Fantastic Fest 2026: Badges sold out, festival on

Fantastic Fest is in full swing this week, and if you have not yet committed to a badge, there is one detail you need to know first: every single one is sold out. The festival runs for eight days at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar cinema, from September 17 to 24, and badges went on sale back on February 25 at 11 AM CT. Whether you were eyeing the full-access Cult Member pass or the more modest Second Half option, the 2026 allotment is gone.

That is not to say the festival is out of reach. Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., built around horror, sci-fi, fantasy and action, and it is run by Alamo Drafthouse, which means the cinema itself is part of the draw. The South Lamar location was once named the best cinema in America by Entertainment Weekly, and it has served as the festival's primary home since Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse, started the event in 2005. Lisa Dreyer directs the festival now, with Annick Mahnert heading up programming.

What sets it apart from the more industry-focused Austin Film Festival is how much it leans into the fan experience. One of the best-known traditions is the secret screening, where you often do not know what film you are about to see until you are already in your seat and the lights go down. Around the screenings, the festival fills in with themed parties, outings, film-themed feasts, live podcast recordings, boxing debates and, for reasons that are never quite explained, Austrian cocktail robots.

For context on what you are missing, the festival has a long history of world premieres. Films like There Will Be Blood, Apocalypto, Smile, John Wick, Zombieland, Split and The Night Comes for Us all had their first looks here. The guest list over the years reads like a genre-film who's who: Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, Paul Rudd, George Romero, Tim Burton, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Danny McBride and Tenacious D, among many others. In 2022, the festival added Burnt Ends, an online-exclusive section dedicated to the weirdest, wildest and most fringe films in its lineup.

If you are still hunting for a way in, it is worth knowing what the badges actually covered. The Cult Member pass was $1,495 for all eight days, early ticket access, an exclusive merchandise box, a collectible 2026 poster, a $350 Alamo Drafthouse gift card and access to the opening and closing night festivals. The Superfan pass was $675, the Fan pass $545, and the Second Half pass $275, which covered the final four days from September 21 to 24. The Industry pass was also $545 and added daily P&I screenings.

Even without a badge, the festival shapes the city's mood for the week, and it is the kind of event that rewards simply being in Austin while it is on. If you want to keep an eye on future editions or see what made it onto the 2026 program, the official site is the place to start. For anyone with a specific programming question, the festival lists programming@fantasticfest.com as the contact.