Telluride is bracing for three days of scares as the Telluride Horror Show returns to the mountain town from Oct. 16 through 18, marking the festival's 17th edition. The lineup mixes feature films, short films, premieres and genre-spanning programming across horror, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy, sci-fi and dark comedy.
According to telluride.com, the festival line-up showcases feature films and short films from new and established talent alongside special programs, guests and events. As reported by the Denver Gazette, River marks director Joshua Giuliano's debut feature film, and the Denver Gazette describes the festival as Colorado's first and longest-running horror film festival.
Premieres Anchor the 2026 Slate
Victorian Psycho closes out the festival as its closing-night film, while The Cycle screens with director Jordan Downey appearing in person, according to Bloody Disgusting. Black Sheeps will have its North American premiere at the festival, and Ghost in the Cell will screen as its Colorado premiere, the outlet reports.
The festival will also present the world premiere of the final cut of Recluse, followed by a Q&A with filmmakers and cast, per the same report. The Denver Gazette notes that the fifth feature film from The Adams Family will also play in Telluride, and that Capturing Bigfoot is set for a cellphone-free screening. Short films will be organized into blocks named Chamber of Horrors, Forbidden Worlds, Sinister Stories, Vault of Humor and Weird-Ass Tales, per the Denver Gazette.
Fangoria and Bloody Disgusting Host This Year's Screenings
Bloody Disgusting joins this year's festival as one of the 2026 edition's guest hosts, according to its own report, alongside Fangoria's Meredith Borders, BJ Colangelo and Brian W. Collins. The Denver Gazette additionally lists Meagan Navarro, affiliated with Bloody Disgusting, among the 2026 guest hosts. Ernest Dickerson is set to participate in a special program celebrating the First in Fright: The Fangoria Compendium book, according to the Denver Gazette, which ties into the festival's First in Fright: The Fangoria Compendium horror trivia event.
Beyond the screen, the festival's special events include cemetery tours by lamplight, an Ice Scream Social and Pig Roast, and a secret Horror Society meeting, the Denver Gazette reports. A new addition, Late Night with Count Chuckles, brings a horror-themed comedy show to the lineup this year.
Authors Bring Horror to Downtown Telluride
Authors Nat Cassidy, Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, Eric LaRocca and CJ Leede will take part in conversations, bonfire readings in downtown Telluride and book signings, all free and open to the public, according to Bloody Disgusting's report. The event's literary programming also includes the To Hell You Read horror book club, per the Denver Gazette, extending the festival's reach beyond film screenings into public readings and signings.
The Sheridan Opera House notes that the festival's programming emphasizes premieres and early U.S. screenings, with most films having one of their first American showings in Telluride. A Colorado events roundup from Thirst Colorado describes the festival as claiming to be Colorado's largest horror film festival while again noting its 17th edition, and says the weekend includes premieres, special programs, guests and events.
According to the Denver Gazette, the festival offers a three-day pass, a six-pack of tickets, and single tickets, with the three-day pass priced at $248.12 and the six-pack pass priced at $124.57. Single tickets are sold at the door before screenings when space is available, per the same report.
