Major studios lock in UK and Ireland release dates across crowded 2026 calendar
Updated theatrical schedules reveal competitive late-year bookings including head-to-head December rollouts for major franchises from Disney and Warner Bros alongside heavy independent distribution.
Distributors across the UK and Ireland have consolidated theatrical rollouts for the final stretch of 2026, setting up a tightly contested year-end box office for both studio and independent labels.
According to an updated release calendar compiled by Screen Daily, the pre-Christmas corridor is highlighted by a major clash on Dec. 18, when Disney rolls out Avengers: Doomsday against Warner Bros. tentpole Dune: Part Three. The December schedule also features Universal's Violent Night 2 and Warner Bros.' The Cat In The Hat on Dec. 4, followed by Sony's Jumanji: Open World on Dec. 23 and Paramount's The Angry Birds Movie 3 on Christmas Day.
The late autumn pipeline includes Lionsgate's release of The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping on Nov. 20, leading into Universal's comedy Focker-In-Law on Nov. 25 and Disney's Hexed on Nov. 27. Independent and specialty distributors have also locked in dates across November, with Black Bear offering Wicker, Curzon releasing Josephine, and Mubi bringing Minotaur to cinemas.
Alongside narrative features, the territory's calendar reflects heavy reliance on event cinema and classic re-releases through distributors including Trafalgar, Park Circus, and the BFI. The schedule includes music and concert presentations for acts such as BTS, Seventeen, and Ozzy Osbourne, alongside repertory bookings for titles such as The Devils, Rocky, and The Man Who Fell To Earth.
Source: Screen Daily
