It’s Back! It’s Bigger! It’s Better! It’s Scarier Than Ever! Romford Horror Festival 2026. 

Sixth Annual Event Brings Global Cinema to the town.

The very popular Romford Horror Festival returns to the Lumiere Cinema in the Mercury from Thursday 19th February to Sunday 22nd February.

Now in its sixth year, the four-day event has evolved from a local film screening into a significant fixture on the Havering cultural calendar, attracting filmmakers and audiences from across the UK and Europe. Its expected around 2000 people will attend this year’s festival. 

The 2026 programme is the festival’s most extensive yet, spanning three screens to showcase over 130 films. The selection includes a mix of advance studio screenings, restored cult classics, and new independent features representing filmmakers from South Korea, Canada, Italy, and local talent from across Essex and London.

Community and Creativity While the festival focuses on the horror genre, the curators have selected a diverse programme that includes psychological thrillers, dark comedies, and retrospectives. The Lumiere Cinema will feature themed décor and a red-carpet atmosphere, with several international directors attending in person to participate in live Q&A sessions following their screenings.

“The way the community has supported this festival over the last six years has been vital to its growth,” said a spokesperson for the festival organizing committee. “Our goal remains to provide a professional platform for independent film in the heart of Romford, keeping the arts accessible through a competitive pricing structure.”

Thursday: International Thrillers and Opening Night The festival opens on Thursday with a focus on the Giallo era—stylized Italian thrillers from the 1970s that influenced modern suspense cinema. Notable screenings on Screen 5 include the cult classic All the Colours of the Dark.

Thursday’s headline event is the Opening Night Movie, Cold Storage, directed by Jonny Campbell. This high-stakes thriller stars Liam Neeson as a bioterrorism agent tasked with containing a deadly, sentient fungus that escapes from a secure laboratory. The opening day also marks the beginning of the Short Film Showcases, which offer a high-volume look at emerging genre talent.

Friday: Cult Classics and Global Perspectives Friday’s schedule broadens the festival’s scope with a double-bill of Australian cinema on Screen 5: the creature-feature Razorback and the atmospheric The Last Wave. These are screened alongside David Cronenberg’s body-horror masterpiece, Scanners.

Independent cinema remains the focus on Friday evening with the Danish feature Adorable Humans, an anthology of interconnected stories dealing with secrets and psychological tension. The day also features a heavy schedule of international shorts, including the UK-produced Rock Paper Scissors Death and the Greek thriller Gumboro.

Saturday: Iconography and Merchandise Saturday is the festival’s busiest day, headlined by a back-to-back screening of the original Hellraiser and its sequel on Screen 5. In addition to the film programme, the cinema foyer will host over a dozen specialist vendors selling merchandise, with select film personalities available for autograph signings throughout the afternoon.

Sunday: The British Independent Scene The final day of the festival highlights homegrown talent. A key feature is Charlie Shaw’s Revenge, directed by John Langridge, a gritty British slasher set in a decaying theme park. This is followed by Louisa Rose Warren’s Bride of Frankenstein, a modern, dark reimagining of the classic tale set in a British seaside town. Meanwhile acclaimed actor Kevin McNally turns director with his debut movie Well-Being starring festival regular and actress Ayvianna Snow. 

The festival concludes on Sunday evening with the annual Awards Ceremony, recognizing the best features, shorts, and performances of the 2026 selection.

Accessibility and Local Impact The festival continues its commitment to affordable cinema. A Full Festival Pass is priced at £50, covering all four days and over 130 films. Single Day Passes are available for £16 (Thursday and Friday) and £18 (Saturday and Sunday). Individual session tickets will be released on February 7th.

The event provides a consistent boost to the local economy during the winter period, with attendees and filmmakers utilizing Romford’s hotels, restaurants, and shops within the town centre.

Event Details:

• Dates: 19th – 22nd February 2026

• Location: Lumiere, The Mercury, Romford

• Passes: £50 (Full), £16-£18 (Day)

• Website: romfordhorrorfestival.com

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