Stratford, ON — The Stratford Winter Film Festival will open its 2026 season with a City Hall launch event on January 31, designated on the Destination Stratford calendar as the official City Hall Launch for the year. The one-day preview sets the stage for the full festival, which runs February 6–8, 2026, with Stratford City Hall Auditorium serving as the primary hub; past editions have also used venues such as Revival House, St. Andrew’s Church and Grayson Mills.
Organizers have signalled an interest in showcasing more local and student filmmaking at the January 31 launch and in future programming, but specific program details for the launch (including lineups or Q&A formats) have not been confirmed by the festival at the time of publication. Ticketing is handled through Ticket Tailor; in previous years festival pass prices have ranged roughly from $80 for multi-day options to $150 for four-day passes, though readers should consult the festival’s current ticketing page for up-to-date pricing and options.
Festival founders Leslie Marsh, Craig Sangster and Bruce MacInnis lead the event. Craig Sangster noted in an interview that talking with local businesses highlighted how difficult winter months can be for commerce. Destination Stratford’s executive director, Zac Gribble, has described SWFF as an ‘antidote’ to the mid-winter tourism slump and has pointed to synergies with the city’s Lights On Stratford winter festival.
The Stratford Winter Film Festival is part of a broader shoulder-season push by Destination Stratford, a program the organisation says has attracted more than $1 million in investment to promote events in the quieter months. That program includes Lights On Stratford (scheduled for Dec. 12, 2025–Jan. 18, 2026) and Winter Music Pop-ups in local venues. Organizers hope the combined events will bring more visitors to Stratford during traditionally slow winter months.
Downtown Stratford BIA representatives say the film festival helps shine a light on restaurants, shops and cafés when foot traffic is otherwise low. The 2026 festival program is expected to feature roughly a dozen films, including documentaries and independent features; organizers say the full lineup will be posted on the Visit Stratford event page when it is released.
