Film fans are heading to Paris for Chéries-Chéris 2026, the city’s LGBTQIA+ film festival, running from 14 to 24 November. Its 32nd edition brings a record 85 features and 79 shorts from more than 40 countries to four venues. Here’s what to know, from Isabelle Huppert’s gothic opening-night turn to the films and events worth planning around.

Essential takeaways

  • When: Chéries-Chéris runs from 14 to 24 November 2026 in Paris.
  • Where: Screenings are planned at MK2 Beaubourg, MK2 Quai de Seine, MK2 Bibliothèque and the returning Forum des images.
  • The scale: The programme lists 85 features and 79 shorts from more than 40 countries.
  • Big-screen moments: Isabelle Huppert stars in opening film The Blood Countess, while La Bola Negra closes the festival.
  • Plan ahead: Check each film listing for screening times, age guidance and English-subtitle information.

A record-breaking edition spreads across Paris

There’s plenty to browse: 85 features and 79 short films make this the largest edition in the festival’s history, with work from more than 40 countries. Chéries-Chéris has been presenting queer cinema since 1994, and the organisers reported more than 22,000 attendees at last year’s festival. [2], [4]

Screenings are listed at MK2 Beaubourg, MK2 Quai de Seine and MK2 Bibliothèque, with the Forum des images back on the map after a long absence. The Forum is hosting classics, talks and a masterclass, while the MK2 cinemas carry much of the main programme. [2], [4]

Films are shown in their original languages with French subtitles. If you need English subtitles, check the individual listing before booking; not every screening will necessarily have them. Some films also carry 16+ or 18+ guidance, so it’s worth checking the details rather than turning up surprised. [2]

From vampire glamour to a sweeping Spanish saga

Opening film The Blood Countess, directed by Ulrike Ottinger, stars Isabelle Huppert as a vampire roaming fin-de-siècle Vienna. Its gothic, camp premise promises a playful spin on the vampire story, with a cast that includes Birgit Minichmayr, Lars Eidinger and Conchita Wurst. The listed opening-night screening is at MK2 Bibliothèque on 17 November. [2], [3]

The festival closes on 24 November with La Bola Negra, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the Spanish duo known as Los Javis. The story links three men across different periods of Spanish history, drawing on an unfinished text by Federico García Lorca. The film won Best Director at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. [2], [6]

One date detail deserves a second look: the festival is described as running from 14 to 24 November, but the opening-night screening is listed for 17 November. Check the official schedule for the full screening calendar, as the first festival screenings begin before the gala. [2], [4]

What to watch in the 2026 programme

For a high-profile special screening, look out for Coward (Les Braves), Lukas Dhont’s First World War drama about two soldiers whose relationship develops under the pressure of the Belgian front. Dhont and lead actors Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne are listed as attending the 16 November screening at MK2 Quai de Seine. [2], [5]

The competition has plenty of different moods. Iván & Hadoum, a Berlinale Teddy Award winner, follows a romance between a trans man and his Moroccan colleague in Spain’s greenhouse industry, while Mouse is a coming-of-age story set in Arkansas. For animation, Tangles adapts Sarah Leavitt’s autobiographical graphic novel about a family facing memory loss. [2], [3]

There are also films with a strong sense of place and history. Narciso turns to 1950s Paraguay as dictatorship tightens its hold, while Strange River follows a teenager cycling along the Danube with his family. Documentary choices range from a portrait of filmmaker Barbara Hammer to a look at queer life around Mexican rodeo. [2], [3]

Make a practical plan before you go

With four venues and a packed schedule, choosing by area as well as by film can save time. MK2 Beaubourg is in the 3rd arrondissement, MK2 Quai de Seine in the 19th, MK2 Bibliothèque in the 13th and the Forum des images near Les Halles. Allow a little breathing room between screenings, especially if you’re crossing the city. [2], [4]

The programme includes 17 feature films in competition, 19 documentaries and 15 short-film programmes, alongside restored classics, a masterclass and parties. That makes it a good festival for mixing a big-name screening with something less familiar; a short-film session can be a neat way to sample several emerging voices in one sitting. [2], [3]

The organisers say a Happy Hour rate applies throughout the day at MK2 cinemas during the festival. For tickets, accessibility details and any last-minute changes, use the official programme and check the film listing before setting off. [2]

The festival’s appeal goes beyond the screen

The Forum des images adds a space for conversation, with a screenwriting workshop, a round-table discussion and a masterclass among the listed events. Restored films and tributes to queer filmmakers also give the festival a longer view, connecting current work with the artists and titles that helped shape queer cinema. [2], [3]

And then there are the parties, which give the festival a social life beyond the cinema seats. Whether you’re in Paris for one screening or planning a run of films, the strongest approach is simple: pick a couple of must-sees, leave room for a discovery, and check the practical details before booking. [2], [4]

A little planning goes a long way when the programme is this big, so choose your screenings and let the unexpected ones surprise you. [2]

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

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