Travel Guide

IFFI Goa 2026: Dates, Delegate Pass, Stay and Travel Plan

IFFI Goa 2026 runs 20 to 28 Nov in Panaji. See delegate pass fees, how to register, ticket rules, venues, stay and travel tips, and how to avoid fake passes.

Ayush Pandey November 6, 2026 · 14 min read

IFFI Goa 2026: Dates, Delegate Pass, Stay and Travel Plan

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is India's main international film festival, held in Goa since 2004. The 57th edition runs from 20 to 28 November 2026 in Panaji. This guide explains how to get a delegate pass and what it costs, how screening tickets work, where the festival is centred, how to book a stay and reach Goa, and what to avoid. We used the festival's own FAQ and ticket policy, a Press Information Bureau release, news reports and a hotel notice from the Entertainment Society of Goa, up to 6 November 2026. Where a rule comes from last year's edition we say so.

Quick Answer: IFFI Goa 2026

The 57th IFFI runs from 20 to 28 November 2026 in Panaji, Goa. Film professionals and cine enthusiasts pay Rs 1,180 including GST for a delegate pass, and students register free. Pay only after approval, at my.iffigoa.org. Opening and closing ceremonies need separate invitations, and passes cannot be transferred or refunded.

Item	2026	Status
Festival dates	20 to 28 November 2026	PIB release of 1 Oct 2026, News On AIR, ESG notice
Edition	57th IFFI	PIB, News On AIR
Place	Panaji, Goa; main venue Old GMC complex, Campal	ESG hotel notice for 2026
Delegate fee	Rs 1,180 including GST for professionals and enthusiasts; students free	IFFI FAQ, Digital Goa (30 Oct 2026)
Registration	Open as of 30 Oct 2026; no closing date given	Digital Goa; the FAQ conflicts on a deadline
Media accreditation	Closed on 15 October 2026	PIB
Ceremonies	Opening and closing by invitation only	IFFI FAQ
Pass transfer or refund	Not allowed	IFFI FAQ

IFFI 2026 Dates and Who Runs It

Three official or near-official sources agree on 20 to 28 November 2026: a Press Information Bureau release of 1 October 2026, a News On AIR report of 27 July 2026 on the call for entries, and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) notice for festival hotels. GKToday reports that the first Steering Committee meeting for the 57th edition was held on 21 August 2026 in New Delhi, chaired by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr L. Murugan. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is the nodal ministry and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) runs the event, according to GKToday. ESG, the Goa government body in Panaji, is the local organiser and issued the hotel notice.

News On AIR lists the 2026 programme strands as the Indian Panorama section with 25 feature and 20 non-feature films, awards for debut directors, digital web series and international competitions including the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal. The film list for 2026 has not been published in the sources we checked.

Delegate Pass: Fees, Eligibility and How to Register

The IFFI FAQ lists these fees and rules.

Category	Fee	Daily screening tickets
Film Professional	Rs 1,180 including 18 percent GST	5 per day (the FAQ gives one extra ticket over enthusiasts)
Cine Enthusiast	Rs 1,180 including 18 percent GST	4 per day
Student	Free	4 per day
Media Correspondent	Through PIB accreditation, which closed on 15 Oct 2026	5 per day
Media Camera Person	Through PIB accreditation	3 per day

Digital Goa reported on 30 October 2026 that members of the public aged 18 and over can register, and that film professionals, students and cinema enthusiasts are the groups. The ticket quotas above come from the festival's ticket policy for the 56th edition in 2025, and the 2026 policy may differ, so check the official page before you rely on them.

How to Register

Go to my.iffigoa.org and create a MYIFFI account if you do not have one.
Open the Registrations tab and choose Delegate.
Fill in and submit the form, and upload identity or professional documents for verification.
Wait for the confirmation email. Payment is requested only after you are accepted.
Pay by net banking, card or an offline challan at an HDFC Bank branch. Cash is not accepted at the venue.
Download the receipt from your MYIFFI account.

The FAQ gives conflicting information on a deadline: one entry says there is no specific end date and another says there is one. It recommends early registration because availability is limited. If a payment fails, do not pay a second time. Write to registration@iffigoa.org, as the FAQ advises.

