How to Get Red Carpet Fan Access at Leicester Square Premieres 2026

The short answer

For major studio premieres in Leicester Square, you usually can’t just turn up. In 2026, fan access has mostly worked through free online ballots run by the studio. You apply, and if you’re drawn you receive two passes to a fan area beside the red carpet. Older premieres used first-come wristbands handed out in the square, and some still might.

Table of Contents

How the ballots work

Recent Warner Bros. UK events set the pattern. HBO Max UK followed it for the House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere on 8 June 2026.

Apply through the studio’s official RSVP page. There is a general access ballot and a separate accessible access ballot.
Successful applicants get two passes.
One application per person; duplicates are removed.
Applicants must be 18 or over and show photo ID (a passport, driving licence or Access Card).
Applications typically close several days before the event, and winners are emailed the next day.
A pass gets you into the fan area only. It doesn’t get you into the venue or the screening.
Fan areas are outdoors and uncovered, and there are bag and security searches.
If you can’t go, tell the organisers so your pass can go to someone on the waitlist.

Ballot windows are short. The Wuthering Heights UK premiere (5 February 2026) ballot closed on 25 January. The House of the Dragon one closed on 4 June for an 8 June event.

The old wristband system

Before ballots, studios handed out numbered wristbands in Leicester Square. For the 2014 Hobbit premiere, wristbands were issued first come, first served from noon the day before the event. For Black Adam in 2022, they were handed out from 8am on the morning of the premiere. Wristbands weren’t transferable, and losing one meant no automatic right to re-entry. Read more in wristbands vs ballots.

Some premieres, especially smaller or non-studio ones, may still work this way. Always check the official announcement for that film.

Where to find the official ballot

Studios announce fan access on their UK websites and social channels, usually one to two weeks before a premiere. Treat the studio’s own channels as the only source. Be wary of anyone selling passes or “guaranteed access”. See premiere scams.

Our premiere calendar is updated weekly with confirmed dates.

Film festival premieres are different

The BFI London Film Festival (7 to 18 October 2026) puts most of its galas at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, not Leicester Square. Gala tickets start from £10, while fundraising tickets cost more (£250 for the Closing Night Gala, £1,000 for the Opening Night Gala). The BFI says its fundraising tickets do not include access to red carpet photography. See our LFF red carpet guide.

What to expect on the day

Read what happens on premiere day and pack using our survival kit.

Practical tips

Dress for the weather: the fan area is uncovered.
Bring your ID and pass.
Travel light, because bags are searched.
Eat before you go.
Bring a portable phone charger.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside the premiere with a fan pass? No. Fan passes cover the outdoor fan area only, not the venue or the screening. Is it free? Studio fan ballots have been free to enter. Never pay a third party for fan-area access. Can I enter more than once? Not for the same ballot. Recent studio ballots allowed one application per person and removed duplicates. Do I need to be a UK resident? Some ballots have restricted entry to UK residents. Check the terms of each one. Do film festival premieres work the same way? No. BFI London Film Festival galas are at the Royal Festival Hall and run on a different system.

1. How do fan ballots work for major studio premieres in Leicester Square?

Studios run free online RSVP ballots on their official UK channels where applicants aged 18 and over can apply for a chance to win two passes to the outdoor fan area beside the red carpet. Applications usually open one to two weeks before the premiere, close a few days prior, and winners are selected and emailed the following day. Duplicate applications are automatically removed.

2. Does a fan pass give you access to watch the movie inside the venue?

No. A fan pass only grants entry to the outdoor, uncovered fan area beside the red carpet to watch celebrity arrivals. It does not include admission to the cinema or access to the movie screening itself.

3. Are fan passes free, and can you buy “guaranteed” access?

Official studio fan ballots are completely free to enter. You should never pay a third party for fan passes or “guaranteed” access, as these offers are typically unauthorized or fraudulent.

4. How does the current ballot system differ from the old wristband process?

In the past (and occasionally still for smaller or non-studio premieres), physical numbered wristbands were handed out in Leicester Square on a first-come, first-served basis starting the morning of or day before the event. Today, major studio premieres primarily use online advance ballots to allocate space in the fan area beforehand.

5. What should you bring and expect on the day of the premiere?

You must bring a valid photo ID (passport, driving licence, or Access Card) matching your pass details and a portable phone charger. Because fan areas are outdoors, uncovered, and require security bag checks, attendees are advised to dress for the weather, eat beforehand, and travel light.