Eleven days of horror by the sea
Sitges bills itself as the world’s leading fantastic film festival. Its full name is the Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya, and it has run since 1968. For eleven days, October 8-18, 2026, horror, fantasy, science fiction and cult cinema take over a whitewashed beach town that is quiet the rest of autumn.
The scene shifts between two worlds. You have the polished premieres at the hotel auditorium on the edge of town. You also have the old-town lanes, where fans in genre T-shirts queue outside small cinemas. Between screenings, the seafront promenade (the Passeig Marítim) and the church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla on its rocky point are a few minutes’ walk away.
Where the screens are
The festival spreads across a handful of venues. These are the ones that keep returning:
- Auditori, Hotel Melià Sitges: the flagship hall, home to the big premieres and red-carpet moments. It sits west of the centre, a 20-minute walk from the station.
- Cinema Retiro: a historic cinema in the town centre.
- Cinema Prado: another central screen, close to the old-town bars.
Confirm venues, timing and tickets on the official site, sitgesfilmfestival.com. Programmes and the venue list can change between editions.
Getting to Sitges
The train is the easiest way in. Rodalies line R2 Sud runs from Barcelona Sants and Passeig de Gràcia to Sitges station in roughly 35-45 minutes. Trains run often through the day, but check the last return train if you’re catching a late screening. Midnight sessions can end after the service stops.
From Barcelona-El Prat airport, the drive down the C-32 motorway is short. Some R2 Sud trains also stop at El Prat. Booking a bed in Sitges itself saves you the late-night commute, and festival dates fill the town’s hotels fast.
Working the festival like a regular
Planning ahead decides how much you see. A few habits help:
- Book screenings early. Premieres at the Auditori sell out first, so lock in the films you care about before you plan meals.
- Read the programme carefully. Many films are in their original language with subtitles. Check which language the subtitles are in for each session.
- Leave time between venues. Walking from the Auditori to the old-town cinemas takes longer than the map suggests, so don’t stack back-to-back sessions across town.
- Watch for the Zombie Walk. This costumed parade through the streets is a long-running festival tradition. Check the official programme for the date.
Local life runs late, which suits a film schedule. Restaurants serve dinner from around 9pm, so a 7pm screening still lets you eat afterwards. Cards are accepted almost everywhere. Tipping is modest: rounding up or leaving small change is normal, and nobody expects a percentage.
People here speak Catalan as well as Spanish. A “bon dia” (good morning) or “gràcies” (thank you) at the box office goes down well. Prices and passes are posted on the official site; check them there before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sitges Film Festival 2026?
It runs October 8-18, 2026. Confirm timing and the full schedule on the official site, sitgesfilmfestival.com.
Where are the main screenings held?
The flagship venue is the Auditori at the Hotel Melià Sitges, on the western edge of town. Cinema Retiro and Cinema Prado in the centre also host screenings. Check the official site for the venue list for each edition.
How do I get to Sitges from Barcelona?
Take Rodalies line R2 Sud from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia to Sitges. The trip takes about 35-45 minutes. Check the last return train if you plan to see late-night sessions.
How many days should I plan for?
Two or three days lets you see several screenings and the town. Committed genre fans often stay for most of the eleven days, so book a bed in Sitges early.
Are films shown with subtitles?
Many films screen in their original language with subtitles. Check each session's subtitle language in the official programme before you book.
Plan your trip to Sitges
Spain eSIM & staying connected →
Some links above are affiliate links — if you book through them, Wander Atlas earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's how we keep every guide free.
