IDFA, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, is the biggest documentary festival in the world. For eleven days in November it fills Amsterdam’s cinemas with hundreds of films, from hard-hitting investigations to quiet personal stories, plus talks with the makers after many screenings.
It is a great festival for internationals: films come from everywhere, and screenings are generally in English or with English subtitles. Going to a documentary on a rainy November evening and arguing about it over a beer afterwards is about as Amsterdam as it gets.
- When: Thursday 12 to Sunday 22 November 2026
- Where: cinemas and venues across Amsterdam
- Tickets: general ticket sales open on Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 12:00 (Friends of IDFA get access from 26 October); some special screenings go on sale earlier
- Getting there: trains from Haarlem to Amsterdam Centraal take about 15 minutes; most venues are a tram ride or walk from there.
Good to know: popular screenings sell out within hours of the general sale, so have your shortlist ready on 28 October.
Planning your year? See everything on the events calendar.
