The International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia has unveiled the first titles of its 59th edition, which will take place from 8 to 18 October. Among them are the 4K restoration of Carrie by Brian De Palma and the remastered version of Scanners by David Cronenberg.
The Sitges 2026 Festival revs up with a selection of titles that promise to delight fans of the fantastic genre. The event, which will be held from 8 to 18 October, presented a first glimpse of its programming this Tuesday at the Moritz Factory in Barcelona, with Carrie as the main highlight of this edition's poster.
The film directed by Brian De Palma, based on Stephen King's first novel, celebrates its 50th anniversary and the festival is bringing it back with a stunning 4K restoration. The horror classic, which tells the story of a teenage girl's revenge with telekinetic powers, remains a benchmark of the genre and its image of the blood-soaked prom is featured on this year's poster.
Restored classics and cult series
But Sitges is not just about Carrie. The organisation has confirmed the screening of Scanners by David Cronenberg, also in a remastered 4K version. The film, which includes one of the most shocking scenes in horror cinema (that head explosion), will be shown in all its restored rawness.
Another highlight will be the Carrie series by Mike Flanagan, which adapts King's novel for television for the first time. The Sitges audience will be able to see the first episode before its worldwide premiere, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of De Palma's film. Flanagan serves as showrunner, writer, and director of four episodes, with Stephen King as executive producer.
The festival will also pay tribute to Spanish cinema with the screening of ¿Quién puede matar a un niño? by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador, which celebrates its 50th anniversary. The film, partly shot in Sitges, will be shown in a restored 4K copy. A unique opportunity to revisit this classic of Mediterranean horror that explores the loss of innocence.
World premieres and Asian cinema
The Sitges 2026 programming includes premieres from renowned directors. Among them are Her Private Hell by Nicolas Winding Refn; Leviticus by Adrian Chiarella; Kill Me by Peter Warren; Hungry by James Nunn; and Colony by Yeon Sang-ho, the director of Train to Busan. The second part of Apocalipsis Z by Carles Torrens and Karma by Guillaume Canet will also be screened.
The festival will revive iconic titles such as Tesis by Alejandro Amenábar; The Devils by Ken Russell; Holocausto Caníbal by Ruggero Deodato; and the 1976 version of King Kong by John Guillermin. A selection that demonstrates the vitality of fantastic cinema and its ability to continue surprising.
Venues and sponsorships for a special edition
Screenings will take place at the usual venues: Auditori Melià Sitges, Sala Tramuntana, Sala Llevant (Brigadoon), Casino Prado cinemas, Escorxador – Centre Cultural, and Centre Cultural Miramar. However, Cinema El Retiro will not be available this year due to renovation works, although the festival hopes to recover it for future editions.
The festival is supported by sponsors such as Moritz (main), Cupra, Repsol, CaixaBank, TV3, Catalunya Ràdio, La Vanguardia, and Meliá Sitges. Additionally, entities such as AMC Networks, Campari, FNAC, Renfe, and SGAE collaborate.
For the residents of Sitges and the province of Barcelona, the festival represents a top-tier cultural showcase and an opportunity to enjoy the best fantastic cinema on the big screen. Tickets and passes will be on sale soon, and high demand is expected, especially for the screenings of restored classics.
With this programming, Sitges reaffirms its leadership as a global fantastic film festival, combining nostalgia and novelty in an edition that promises to be unforgettable. Horror and science fiction lovers have a date from 8 to 18 October.
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