New Delhi: Rajnigandha Presents Jagran Film Festival (JFF), the world’s largest travelling film festival, is set to return with its 14th edition, reaffirming its commitment to celebrating cinema, nurturing emerging talent and bringing meaningful storytelling to audiences across India. The festival will begin in New Delhi from August 20 to 23, 2026, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, before travelling across 14 cities and culminating with the Jagran Film Festival Awards on November 1, 2026, in Mumbai.
The opening chapter in the national capital will feature an inaugural ceremony attended by the Hon’ble Minister of Information & Broadcasting, members of the film fraternity, ambassadors and industry leaders. The four-day event will host film screenings, premieres, masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions and interactive sessions, bringing together filmmakers, actors, producers, writers, casting directors and cinema enthusiasts.
Over the past 14 years, Jagran Film Festival has evolved into a platform that connects celebrated filmmakers with emerging talent while introducing audiences to diverse cinematic voices. This year’s edition builds on previous successes, which included world premieres, landmark film tributes and conversations with leading personalities from the Indian film industry.
The 2026 edition will pay tribute to several legendary figures in Indian and global cinema through retrospectives and special screenings. Highlights include “The Language of Timeless Grace,” a retrospective celebrating the cinematic journey of Moushumi Chatterjee, alongside commemorations marking 125 years of V. Shantaram, the centenary of Raj Kumar and 50 years of filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli.
The festival will also honour the contributions of playback singer Asha Bhosle, veteran actor Dharmendra, actors Asrani and Satish Shah, and internationally acclaimed filmmaker Béla Tarr through dedicated screenings, retrospectives and discussion sessions. Audiences will also be able to revisit classics such as Chandni Bar and Lagaan through special screenings.
Continuing its focus on nurturing future talent, Jagran Film Festival will bring back JFF Untitled – Season 2, offering aspiring filmmakers opportunities for recognition, networking and industry exposure. The festival will also introduce a Live AI Filmmaking Workshop exploring AI-powered storytelling tools, alongside casting sessions, fashion initiatives, masterclasses and conversations with filmmakers and industry experts including Imtiaz Ali, Madhur Bhandarkar, Sudhir Mishra, Guneet Monga, Lillete Dubey, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Aimee Baruah, Tess Joseph and Mukesh Chhabra.
Commenting on the upcoming edition, Basant Rathore, Sr. Vice President – Strategy & Brand Development, Jagran Prakashan Ltd., said, “Jagran Film Festival has always believed that cinema is far more than entertainment-it is one of the most powerful mediums for shaping ideas, preserving culture, and inspiring social dialogue. For fourteen years, the festival has remained committed to taking meaningful cinema beyond metropolitan audiences and creating a truly democratic platform where celebrated masters, emerging filmmakers, industry professionals, and young audiences come together. As we open the 14th edition of Jagran Film Festival in New Delhi, we reaffirm our commitment to celebrating stories that challenge perspectives, spark conversations, and reflect the diversity of India and the world. This year’s festival brings together exceptional films, distinguished cinematic voices, and thought leaders to create an enriching cultural experience. We welcome audiences to be part of this celebration of creativity, storytelling, and the transformative power of cinema.”
Following its New Delhi opening, the festival will travel to Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Agra, Dehradun, Gorakhpur, Hisar, Ludhiana, Patna, Ranchi, Meerut and Mumbai, before concluding with the Jagran Film Festival Awards Night 2026, which will honour excellence across films and OTT while celebrating another year of impactful storytelling.