What the Pass Includes

Online accreditation and a QR-coded badge.
Free access to panels and screenings, booked through the festival app or the Film Guide.
Masterclasses, panel discussions and filmmaker interactions, according to Digital Goa.
A listing in the Online Film Professionals Guide for cinema professionals.

What It Does Not Include

Entry to the opening and closing ceremonies, which need separate invitations.
Transfer to another person. Badges are non-transferable and non-refundable, even for non-attendance.
Accommodation or travel. The FAQ and the news reports we read say nothing about either.

A lost badge can be replaced for a Rs 100 fine, and the loss must be reported at the registration desk.

How Screening Tickets Work

The festival's ticket policy, written for the 56th IFFI, sets these rules. Treat them as the likely pattern for 2026 and confirm on the portal.

Tickets are online only, through my.iffigoa.org or the IFFIGoa mobile app. No paper tickets are issued.
Booking opens two days before a screening, at 8 AM, as in the policy's example of 19 November for a 21 November film. Booking stays open until the show starts, and some reserved seats are released one hour before.
Cancel at least 30 minutes before the show. A late cancellation or a no-show reduces your daily quota.
Three no-shows may deactivate the accreditation card.
Scan the card at the auditorium door. Aisle seating is prohibited and can lead to a bar.
You cannot book parallel screenings in the same slot.
Between venues at Porvorim and Panjim, the policy asks for at least one hour between one show's end and the next show's start.

Never share your card. The policy says sharing can lead to the card being blocked.

Venues: Where IFFI Happens

The ESG hotel notice for 2026 calls the Old GMC complex in Campal, Panaji, the festival venue. The 2026 list of screening halls has not been published in the sources we found. Reports from 2025 show the pattern:

Venue	Use in 2025	Source
Old GMC Complex, Campal	VIP and inaugural main stage	The Goan
INOX complex, Panaji	Red Carpet area and screenings	The Goan, Counterview
Kala Academy	Screenings and end of the parade route	Counterview, The Goan
Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium and auditorium	Closing ceremony and IFFIesta showcase	The Goan, Outlook Traveller
Porvorim and Panjim halls	Screening locations named in the ticket policy	IFFI ticket policy

In 2025 the festival opened on 20 November with an outdoor float parade from the Old Secretariat to Kala Academy, DB Road was closed for the day, and inaugural speeches started at 3:45 PM, according to The Goan. The 2026 opening plan has not been announced. Check for road closures if you plan to be in Panaji that afternoon.

Last Year's Scale

For context, Counterview reported 270 films from 81 countries, more than 7,500 delegates and 21 masterclasses at the 56th edition. News On AIR reported free transport for delegates in 2025. We have no confirmation of a 2026 shuttle, so do not plan around one.

Where to Stay During IFFI

ESG invited hotels in August 2026 to be empanelled as festival back-up hotels for ESG and for the 57th IFFI. The notice asks for hotels within 10 km by road of the Old GMC in Campal and covers dormitory, budget and one-star, two-star, three-star and four-star categories. It gives no hotel names, rates or booking method for visitors, so it tells you the scale of demand and not where to book.

Stay in or near Panaji and Campal if you will attend several screenings a day, since the main venue is there.
Porvorim is the other screening location named in the ticket policy, so check which halls your films use before you choose.
Book once your film schedule is clear, but do not wait long. We have no occupancy data, so we cannot say how early rooms fill.
Ask for a clear cancellation policy, because ticket times shift.

Our hotel booking can compare rooms for your dates.

How to Reach Goa and Panaji

Mode	Detail	Source note
Dabolim Airport (GOI)	About 29 to 30 km from Panaji, around 35 minutes by road	Holidify, Club Mahindra
Manohar International Airport, Mopa (GOX)	About 33 km from Panaji, around 50 minutes	Club Mahindra
Karmali railway station	Named as the station for Panaji	Holidify
Madgaon railway station	The biggest station in Goa	Holidify
Kadamba Transport buses	State-run service from Panjim, Margao and Mapusa	Holidify

These are commercial travel sites, and the distances are approximate, so confirm your route with the airport, Konkan Railway or Kadamba Transport. Two airports serve Goa, so check which one your airline uses before booking a cab. Our airport pickup, cab and intercity cab services can arrange the road, and the guide to how we handle everything after you land explains pickups.

