Karlovy Vary Film Festival Announces 137 Films and Marks 60‑ and 80‑Year Jubilees

The 2026 International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary will run from 3 to 11 July, showcasing 137 feature films. The lineup includes a four‑minute Japanese children’s short and the three‑hour Japanese drama Znenadání as the shortest and longest entries. The festival returns for special screenings in nearby Mariánské Lázně, celebrating its early years when the event was split between the two towns.

Alongside the film programme, organisers have added a daily IQOS Lounge with talks, concerts and interviews featuring Czech and international guests. An art installation titled “World without smoke” by Lucie Jindrák Skřivánková will be displayed in a dedicated laboratory space. The 2026 edition also marks the 60th and 80th anniversaries of the festival’s founding, highlighted by star guests such as Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Harvey Keitel and Kevin Bacon.

Historically the festival has been associated with numerous scandals involving alcohol‑fueled incidents, but the current focus is on expanding cultural offerings and commemorating its legacy.