Banff National Park hosts film festival from 31 October

Banff National Park will host the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival from 31 October to 8 November 2026 at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity in Banff. The 51st festival brings films, speakers, authors and filmmakers to the Canadian Rocky Mountains during a nine-day programme.

Banff is the town and park gateway associated with the event, while the festival venue sits within the protected area. The date places the programme inside the late-October and November travel period for visitors from Western Europe.

Banff Centre festival begins on 31 October 2026

The festival organiser, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, has announced the 2026 programme for 31 October to 8 November. Its programme includes mountain films, speaker events, community programming, the Festival Marketplace, live music, downtown and partner events, and mountain art exhibitions.

The opening programme includes Chris Benchetler’s Mountains of the Moon with a live musical score on 31 October. The festival schedule also lists film screenings, speaker activity and the Festival Marketplace across the Banff Centre campus.

The official event page confirms the venue and the festival dates in the same listing. The 2026 festival listing identifies Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity in Banff, Alberta as the host location.

Banff National Park gives the festival its mountain setting

Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park and forms part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parks Canada describes the protected area through its Rocky Mountain peaks, glacial lakes and outdoor recreation.

That setting connects the festival’s programme to the landscape beyond its theatres and event spaces. Films, books and talks about mountain culture will be presented in the same park whose identity is built around alpine scenery and protected wilderness.

The town of Banff lies inside the national park, so the festival venue and the wider destination belong to the same visitor area. The Parks Canada park overview records the site’s national status and its World Heritage connection.

Programme details connect films with mountain culture

The festival is broader than a film screening series. Its announced programme combines films with authors, filmmakers, adventurers, speaker events, live music, exhibitions and a marketplace.

The 2026 edition therefore gives visitors several ways to engage with mountain culture at the Banff Centre. The event’s schedule places the festival’s film and cultural activity in Banff from 31 October through 8 November 2026.

Visiting Banff National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival runs from 31 October to 8 November 2026 at Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity in Banff, Alberta.
• The programme includes films, speaker events, the Festival Marketplace, live music, mountain art exhibitions and partner events.
• Banff is inside Banff National Park, which is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The park contains Rocky Mountain peaks and glacial lakes, so outdoor plans beyond the festival venue involve alpine terrain and changing conditions.

Searching for Banff National Park on social platforms

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Frequently asked questions about Banff National Park

When does the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival take place?

The 51st festival runs from 31 October to 8 November 2026 at Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity.

Where is Banff National Park and how do you get there?

Banff National Park is in Alberta, Canada, and the festival venue is in the town of Banff within the park.

What is Banff National Park?

It is Canada’s first national park and part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.