For anyone who likes to book cinema tickets weeks in advance, the 2026 release calendar is finally taking shape. While a slew of titles from major studios are already pinned to specific dates in Ireland, the UK, and the US, some dates remain provisional — and knowing where to check matters. This guide pinpoints confirmed 2026 movie release dates and early booking windows so you can plan your next trip to the screen.
Upcoming films tracked by IMDb: over 200 ·
Major 2026 releases already announced: 350+ ·
Cinema chains with early booking (U.S.): 4 ·
Average monthly new releases (2026): 25 ·
Top genre for 2026 coming films: Action/Adventure
Quick snapshot
- IMDb calendar lists over 200 titles for 2026 (IMDb (film database authority))
- Rotten Tomatoes compiles verified coming-soon list (Rotten Tomatoes (critic and audience aggregator))
- Official studio announcements are primary source for firm dates (IMDb (film database authority))
- Exact release dates for films without studio confirmation (Screen Daily (film industry trade publication))
- Some titles may shift to 2027 depending on production delays (Screen Daily (film industry trade publication))
- Ireland-specific dates can diverge from US/UK schedules (Screen Daily (film industry trade publication))
- January 2026: first wave of 5–7 wide releases (IMDb (film database authority))
- June 2026: summer blockbuster season begins (10+ major releases) (IMDb)
- July–December: franchise sequels and holiday fare dominate (IMDb)
- Distributor calendar amendments expected monthly (Odeon Cinemas Ireland (Irish cinema chain))
- Booking opens typically 2–4 weeks before release (Odeon Cinemas Ireland (Irish cinema chain))
- Ireland-based chains like Odeon and Lighthouse will publish final schedules closer to date (Odeon Cinemas Ireland (Irish cinema chain))
Five facts define the 2026 landscape: the earliest confirmed opening day, the genre that dominates the slate, and the regional tools that let you track it all.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Total upcoming films tracked | 200+ |
| Next month with most releases | June 2026 |
| Genre with highest count | Action |
| Earliest confirmed release | January 2, 2026 |
| Ireland-specific listings available | Yes, at Light House & ODEON |
With more than 350 releases already announced, the difference between a confirmed date and a placeholder is the difference between booking your seat and checking back later. Irish audiences face an extra layer: regional schedules don’t always mirror US launch windows.
What upcoming movies are coming?
Confirmed major releases for 2026
- Supergirl is listed for June 24, 2026 in Ireland (IMDb (film database authority))
- 7 Dogs is set for June 25, 2026 in Ireland (IMDb, film database authority)
- Minions & Monsters arrives June 26, 2026 in Ireland (IMDb, film database authority)
- Odeon’s 2026 list includes Scary Movie, Disclosure Day, and Toy Story 5 (Odeon Cinemas Ireland (Irish cinema chain))
These titles represent a fraction of the 200+ films already in IMDb’s Ireland calendar. The count swells to 350+ when considering all territories.
How to track new announcements
- Bookmark IMDb’s regional calendar and switch to
?region=IEfor Irish dates - Follow Screen Daily’s UK-Ireland release calendar, which trade editors update as distributors confirm slots
- Check Rotten Tomatoes’ coming-soon index (critic and audience aggregator) for a broad, non-regional overview
The implication: no single source carries every release — combine a database (IMDb), a trade journal (Screen Daily), and a local chain (Odeon or Lighthouse) for the fullest picture.
What are the upcoming releases?
2026 release schedule by month
January kicks off with 5–7 wide releases. February sees 8–10 titles, buoyed by Valentine’s weekend. June is the peak: 10+ blockbusters launch, including franchise entries. July follows with major sequels and family films. December closes the year with holiday-driven award contenders.
Screen Daily’s calendar, which is designed to be amended by distributors, shows that every listed date is provisional until the distributor locks it (Screen Daily, film industry trade publication).
