Dead Northern Horror Film Festival 2026

Dead Northern Horror Film Festival is back at City Screen Picturehouse from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September, its seventh edition. It's three days of horror and fantasy cinema in the heart of York, running from 11:00 until late, with independent premieres and short films alongside the main features.

It's not just about the screenings, either. There are Q&As and debates with directors, actors and producers, themed events, live performances and talks with industry professionals, with food and drink on hand throughout. A few of the names confirmed for this year include producer Julien Allen and Pen Barras, both on the short The Wyrm of Bwlch; director Adam Jordan, behind the music videos The Fungus and Voodoo; Sangeet Prabhaker, director of the short Dinghy; and J Taylor-Jone, director of the student short Dead Body.

The festival has picked up a fair bit of attention over the years. It was named one of the 'Top Genre Festivals on the Planet 2025' and listed among the 'Top 65 Genre Film Festivals of 2026' by analyst Adrian Tofei, with mentions in Dread Central, Fangoria, Starburst Magazine, the BBC, The York Press, Nerdly, The Independent Horror Society, Horror Cult Film, Horror DNA, Bloody Flicks, Love Horror and Top Genre Film Festivals 2026.

Tickets start at £8.00 for a single event. The VIP Festival Pass is £61.50 and covers Friday to Sunday, all feature films and shorts, the official 2026 t-shirt, a VIP pass and the parties. The Screen Pass is £86.00 for the same access, plus five entries into the annual prize draw for signed merchandise and films. Day Passes start at £41.00 for one day of features and shorts, and those go on sale after the full schedule is released on 25 August. There are concession prices for full-time students, over-60s and CEA cardholders, with valid ID needed at the door. One thing to keep in mind: the whole festival is strictly 18+, and you'll need photo ID to get in. The venue is City Screen Picturehouse, 13-17 Coney St, York YO1 9QL.