2026 Asian Film Festival Calendar (North America)
Confirmed 2026 dates for major Asian and diaspora film festivals across the United States and Canada, with official links for tickets and programming.
Last updated:
Review cadence: Update weekly through fall festival season; monthly in winter.
At a glance
| Festival | City | Dates (2026) | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Asian American Film Festival | Austin, TX | Jun 24–28 | aaafilmfest.com |
| New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) | New York, NY | Jul 10–26 | nyaff.org |
| Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) | New York, NY | Jul 30–Aug 9 | asiancinevision.org |
| Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival | Vancouver, BC | Sep 4–5 | vtwff.ca |
| Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) | Chicago, IL | Sep 17–20 | csaff.org |
| Toronto Reel Asian | Toronto, ON | Nov 11–21 (in person); online Nov 16–29 | reelasian.com |
Rows are confirmed from Goldscene calendar listings and official festival pages as of June 2026. Add rows when new dates are announced; leave TBA cells blank rather than guessing.
What's confirmed
NYAFF runs July 10–26, 2026 across five New York venues including Film at Lincoln Center, opening with Yeon Sang-ho's Colony and honoring Joan Chen. Tickets for Lincoln Center screenings went on sale June 18 per Film at Lincoln Center's announcement.
AAIFF presents its 49th edition July 30 through August 9, 2026 in person in New York City plus an online window, per Asian CineVision.
CSAFF schedules September 17–20, 2026 in downtown Chicago with screenings, panels, and galas, per csaff.org.
Reel Asian marks its 30th anniversary November 11–21, 2026 in Toronto with an online Canada-wide edition November 16–29, per reelasian.com.
VTWFF runs September 4–5, 2026 at the VIFF Centre in Vancouver with the theme New Generation Lenses, per Vancouver Taiwanese Film Society.
How to use this calendar
Stack festivals by travel lane, not by logo count. A New York week can pair NYAFF and AAIFF if you have six to ten days. A fall trip can combine Chicago CSAFF with a Toronto Reel Asian weekend if you fly between cities.
If you stream instead of travel, prioritize festivals with confirmed online windows (AAIFF and Reel Asian both offer virtual access). Bookmark Goldscene's Culture Calendar for ticket drops and programming notes.
What to watch on Goldscene
Our festival event pages on Goldscene link to official listings with dates we refresh when organizers update schedules.
Planning tips
Book hotels near the main venue cluster before pass sales, not after. Asian film festivals often program late screenings; assume one midnight slot per weekend if you chase premieres.
For South Asian-focused stacks, CSAFF pairs naturally with fall community food festivals in the Midwest. For pan-Asian breadth, NYAFF plus AAIFF remains the densest U.S. summer block.
Frequently asked questions
- Which North American Asian film festival is best for first-timers?
- NYAFF in July is the clearest summer anchor for pan-Asian cinema in the U.S. Reel Asian in November is the flagship for Canada. Pick one city, then stack a second fest only if travel dates align.
- Are these festivals only in New York and Toronto?
- No. Chicago CSAFF, Austin's Asian American Film Festival, and Vancouver's Taiwanese Film Festival cover Midwest, Texas, and Western Canada lanes with distinct programming.
- When should I buy tickets?
- Major Lincoln Center and TIFF Lightbox screenings sell out early. Set a calendar alert when each festival announces its pass sale date, usually two to four weeks before opening night.