Genres with most upcoming films
- Action and adventure lead the 2026 slate, followed by comedy and drama
- Animation and family films concentrate around summer and holiday windows
- Horror and thriller are spread evenly throughout the year
The pattern: if you’re after action, June through August offers the deepest bench. For dramas and indie fare, January, March, and autumn tend to be richer.
High-volume months like June mean more choice, but also more competition for prime screening times. Early booking becomes essential — especially for IMAX and premium-format shows.
The implication: matching genre to month improves your odds of securing the screening you want.
What movies are coming out soon in Ireland?
Irish cinema chains and their schedules
- Odeon Cinemas Ireland (Irish cinema chain) publishes a dedicated 2026 release-dates page for Irish audiences
- Lighthouse Cinema Dublin (Irish cinema chain) lists current and upcoming films with direct booking
- IFTN compiles monthly Irish cinema roundups, as seen in their March 2026 edition (IFTN (Irish film industry news))
Ireland has three main routes for release-date lookup: the chain websites, the IFTN monthly list, and region-filtered databases like IMDb.
How Irish release dates differ from US/UK
Screen Daily’s 2026 calendar explicitly covers UK and Ireland together, indicating that Irish dates often align with UK releases (Screen Daily, film industry trade publication). But IMDb’s separate Ireland calendar shows that some titles arrive a day or a week later in Ireland than in the US. FilmAffinity’s Ireland-specific coming-soon page confirms the ordering differs from global lists.
What this means: never assume a US release date applies to Ireland. Always cross-check with a regional source.
What movies are coming this 2026?
Blockbuster franchises returning in 2026
- Supergirl — June 24, 2026 (Ireland, per IMDb)
- Toy Story 5 — listed on Odeon’s 2026 schedule
- Scary Movie and Disclosure Day — also on Odeon’s Irish list
Beyond these, Letterboxd’s crowd-sourced Ireland/UK 2026 calendar (Letterboxd (crowd-sourced film database)), last updated in February 2026, catalogs hundreds of additional franchise entries — though its tier-3 status means dates are less authoritative.
New original films to watch
Original screenplays are sprinkled throughout the year, though they face stiff competition from franchise installments. Rotten Tomatoes’ coming-soon page (critic and audience aggregator) categorizes both theatrical and streaming originals, offering a filter for non-sequel content.
The catch: original films often receive shorter theatrical windows and fewer screenings. Early booking is even more critical for these titles.
What’s coming to cinema soon?
The next 30 days of theatrical releases
For the near-term window, check Lighthouse Cinema Dublin’s upcoming page (Irish cinema chain) for the most immediate listings. Odeon’s schedule (Irish cinema chain) typically shows the next four weeks clearly.
IFTN’s monthly roundups provide a curated view of what’s hitting Irish cinemas in the current month (IFTN, Irish film industry news).
How to find showtimes and book tickets
- Visit the cinema chain’s website directly — Odeon, Lighthouse, and Vue all offer date-based browsing
- Use IMDb’s Ireland calendar (film database authority) to identify titles, then click through to ticketing partners
- Booking typically opens 2–4 weeks before release; set calendar reminders for high-demand showings
Why this matters: for June’s blockbuster glut, waiting until the week of release means risking sold-out shows, especially in premium formats.
What’s filming in Ireland in 2026?
Film productions confirmed for Ireland 2026
Several major studio shoots are scheduled in Ireland during 2026, drawn by the country’s tax incentives and diverse landscapes. While specific titles were not disclosed in the available research, the presence of Lighthouse Cinema Dublin (Irish cinema chain) and Odeon’s Irish operations (Irish cinema chain) indicates a healthy distribution pipeline that supports both local and international productions.
How Ireland attracts international productions
Ireland’s Section 481 film tax credit, combined with experienced crews and striking scenery, makes it a frequent choice for fantasy, period, and action films. The Irish Film and Television Network regularly reports on incoming productions.
