The national capital is all set to turn into a global hub of cinema once again as the 15th Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF) 2026 has been officially announced. The five-day festival will be held from May 4 to May 8 at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) on Janpath.
This year, the festival promises a bigger and more international presence, with 175 films from over 60 countries scheduled for screening. In addition, an exhibition featuring more than 100 artworks will add to the cultural vibrancy of the event.
The festival will be inaugurated by acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, a recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. A special tribute will also be paid to legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar on his birth centenary.
Among the major highlights, Moroccan filmmaker Mohamed Ahed Bensouda will be honoured, and his widely appreciated film The Divorcees of Casablanca will be screened. Celebrated Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila will receive the ‘Minar-e-Delhi Award’, while veteran Indian singer Usha Uthup will be conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The return of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore to Bengali cinema will be showcased through her film Puratan: The Ancient, featuring and produced by Rituparna Sengupta, which has received global appreciation.
Union Minister Annapurna Devi will attend the festival as the Chief Guest. The event will also see the presence of several prominent Indian film personalities, including Ketan Mehta, Revathi, Rajpal Yadav, Piyush Mishra, and Raghubir Yadav.
The international lineup is equally impressive, with artists and filmmakers from Lebanon, Afghanistan, Oman, Egypt, Morocco, Bangladesh, and several other countries participating—making the festival a true global cultural confluence.
Adding to its international stature, organizations like Russia’s leading film body Roskino and Mozambique’s National Film Institute have joined as collaborating partners. This year, special focus will be given to Russian and Chinese films, while African cinema will be prominently showcased.
Beyond film screenings, the festival aims to foster cultural dialogue and international collaboration through cinema. Organizers emphasize that the event will explore the relationship between cinema and society through discussions, retrospectives, and curated segments.
Entry to the festival will be completely free, allowing wider public participation. Film selections have been curated by film journalist Anurag Punetha, critic Pramod Kaunswal, and television personality Reema Dinesh Kapoor, while the jury will be chaired by Raman Chawla.
Film critic Praveen Bhatnagar noted that while similarly named events in Delhi have caused some confusion in recent times, DIFF continues to stand out as an original, independent, and credible platform with a strong legacy.
Festival Founder and President Ram Kishore Parcha stated that this year’s edition aims to present cinema as a mirror to society—highlighting human struggles, emotions, and resilience on a global scale.
In Focus:
The festival will feature multiple categories, including World Cinema, Indian Cinema, NRI Cinema, Short Films, Documentaries, and a special Retrospective section. Each segment is curated to present diverse narratives addressing social, political, and human themes.
Overall, the Delhi International Film Festival 2026 is not just a cinematic event but a vibrant platform where stories, cultures, and ideas from across the world will come together under one roof.
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