Delhi to Host Inaugural International Film Festival 2026, Showcasing 140 Films from India and Across the Globe
Cinema enthusiasts in the national capital have an exciting cultural event to look forward to as Delhi prepares to organise the first-ever International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) from March 25 to March 31 at the iconic Bharat Mandapam.
The week-long cinematic celebration will present a curated lineup of 140 films representing diverse storytelling traditions from India and various parts of the world.
According to the Tourism Department, the festival attracted an overwhelming response, receiving more than 2,000 film submissions from across India and from international filmmakers.
After a careful selection process, 140 films have been shortlisted for screening, including the much-anticipated Dhurandhar 2, which is expected to be one of the key highlights of the event.
Providing insights into IFFD 2026, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra stated that the festival is being hosted under the aegis of the Delhi Government in collaboration with the Delhi Tourism Department.
The seven-day festival aims to celebrate global cinema while also reflecting India’s rich cultural diversity through films representing regional industries such as Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Haryanvi, Bengali and cinema from the North-Eastern states, officials confirmed.
He further mentioned that alongside regional and international productions, several prominent Hindi film industry projects will also be screened during the festival.
Among these, Dhurandhar 2 is expected to draw significant audience interest and attention.
Emphasising the importance of the initiative, the minister highlighted that this is the first occasion Delhi will host an international-level film festival of this scale.
He noted that the government intends to make IFFD a recurring annual feature, with the long-term objective of positioning the national capital as a leading destination for cinematic and cultural activities.
The minister elaborated that the International Film Festival Delhi has been conceptualised with three major goals.
The first objective focuses on strengthening the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Orange Economy and the rapidly expanding Creators Economy.
Through this platform, emerging talent connected to theatre, visual arts, filmmaking, cinematography, animation, artificial intelligence and other creative disciplines will gain global visibility and opportunities to showcase their work internationally.
The second aim is to demonstrate Delhi’s modern infrastructure that is capable of hosting prestigious global events.
The minister pointed out that several landmark developments have enhanced the city’s capacity to conduct international gatherings, including venues and attractions such as Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Kartavya Path, the National War Memorial, the newly constructed Parliament building and the Prime Minister’s Museum.
The third important focus of the festival is to promote Delhi as an attractive location for film production and shooting. By highlighting the city’s heritage sites, modern facilities and administrative support, authorities hope to encourage filmmakers to choose Delhi as a preferred filming destination.
Mishra also noted that during the past year, the Delhi Government and its Tourism Department have taken multiple initiatives to boost the city’s cultural vibrancy and tourism appeal.
These efforts include organising a large-scale drone light show at India Gate during the Diwali celebrations, extensive arrangements for major religious events such as Chhath Puja and Kanwar Yatra, and festive programmes celebrating traditional occasions like Teej.
In addition, innovative initiatives such as Bhajan Clubbing introduced at Delhi University have been launched to engage young people with India’s spiritual and cultural heritage in contemporary formats.
The minister added that similar Bhajan Clubbing events are planned to be introduced at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in the near future to further strengthen youth participation in cultural traditions.
