FrightFest Glasgow 2026 Is Coming… And It’s Going to Be Savage
FrightFest is back in Glasgow… and it’s coming in hot. The UK’s undisputed heavyweight champion of horror, fantasy and genre cinema returns to the Glasgow Film Festival for its 21st year, running from Thursday 5 March to Saturday 7 March 2026 at the legendary Glasgow Film Theatre.
This is the stuff nightmares (and lifelong fandoms) are made of.
For three blood-soaked, scream-fuelled days, FrightFest unleashes the latest and greatest genre discoveries from across the globe. Expect eight brand-new feature films, five world premieres, and a dedicated UK & Ireland short film showcase, spotlighting the next wave of horror talent. If you live for packed auditoriums, collective gasps, wild applause and that unmistakable buzz of discovering something truly twisted before anyone else – this is your pilgrimage.
As FrightFest co-director Alan Jones puts it:
For twenty-one years, FrightFest has joyfully programmed for collective gasps, laughs, screams and applause from our ever-supportive audiences within the Glasgow Film Festival. This year’s prime selection of unusual films will innovate, challenge, thrill and amaze…
Translation: bring nerves of steel.
Opening Night: Locked In And Losing Control
The festival explodes into life with the World Premiere of JAILBROKEN, a relentless, high-pressure action-thriller from director Vasily Chuprina, set entirely inside a single prison cell. Yes – one cell. Maximum intensity. Driven by a Scottish production team and boasting a powerhouse cast including David Hayman, Bryan Larkin, Shauna MacDonald and Armin Karima, this one promises claustrophobic tension dialled up to eleven. Chuprina, key cast and crew will be in attendance for what’s shaping up to be a massive opening salvo.
Friday: Demons, Creatures, Cult Cinema & Algorithmic Nightmares
The two-day FrightFest pass event kicks off on Friday 6 March with the UK Premiere of BURY THE DEVIL – a fast, furious, twist-heavy exorcism thriller that throws you straight into the chaos and never lets up. Expect possession with a fresh coat of terror.
Next comes the World Premiere of BONE KEEPER, a monstrous cave-set creature feature from genre mainstay Howard J. Ford. Survival horror in a pitch-black labyrinth? Yes please. Ford will be there with cast in tow to unleash this subterranean nightmare on a Glasgow audience.
Then it’s documentary gold with BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL, exploring the troubled legacy of Exorcist II: The Heretic. Featuring John Boorman, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher and more, this deep dive into one of horror’s most infamous sequels is essential viewing for genre obsessives.
Friday night levels up with the UK Premiere of THE RESTORATION AT GRAYSON MANOR – a gloriously camp, creature-powered sci-fi horror comedy from Glenn McQuaid (I Sell The Dead). Imagine vintage monster mayhem with a knowing wink. Even better: Alice Krige and Chris Colfer will be in attendance.
And if that wasn’t enough? The evening detonates with THE CURSE, a viciously smart, TikTok-age horror satire from Kenichi Ugana. Think The Ring for the algorithm generation – a savage takedown of online obsession with teeth.
Saturday: Punk Horror, Rising Stars & Dark Fantasies
Saturday’s carnage begins with the International Premiere of VIOLENCE, a raw, brutal, punk-charged action-horror from Connor Marsden. A love story that hits like a crowbar to the chest? We’re in.
FrightFest then continues its mission to champion home-grown talent with another Short Film Showcase, spotlighting eight rising directors from the UK and Ireland. Expect fearless ideas, bold visuals, and the future of genre filmmaking, with filmmakers and cast present to celebrate.
Next is the UK Premiere of THE CONVENIENCE STORE, a Japanese horror adaptation of the cult Chilla’s Art game, directed by Jiro Nagae and starring Kotona Minami. Midnight shifts. Strange customers. Growing dread. If you love slow-burn unease that crawls under your skin, this one’s for you.
The evening surges forward with the World Premiere of RED RIDING – Craig Conway’s directorial debut, a savage, contemporary reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood, executive-produced by Neil Marshall. Gritty, violent and modern, with Conway, Marshall and cast in attendance.
Then comes the UK Premiere of KARMADONNA, a brutal, confrontational dystopian horror from Aleksander Radivojević (A Serbian Film co-writer). A pregnant woman, a divine ultimatum, and a spiralling descent into moral darkness. This one is not for the faint-hearted.
And to close out FrightFest Glasgow 2026 in full mythic mode: DEATHKEEPER. This Australian fantasy-horror from Tristan Barr, adapted from The Deathkeeper novellas, promises haunting atmosphere, creeping dread, and a finale that will linger long after the credits roll.
TICKETS & PASSES
FrightFest Passes (£88) go on sale Friday 16 January 2026 at 10am. Passes cover Friday 6 March and Saturday 7 March only and are exchanged for wristbands before the first screening.
Individual tickets (including JAILBROKEN) go on sale:
- CineCard / CineCard+ Members: Friday 23 January at 10am
- General Sale: Monday 26 January 2026 at 10am
Prices: £12 / £9.60 (concessions)
If you’re serious about horror.
If you live for world premieres, packed auditoriums and discovering tomorrow’s cult classics today.
If your idea of a perfect weekend involves monsters, mayhem, and the collective scream of a sold-out crowd.
FrightFest Glasgow 2026 is unmissable… We’ll see you in the dark!
