Dublin turns into a movie lover’s playground as DIFF 2026 brings A-list stars, Irish stories, and 17 world premieres to the city.
Dublin is getting ready for its biggest cinematic moment of the year. The Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) has revealed its 2026 lineup, and it’s packed with famous faces, fresh Irish stories, and a strong global outlook that puts audiences front and center.
Running from Feb. 19 to March 1, DIFF 2026 will screen 83 films, including an impressive 17 world premieres. For festivalgoers, it’s not just about watching movies — it’s about sharing space with the people who made them.
Stars expected in Dublin include Colin Farrell, Bill Nighy, Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Chris Colfer, Ciarán Hinds, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Bolger, Aidan Gillen, and rising Irish talents like Éanna Hardwicke.
This year marks a record moment for homegrown cinema, with 26 Irish narrative features and documentaries in the program. Seventeen of those will debut in Dublin, underscoring the festival’s growing role as a launchpad for Irish filmmakers.
Festival director Gráinne Humphreys says DIFF aims to widen what audiences get to see on the big screen. While Ireland is known for loving movies, she notes that international and cultural cinema doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves.
DIFF, she says, is about discovery — new voices, new stories, and new ways of seeing the world through film.
The festival opens with the world premiere of Once Upon a Time in a Cinema, directed by David Gleeson. Described as a warm tribute to the magic of moviegoing, the film draws on Gleeson’s memories of his late father’s cinema and has been called an Irish echo of Cinema Paradiso.
Gleeson will attend opening night alongside Colin Morgan and Calam Lynch.
Closing the festival is another major premiere: John Carney’s musical comedy Power Ballad, starring Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd.
Beyond Irish premieres, DIFF 2026 promises special screenings and international highlights, plus a Country in Focus spotlight on Switzerland, featuring films by director Lionel Baier.
With stars in town, cinemas buzzing, and Dublin’s cafés and streets filled with film talk, DIFF 2026 is shaping up to be less of a festival — and more of a citywide celebration.
PHOTO CREDIT: Dublin International Film Festival
