As the winter chill sets in across Australia this July and August, Palace Cinemas is offering the absolute perfect cinematic escape: the 2026 Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival. Showcasing the very best in new cinema from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, this year’s festival is already shaping up to be an unmissable event for cinephiles.
Ahead of the full program drop in mid-June, Palace has unveiled five massive highlights that give us a taste of the award-winners, box office hits, and brilliant newcomers heading our way.
Here is your first look at the 2026 lineup:
The Love That Remains (Ástin sem eftir er)From acclaimed director Hlynur Pálmason (A White, White Day, Godland) comes this bittersweet Icelandic comedy-drama. The film tenderly captures a year in the life of a family of five as the parents navigate their separation, exploring love, family, and shared memories. Bonus points: it features a ‘Palm Dog’ winning performance from Pálmason’s own Icelandic sheepdog, Panda!
ButterflyRenate Reinsve (The Worst Person In The World) stars in this intriguing special presentation. The drama follows a pair of estranged sisters who are forced to reunite and travel to the Gran Canaria resort where they grew up, following their mother’s sudden and mysterious death at a mountain retreat. It’s a headfirst plunge into childhood revelations and the hidden heart of the tourist island.
The Last Resort (Paradis)Winner of the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at the 2026 Göteborg Film Festival, this absorbing drama follows a Danish family on an all-inclusive holiday. Anticipating a restful break, reality hits hard when they witness boatloads of refugees arriving on the shores. Testing their moral compass, the family is forced to question how much they are willing to risk to help those in need.
The Kidnapping of a President (Presidentin Kyyditys)Truth is stranger than fiction in this blackly comic drama. Based on a bizarre true story from 1930, chaos ensues when a Finnish group of drunken far-right officers decide to start a revolution. Lieutenant Colonel Eero Kuussaari (Jussi Vatanen, Fallen Leaves) impulsively orders the kidnapping of the retired former president, only to forget his orders the next day—leaving the monumental task to a group of eager, inexperienced soldiers.
Doctor Glas (Doktor Glas)Sweden’s stylish psychological thriller brings a bold, fresh perspective to Hjalmar Söderberg’s acclaimed 1905 novel. Desire, guilt, and obsession are portrayed through the eyes of Gabriel Glas (Isac Calmroth), a reclusive young doctor whose intense fascination with a fashion icon spirals into madness.
When and Where to Catch the Festival
The 2026 Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival kicks off in July. The full program and tickets will be available in mid-June.
Festival Dates & Venues:
- Canberra (9 July – 2 August): Palace Electric
- Melbourne (10 July – 2 August): Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Church St, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Penny Lane, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, and The Astor Theatre
- Ballarat (10 July – 2 August): Palace Regent Cinema
- Brisbane (22 July – 16 August): Palace James St, Palace Barracks
- Adelaide (22 July – 16 August): Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
- Sydney (23 July – 16 August): Palace Norton St, Palace Moore Park, and Palace Central
- Perth (23 July – 16 August): Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, and Palace Raine Square
- Byron Bay & Ballina (23 July – 16 August): Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
Stay tuned to Novastream for more coverage and reviews as the full program is announced!
