You have a free evening in Busan, or you are already planning next October, and one question keeps coming back. Can a visitor from abroad actually get Busan film festival tickets, or do the good screenings vanish to locals the moment sales open? Search results mix old prices, fan forum guesses and booking links that no longer work.
The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) runs from October 6 to October 15, 2026, so this guide covers two things. It shows what is still on the program for the final day, and it explains how BIFF booking works so you can use the same steps next year. Every price, date and rule below comes from the festival’s own pages and its 2026 Ticket Catalogue.
BIFF sells all standard seats online first, and foreign visitors book through a separate non-resident sign-up on the official ticket site. Unsold or cancelled seats go back on sale at festival box offices, which is your best chance for the closing day on October 15.
Why BIFF seats disappear online before the festival starts
BIFF does not hold most of its seats for walk-up buyers. The festival’s official Booking Information page states that ticket purchases for all standard seats happen online at the BIFF website. Only seats that did not sell out online, or that were cancelled, return to the festival box offices.
Sales also open in two waves, weeks before the first screening. In 2026, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Open Cinema, Midnight Passion, Actors’ House and Community BIFF went on sale on September 17 at 14:00 Korea time. General screenings, Master Class and Cine Class opened on September 21 at 14:00. On busy days the site issues queue numbers, and each screening code allows a maximum of two tickets per booking.
BIFF ticket prices and where you can buy them
The 2026 prices below are listed on the official Booking Information page and in the 2026 BIFF Ticket Catalogue, checked on October 14, 2026. A standard film screening costs KRW 10,000, so most visitors never pay more than that. Ceremony tickets cost three times as much because they include the red carpet event and a film.
| Ticket type | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| Opening or Closing Ceremony | KRW 30,000 |
| General screening or Cine Class | KRW 10,000 |
| Actors’ House or Master Class | KRW 15,000 |
| Midnight Passion (late-night screening) | KRW 20,000 |
A KRW 3,000 discount applies to people aged 65 or older, persons with disabilities and veterans. Proof is checked at a BIFF Ticket Box before the mobile ticket can be used. Paid members of the Busan Cinema Center get a separate discount, but only at two box offices inside that venue.
| Where to buy | 2026 dates | Hours | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online at biff.kr | Sep 17 to Oct 15 | 24 hours | Credit or debit card |
| BIFF Outdoor Ticket Box, Busan Cinema Center | Oct 6 to Oct 15 | 8:30 to 20:30 | Card or cash |
| Cine Mountain 6F, Busan Cinema Center | Oct 7 to Oct 15 | 8:30 until 15 minutes after the last screening starts | Card or cash |
| CGV Centum City 7F, LOTTE CINEMA Centum City 8F, KOFIC 2F, Busan Community Media Center 1F | Oct 7 to Oct 14 | From 30 minutes before the first screening | Card or cash |
| Sohyang Theatre Woori Bank Hall | Oct 8 to Oct 14 | Follows the screening schedule | Card or cash |
| MEGABOX Busan Theater 4F (Community BIFF only) | Oct 8 to Oct 11 | 9:30 to 20:00 | Card or cash |
Box offices that open before 8:30 only print paper tickets and verify discounts at that hour. On-site ticket sales start at 8:30. On October 15 the only box offices on the 2026 schedule are the two at the Busan Cinema Center, the Outdoor Ticket Box and Cine Mountain 6F.
How to book BIFF tickets as a non-resident
The official ticket site, ticket.biff.kr, has two sign-in buttons. The Korean route uses mobile phone verification, which most visitors cannot complete. Foreign visitors should choose the “Non Resident Ticket Booking (ENG)” button, which uses email verification instead. The steps below follow the festival’s English booking guide for 2026.
- Create a new registration with your email address and verify it. An account from last year does not carry over, so register again every year.
- Sign in with your email and the 6-digit number you set as your password.
- Click Book Now and wait for your queue number if traffic is heavy.
- Search by screening code, or browse films by date.
- Pick your seats, up to two per screening code.
- Choose standard or discount pricing for each seat.
- Pay by credit or debit card, then keep the mobile ticket on your phone.
The festival recommends the Chrome browser and warns that tablets may not work well. You cannot book in several tabs or on several devices with the same account at once. Every new screening code you add sends you back into the queue, so list your codes before sales open.
