New York Asian Film Festival 2026: Schedule and Planning Guide
Dates, venues, ticket windows, and first-timer tips for the 25th New York Asian Film Festival, July 10–26, 2026.
Last updated:
Review cadence: Daily during the festival; archive after July 26.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 10–26, 2026 |
| Venues | Film at Lincoln Center, SVA Theatre, Korean Cultural Center NY, Anthology Film Archives, IFC Center |
| Opening title | Yeon Sang-ho's Colony (post-Cannes) |
| Lifetime honor | Joan Chen, Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award July 11 |
| Lincoln Center tickets | Public sale June 18, 2:00 p.m. ET (members 12:00 p.m. ET) |
| Official links | filmlinc.org, nyaff.org |
What's on the first-wave slate
Film at Lincoln Center and the New York Asian Film Foundation expect more than 50 filmmakers for Q&As at the 25th edition. Opening weekend centers on Yeon Sang-ho's Colony after Cannes and its Korean theatrical run, plus a 4K restoration of Train to Busan and Yeon's Seoul Station and Peninsula.
Joan Chen receives the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award on July 11 with Montréal, My Beautiful on the program. Rising Star honors go to Hong Kong's Angela Yeun and Japan's Sara Minami.
Announced titles also include South Korea's The King's Warden, Hong Kong's Cold War 1994, and Sundance winner Filipiñana, per Film at Lincoln Center's announcement. Goldscene's NYAFF calendar listing tracks ticket drops as venues publish schedules.
Venue map (five sites)
| Venue | Typical lane | Crowd note |
|---|---|---|
| Film at Lincoln Center | Opening galas, Joan Chen honor | Highest demand; June 18 on-sale |
| SVA Theatre | Mid-fest premieres | Chelsea campus; book early for weekend slots |
| Korean Cultural Center NY | Korean features and restorations | Often less crowded than Lincoln Center |
| Anthology Film Archives | Genre, experimental, restorations | East Village; good for late-night stacks |
| IFC Center | Commercial crossover titles | Union Square; repeat screenings common |
First-timer weekend plan
Day 1: Lincoln Center opening or Colony premiere. Book Midtown or Upper West Side hotels early.
Day 2: Joan Chen honor screening July 11. Expect carpet-adjacent energy even at a festival, not an awards show.
Mid-fest: Spread IFC Center and Anthology programs for genre and restoration slots. Korean Cultural Center screenings can be less crowded than Lincoln Center galas.
Goldscene's Joan Chen honor note adds context on why NYAFF picked her for the 25th edition.
Tickets and passes
Lincoln Center screenings sold through filmlinc.org with the June 18 on-sale window above. Non-Lincoln Center venue details live on nyaff.org.
If you miss a premiere, NYAFF often schedules repeat screenings mid-fest. Check the online schedule daily once it publishes full times.
Related guides
Stack NYAFF with our North America film festival calendar if you are planning a summer film road trip. For Cannes-to-NYAFF routing on Colony, see the Cannes 2026 Asian tracker.
Frequently asked questions
- When does NYAFF 2026 run?
- July 10 through July 26, 2026 across five New York venues, per Film at Lincoln Center and NYAFF announcements.
- When did Lincoln Center tickets go on sale?
- Thursday June 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET for the public, with member early access at 12:00 p.m. ET, per filmlinc.org.
- Is NYAFF only Korean film?
- No. NYAFF is pan-Asian with Hong Kong, Japan, Southeast Asia, and diaspora titles on the 2026 slate.