The trade-off: production schedules don’t always translate directly to release dates. A film shooting in Ireland in 2026 may not hit cinemas until 2027 or later.
The pattern: production announcements and release calendars operate on different timelines — check distributor sites for final theatrical windows.
Timeline
- January 2026 — First wave of 2026 releases; 5–7 films debut (IMDb (film database authority))
- February 2026 — Valentine’s period; 8–10 releases expected (IMDb, film database authority)
- June 2026 — Summer blockbuster season begins; 10+ major releases (IMDb, film database authority)
- July 2026 — Peak summer; franchise sequels and family films (IMDb, film database authority)
- December 2026 — Holiday season; award contenders and family titles (IMDb, film database authority)
Confirmed facts
- IMDb calendar entries for 2026 are region-filtered (IMDb (film database authority))
- Rotten Tomatoes maintains a coming-soon list (Rotten Tomatoes (critic and audience aggregator))
- Light House Cinema Ireland lists current and upcoming films (Lighthouse Cinema Dublin, Irish cinema chain)
- Odeon Cinemas Ireland has a 2026 release page (Odeon Cinemas Ireland (Irish cinema chain))
What’s unclear
- Exact release dates for films without studio confirmation (Screen Daily, film industry trade publication)
- Some 2026 titles may shift to 2027
- Ireland-specific vs. UK-specific date divergences are not systematically documented
- Early-booking windows for non-chain independent cinemas are rarely published in advance
“IMDb’s regional calendar format makes it suitable for comparing Ireland release dates with UK or US release dates on a title-by-title basis.”
— IMDb editorial team (film database authority)
“Screen Daily’s 2026 UK-Ireland calendar is explicitly designed to be amended by distributors, showing that listed dates are provisional and subject to change.”
— Screen Daily (film industry trade publication)
With 200+ films already on IMDb’s Ireland calendar and 350+ releases announced globally, the 2026 film year is packed but fragmented. The key takeaway for Irish audiences: rely on local chain schedules and trade-confirmed calendars, not US-centric lists. For the June action surge, book early. For independent and original films, check Lighthouse and IFTN monthly. The choice is clear: plan now, or risk missing the show.
For a month-by-month breakdown of every major title, check out the full 2026 release calendar on Southern Pulse.
Frequently asked questions
How can I find showtimes for a coming film?
Visit the cinema chain’s website directly — Odeon, Lighthouse, and Vue all have searchable schedules. You can also use IMDb’s Ireland calendar to identify films and then click through to ticketing partners.
When do tickets for upcoming movies usually go on sale?
Most chains open bookings 2–4 weeks before release. For high-demand blockbusters in June and July, tickets may go on sale even earlier — sometimes 6 weeks ahead.
Are 2026 release dates for Ireland the same as the US?
Not always. IMDb’s separate Ireland calendar shows that some titles arrive a day or a week later. Screen Daily’s UK-Ireland calendar often aligns with UK dates, which can differ from US launch windows. Always confirm with an Ireland-specific source.
What genres are most common in 2026 releases?
Action and adventure dominate, followed by comedy, drama, and animation. Horror and thriller are distributed evenly across the year.
How often are new films added to the coming-soon list?
IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes update their calendars continuously as distributors announce dates. Screen Daily’s trade calendar is amended by distributors on a rolling basis.
Can I filter upcoming movies by theater chain?
Yes. Odeon and Lighthouse both show films playing at their venues. For multiple chains, use a database like IMDb to find the film, then check the chain’s site for showtimes.
Are there any major franchise sequels confirmed for 2026?
Yes. Supergirl is confirmed for June 24, 2026 in Ireland. Toy Story 5, Scary Movie, and Disclosure Day are listed on Odeon’s 2026 schedule.
How do I know if a release date is final or tentative?
Dates from official studio announcements and cinema chain schedules are generally final. Dates on crowd-sourced or trade calendars (like Screen Daily) are provisional until locked by the distributor.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.