29 October to 1 November 2026
DIFF 2026 passes, venue and getting there
The festival is at Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) in Upper Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, about 3 km above McLeod Ganj. Five screens sit on a hillside campus a few minutes’ walk apart.
Passes and tickets
- Price
- ₹1,999 to ₹39,999 on Skillbox, the official ticketing site. Sold out online when we checked on Thursday 22 Oct.
- Types
- Student, Delegate, Special Delegate and DIFF Supporter. Special Delegate and Supporter passes get priority entry.
- One pass, every film
- There are no tickets for single films. Any pass gets you into every screening; there are no reserved seats, so queue at the screen.
- At the venue
- Delegate passes aren’t sold at TCV. A limited number of day passes are sold to local attendees, first come first served.
The screens
- Hermann Gmeiner HallBeside the Football Ground
- PictureTime 1Basketball Court
- PictureTime 2Football Ground
- PictureTime 3Football Ground
- House of Peace and DialogueTalks and DIFFshala
Getting here
- From McLeod Ganj
- Taxi, 10 to 15 minutes. Shared jeeps are cheaper but may leave you a short walk. On foot it’s about 3 km, uphill.
- From Dharamshala bus stand
- Taxi or shared jeep to Dal Lake or TCV, 25 to 30 minutes.
- From Kangra (Gaggal) airport
- About 22 km, 45 to 50 minutes by taxi. Taxis wait at the airport.
- By air
- Kangra Airport is 13 km from Dharamshala, with flights from Delhi and Chandigarh. Amritsar (about 5 hours by taxi) and Chandigarh (about 6.5 hours) have more flights.
- By train
- The nearest stations are Amb Andaura (about 3 hours by taxi) and Pathankot (about 3.5 hours). The 5:50 AM Vande Bharat from Delhi reaches Amb Andaura at 11:05 AM.
- By road
- Delhi is 470 km away: 10 to 11 hours by car or overnight Volvo bus. Pathankot is about 2 hours (90 km). Jalandhar and Amritsar have regular buses.
At the venue
- Box office opens at 9 AM
- On the Basketball Court, beside PictureTime 1. Pick up your pass before the first film.
- No reserved seats
- Every pass gets you into every screening. Queue at the screen; Special Delegate and Supporter passes go in first.
- Hilly campus
- HG Hall is about 20 m higher than the Basketball Court. Wear comfortable shoes; the plan adds walking time for you.
- Food
- Stalls by HG Hall and the Basketball Court. No food or drink inside the screens.
- No smoking
- TCV is a working residential school. Smoking isn’t allowed anywhere on campus.
- Subtitles
- Every non-English film has English subtitles.
- Getting there
- No parking inside TCV. Taxi from McLeod Ganj in 10 to 15 minutes; autos wait at Dal Lake.
- Evenings
- Late October evenings in the hills are cold. Bring a warm layer for the late screenings.
Questions
When does it run?
From 29 October to 1 November. The box office opens at 9 AM, first screenings start from 9:30, and the last ones end at around 9 PM.
Where are the screens?
Hermann Gmeiner Hall, PictureTime 1 on the Basketball Court, and PictureTime 2 and 3 on the Football Ground. Talks and DIFFshala sessions are at the House of Peace and Dialogue.
Do I need a ticket for each film?
No. Every DIFF pass covers all screenings. Just queue at the screen.
Can I reserve a seat?
Delegates can’t. Special Delegate and DIFF Supporter pass holders get priority entry, first come first served.
Which passes are there?
Student, Delegate, Special Delegate and DIFF Supporter. Upgrading at the venue depends on availability.
How much is a pass?
From ₹1,999 to ₹39,999 on Skillbox, the official ticketing site. Online passes were sold out on 22 October 2026.
Can I buy a pass at the venue?
Delegate passes aren’t sold there. A limited number of day passes are available for local attendees, first come first served.
Can I transfer my pass?
No. Passes can’t be transferred once bought.
Are films subtitled?
All non-English films have English subtitles.
Can I bring food in?
There are plenty of food and drink stalls, but please don’t take anything into the screens.
Can I smoke?
No. TCV is a working residential school and smoking isn’t allowed anywhere on the premises.
Is there parking?
Not inside TCV. There are spaces within 500 m near Dal Lake and down Satobari Road, not guaranteed. Buses, autos and taxis run from McLeod Ganj.
Is the venue accessible?
The campus is spread over hilly ground. If you need help getting around, contact DIFF before you arrive so they can plan for it.
Can I volunteer?
Applications for the 2026 volunteer programme have closed.
Is there a safe space policy?
Yes. DIFF has zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse, harassment and assault. Read the policy.