayona
• 263 films from 47 countries, including 31 Basque productions
• Retrospective devoted to José Giovanni (20 films)
• Zinemira: the section devoted to Basque cinema
• More than 13,000 pupils expected at the Velódromo for the schools screening of Migration
• 32,722 tickets sold on the first day of sales

What happens

• Official Selection — films in competition vie for the Golden Shell (Concha de Oro), the award for best film
• Silver Shells — notably for best director and screenplay; since 2021, the acting awards have been gender-neutral (best leading performance and best supporting performance)
• Donostia Award (Premio Donostia) — a tribute to a major figure in cinema. Past recipients include Al Pacino (1996), Woody Allen (2004), Meryl Streep (2008), Denzel Washington (2014) and Cate Blanchett (2024)
• Nuevos Directores — the competition for new directors
• Perlas — a selection of films acclaimed at other festivals
• Horizontes Latinos — Latin American cinema
• Zabaltegi-Tabakalera — independent and innovative cinema

Where it happens

The heart of the festival is the Kursaal — Rafael Moneo’s two glass ‘cubes’ (1999), facing Zurriola beach, near the mouth of the Urumea. Films are also screened at the Victoria Eugenia theatre, the Teatro Principal and the Príncipe and Trueba cinemas, among others.

How to attend

• Accreditation for professionals — apply well in advance
• Tickets for the general public — how to buy them and prices on the official website

Book your accommodation early: the city is in high demand during the festival.

City guide: our San Sebastián guide.

Sources

• San Sebastián Festival — official website (in Spanish)
• Kulturklik (Basque Government) — San Sebastián Festival 2026 (in Spanish)
• Donostia Kultura — 74th San Sebastián Festival (in Spanish)