Access: Horror launches 2026 festival season with virtual lineup

The Access: Horror film festival has launched its 2026 season, transitioning from an in-person kickoff at Alamo Drafthouse Winchester to a month-long virtual program running from October 4 through November 1, 2026.

Founded by filmmaker and activist Ariel Baska, the festival focuses on disability advocacy within genre cinema. The 2026 virtual lineup features 19 international titles, including nine opening-night selections, filmmaker Q&As, and industry panels. The programming utilizes body horror and suspense to explore themes such as medical racism, neurodivergence, clinical depression, and systemic discrimination.

To maintain its focus on accessibility, the festival provides open captions for every film in the virtual program, with nearly half of the streaming library including full audio descriptions.