By — Dilip Guha
Delhi is set to transform into a global stage for cinema as the International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) 2026 opens public registrations and unveils its expansive film line-up. Bringing together 140+ films from 47 countries, the festival is designed as a city-wide event with free access to screenings, conversations, and live experiences across the capital.
The festival will see participation from leading voices across Indian and international cinema, including Vicky Kaushal, Hema Malini, Bhumi Pendenkar, Khushboo Sundar, Rana Duggabati, Divya Dutta, Annu Kapoor, Dr. Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, Madhur Bhandarkar, Ramesh Sippy, Subhash Ghai, Sudipto Sen, Shibo Prasad Mukherjee, Venkatesh, Arvind Swami, Manoj Tiwari, Ravi Kishan, Harish Bhimani, Esha Gupta, Malini Awasthi, Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan.
Running from 25 to 31 March 2026, IFFD invites audiences to register for film screenings, book seats for masterclasses, panel discussions, and workshops, and take part in a week-long cultural programme spanning cinema, conversations, and performances.
The festival opens on 25 March 2026 at Bharat Mandapam with a red carpet gala and opening ceremony hosted by Arjun Kapoor and Nimrat Kaur. The evening will feature Anupam Kher, Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Lauren Gottlieb, followed by the gala screening of the Oscar-nominated Sirât, setting the tone for a week of global cinema and cultural exchange.
Held across Bharat Mandapam, PVR-INOX theatres, and curated public venues, the festival brings international premieres, restored classics, regional Indian cinema, and filmmaker interactions directly to audiences. Screenings will also extend to outdoor venues, inflatable theatres, and mobile LED units across the city, taking cinema beyond traditional spaces.
Public Registrations Now Open
Public registrations for IFFD 2026 are now live at: https://www.iffdelhi.com/
All screenings and public programmes are free, with entry granted through prior registration and confirmed bookings, subject to venue capacity.
Film Programme Highlights
At its core, IFFD 2026 presents a diverse and global film programme featuring 140+ films selected from more than 2,000 submissions across countries. The line-up spans international features, documentaries, short films, animation, and hybrid formats.
Key highlights include:
- Indian Cinema Now: 40+ gala screenings across multiple Indian languages, with cast and crew in attendance
- Partner Festival Showcase: Selections from the Singapore International Film Festival, including works by Anthony Chen and Jeremy Chua, with Amoeba as the closing film
- Restored Classics: Presented in collaboration with NFDC–NFAI, including a 4K restoration of Pyaasa as part of the Guru Dutt centenary tribute
- Post-screening conversations and filmmaker Q&As across select titles
Masterclasses and In-Conversation Sessions
IFFD 2026 offers audiences the opportunity to engage directly with leading voices in cinema through a series of masterclasses and conversations.
The line-up includes Manoj Bajpayee, Boman Irani, Guneet Monga, Imtiaz Ali, Shekhar Kapur, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Bhumi Pednekar, Huma Qureshi, and Enrique Arce, among others. Each session will be followed by audience interactions.
Workshops for Aspiring Creators
The festival will also host workshops designed for students, emerging filmmakers, and first-time creators, focusing on practical learning and direct engagement with industry professionals.
Cultural Evenings
Each evening at 7 PM, IFFD presents a curated cultural programme:
- 26 March: Sonam Kalra – Bhajans, Sufi, and cinema-inspired music
- 27 March: Ashish Vidyarthi – Kahanibaaz
- 28 March: Fouzia Dastango – Dastaan-e-Guru Dutt
- 29 March: Ricky Kej – A global cinema music concert
CineVerse Expo
IFFD 2026 will also host the CineVerse Expo at Bharat Mandapam, an interactive platform exploring the intersection of cinema, technology, and emerging storytelling formats, with select sessions open to registered audiences.
Honouring Legacy: Guru Dutt Retrospective
Marking the birth centenary of Guru Dutt, the festival presents a special retrospective featuring restored screenings of his iconic works, including a 4K presentation of Pyaasa.
From Public Screenings to Industry Exchange
Alongside its public programme, IFFD CineXchange serves as the festival’s industry platform, bringing together filmmakers, producers, financiers, distributors, OTT platforms, and festival programmers through curated labs, co-production markets, and project showcases. Programmes such as Co-Pro, Rough Cuts, Viewing Room, and Pitch Your Idea support projects from development to completion while enabling new collaborations.
Suneel Anchipaka, Managing Director and CEO, Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation Ltd, said, “With IFFD 2026, we wanted to build a festival that feels open, welcoming, and truly connected to the city. The idea was simple: bring world cinema to people, remove barriers, and create spaces where audiences and filmmakers can come together.”