What you can still watch on October 15, the final day
The last day of BIFF 2026 is Thursday, October 15. According to the official schedule for October 15, every screening takes place at the Busan Cinema Center in Centum City. The daytime slots show audience and critics’ award winners, so the titles are only revealed once the prizes are decided.
| Time | Venue | Code | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | Cinema 1 | 731 | Winner of the Flash Forward Audience Award |
| 10:20 | Cinema 2 | 733 | Winner of the Songwon Vision Audience Award – Korea |
| 10:20 | Cinematheque | 735 | Winner of the Busan Cinephile Award |
| 13:40 | Cinema 1 | 732 | Winner of the Citizen Critics’ Award |
| 14:00 | Cinema 2 | 734 | Winner of the Songwon Vision Audience Award – Asia |
| 14:00 | Cinematheque | 736 | Winner of the Documentary Audience Award |
| 18:00 | Roof Theater | 002 | Closing Ceremony and screening of the Busan Award winner |
The closing film is not announced in advance. BIFF lists it as the winner of the Busan Award, the prize for the Competition section. The official Opening and Closing Information page gives this timetable: audience entry from 17:00, red carpet from 18:00, the main event from 19:00 and the film from 20:20 to about 21:40.
Plan your travel around road closures that evening. BIFF says roads around the Busan Cinema Center close between 17:00 and 23:00 in parts of Centum City, and no parking is set aside for the ceremony. The festival asks visitors to use public transport. Ceremony guests may bring only a non-alcoholic drink in a capped, unbreakable bottle, and large items such as suitcases are not allowed inside.
Cancellation fees and entry rules visitors miss
BIFF allows cancellations up to 60 minutes before a screening, but the fee rises as the date gets closer. Cancel at least six days ahead and you pay nothing. Mobile tickets are cancelled online, while printed tickets must be returned at a BIFF Ticket Box first.
| When you cancel | Fee per ticket | Opening or Closing Ceremony |
|---|---|---|
| 6 or more days before the screening | Free | Free |
| 5 to 3 days before (free on the day of purchase) | KRW 1,000 | KRW 3,000 |
| 2 days before to 60 minutes before | KRW 3,000 | KRW 9,000 |
Entry rules are strict at every venue. A screenshot of a mobile ticket, or a booking email or text message, will not get you through the door. Late arrivals are let in only until 15 minutes after the start, and children under 4 cannot enter any screening. Viewers under 19 cannot attend films rated 19+, even with a guardian.
Badges, discounts and planning for BIFF 2027
Film students and industry workers can skip single tickets and apply for a badge instead. The 2026 accreditation FAQ lists a Festival badge at USD 100 (USD 82 early bird) and a Cinephile badge for enrolled film students at USD 46. A Festival badge covers up to four complimentary tickets a day, and the Cinephile badge also allows four a day for different screenings. Neither badge gets you into the Opening or Closing Ceremony.
BIFF has not announced dates for the 32nd festival yet. Sign up for the newsletter on biff.kr, then watch for the Ticket Catalogue, which in 2026 came out about a month before the festival. Once the schedule is public, note each film’s screening code and subtitle mark. Films marked KE have English subtitles or dialogue, while KN or KK films may have none.
Getting the most out of a short BIFF visit
Online booking is the main route, and the box office is the backup for returned seats. If you arrive near the end of the festival, check the official ticket site that morning, then walk to the Outdoor Ticket Box when it opens at 8:30. The 2026 festival overview lists 316 films in total, including 247 official selections from 59 countries and 95 world premieres, so there is usually something with open seats.
Na Hong-jin’s Master Class was part of this year’s BIFF program, and our guide to his monster film Hope covers where you can watch it. For a look at another Korean director moving into film, read our piece on Hwang Dong-hyuk’s K.O. Club.
Busan film festival tickets FAQ
How much are Busan film festival tickets?
In 2026 a general screening cost KRW 10,000, Actors’ House and Master Class cost KRW 15,000, Midnight Passion cost KRW 20,000, and the Opening or Closing Ceremony cost KRW 30,000. Most visitors only need the KRW 10,000 general screening ticket.
Can foreigners buy BIFF tickets online?
Yes. The official ticket site has a “Non Resident Ticket Booking (ENG)” sign-in that uses email verification instead of a Korean phone number. You must register again each year, even if you booked before.
Can I buy BIFF tickets at the venue on the day?
Only for seats that did not sell out online or were cancelled. On October 15, 2026, the Busan Cinema Center box offices open at 8:30. Popular screenings are often gone, so check the online site first.
What is the closing film of BIFF 2026?
BIFF lists the closing film as the winner of the Busan Award, which is decided at the end of the festival. The title is not published before the closing ceremony on October 15.
Do BIFF films have English subtitles?
Many do, but not all. The schedule marks each film, and KE means Korean subtitles plus English subtitles or dialogue. Check the subtitle code before you pay for a seat.
Can I give my BIFF ticket to a friend?
BIFF warns that it takes no responsibility for problems from private ticket transfers or resale, and asks buyers to use only official channels. Cancelling and letting your friend rebook is the safer route.