A Simple Plan for a Delegate

Register on my.iffigoa.org as soon as you decide, and wait for approval before you pay.
Fix your travel dates once the programme and film schedule are published.
Book the room near Panaji and the airport pickup.
Plan each day around the booking window: tickets open two days ahead at 8 AM, per last year's policy.
Leave a gap of at least an hour between screenings at different venues.
Keep one free day for the Goa you came to see.

What to Carry

A photo ID and your badge or e-ticket QR code.
A light jacket, since cinema halls can be cold.
A power bank, as e-tickets live on your phone.
Comfortable shoes for walking between venues.

Beware of Fake IFFI Passes

The festival says payment is requested only after you are confirmed as a delegate, and it accepts online payment or an HDFC challan, with no cash at the venue. Do not buy a pass or ticket from a stranger, a social media seller or a travel page, and do not pay before approval. Badges cannot be transferred, so a resold badge is unusable. Your Travel Partner does not sell IFFI passes.

For Visitors from Abroad and Other States

Delegates register on the official portal like everyone else. Check separately whether your passport needs an Indian visa for your dates. If you fly to Goa from abroad via Delhi or Mumbai, plan the connecting flight with a long buffer. Our guide to landing at the airport explains how pickups work, and our custom package can link Goa with other stops.

Plan Your Goa Trip with Your Travel Partner

Your Travel Partner is a travel company based in Ayodhya that arranges trips across India and abroad. We plan the road, the stay and the timing around an event, for visitors from every state and from other countries.

Airport or railway pickup in Goa: airport and railway.
Cabs across Goa: cab and intercity cab.
Rooms near Panaji: hotel booking.
A trip that links Goa with other states: custom package.
Send your dates, city and group size on WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

We do not sell IFFI passes, delegate registrations or screening tickets. See the packages page, our reviews, about us and the cancellation policy.

Common Mistakes

Paying a third party for a pass instead of using my.iffigoa.org.
Paying before you receive the approval email.
Assuming the delegate pass covers the opening or closing ceremony.
Booking back-to-back films at different venues with no gap.
Using the 2025 rules without checking the 2026 policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is IFFI 2026?

From 20 to 28 November 2026 in Goa, according to a PIB release, News On AIR and the Entertainment Society of Goa.

Which edition is IFFI 2026?

The 57th International Film Festival of India.

Where is IFFI 2026 held?

In Panaji, Goa. The ESG notice names the Old GMC complex in Campal as the festival venue. The full venue list for 2026 is not yet published.

How much is the IFFI delegate pass?

Rs 1,180 including 18 percent GST for film professionals and cine enthusiasts. Students register free, according to the IFFI FAQ.

How do I register as a delegate?

Create a MYIFFI account at my.iffigoa.org, open Registrations, choose Delegate, submit the form, and pay after you receive the confirmation email.

What is the last date to register for IFFI 2026?

No closing date was given in the 30 October 2026 report, and the festival FAQ is inconsistent on a deadline. Register early.

Can I get a refund on a delegate pass?

No. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, including for non-attendance, according to the FAQ.

How many films can a delegate book per day?

Under the 2025 ticket policy, film professionals could book 5 a day, and cine enthusiasts and students 4. Check the 2026 policy.

When do screening tickets open?

Two days before the show at 8 AM, under the 2025 policy. Booking remains open until the show starts.

Does the delegate pass include the opening and closing ceremonies?

No. They are by invitation only.

Can students attend for free?

Yes. Student delegate registration is free, and students get 4 tickets a day, according to the FAQ.

Is media accreditation still open?

No. PIB's media accreditation window closed on 15 October 2026.

Which airport is closest to IFFI venues?

Dabolim is about 29 to 30 km from Panaji, and Mopa is about 33 km, according to travel sites. Confirm the distances for your route.

Where should I stay for IFFI?

Near Panaji and Campal, where the main venue is. ESG has invited hotels within 10 km of the Old GMC to be empanelled, but it has not published a list for visitors.

Does Your Travel Partner sell IFFI passes?

No. We arrange pickups, cabs and hotels. Register for passes only on the official IFFI portal.

Conclusion

IFFI 2026 runs from 20 to 28 November in Panaji. Register on the official portal, pay only after approval, and plan your screenings around the ticket rules. Book a room near Panaji and a pickup from Dabolim or Mopa, and avoid anyone who sells passes. For cabs, hotels and a Goa plan, message us on WhatsApp.