Best Upcoming Bollywood Movies in 2026: Complete Release Calendar

This page covers every major upcoming Bollywood movie 2026 release for the rest of the year, from August right through to December. Below you will find a full month-by-month Bollywood movie release calendar 2026, festival-specific release clusters, and a breakdown of the year's biggest remaining titles by genre.

Most Anticipated Bollywood Movies of 2026

• Drishyam 3 — Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay Salgaonkar in the third instalment of India's biggest thriller franchise, releasing on 2 October.
• Ramayana: Part 1 — A star-studded mythological epic with Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash, timed close to Diwali.
• King — Shah Rukh Khan's Christmas 2026 action release, one of the year's most talked-about tentpoles.
• Mirzapur: The Film — Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal bring the hit web series to the big screen on 4 September.
• Valmiki Ramayana — A second mythological retelling releasing the very same day as Drishyam 3, setting up a major box office clash.
• Maatrubhumi — Salman Khan's Independence Day release, one of his biggest bets of the year.
• Ranger — Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, and Tamannaah Bhatia headline this December action-adventure.
• Shakti Shalini — Aneet Padda leads this action drama, arriving just before Christmas.

Bollywood Movies Release Calendar 2026 (Month by Month)

August–September 2026 Releases

Mirzapur: The Film headlines this stretch, finally bringing the beloved web series to cinemas, right alongside Sunny Deol's Independence Day-adjacent period piece and Kareena Kapoor's crime drama comeback.

October 2026 Releases

October delivers the year's most talked-about box office clash, with Drishyam 3 and Valmiki Ramayana opening on the exact same day, forcing audiences and exhibitors alike to pick a side.

November 2026 Releases

Ramayana: Part 1 remains the month's biggest question mark, with reports suggesting the makers may prepone it to 30 October, a week ahead of Diwali, though the exact date was still being finalised as of the last update.

December 2026 Releases (Festive & Year-End)

December closes the year on its highest note, with Shah Rukh Khan's King locking in the coveted Christmas release date, a slot that traditionally guarantees massive footfall.

Bollywood Movies Releasing on Major Festivals in 2026

Independence Day Releases

15 August brings Salman Khan's Maatrubhumi and Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947 into the same patriotic-themed window, both leaning into period and war narratives fitting for the holiday.

Diwali Releases

Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business has staked its claim to the Diwali window, and Ramayana: Part 1 may join it if the reported postponement to 30 October goes ahead.

Christmas / Year-End Releases

King anchors Christmas Day itself, while Shakti Shalini arrives just a day earlier on 24 December, giving audiences a packed festive fortnight to close out the year.

Biggest Bollywood Movies to Watch in 2026

Top Sequels & Franchise Films

Drishyam 3 and Mirzapur: The films both extend established franchises, each carrying built-in audience expectations from their predecessors.

Top Mythological Epics

Ramayana: Part 1 and Valmiki Ramayana both retell the same core epic within weeks of each other, giving the back half of 2026 an unusually crowded mythological release calendar.

Top Action & Thriller Releases

King, Ranger, Awarapan 2, and Vvan lead the remaining action and thriller space, spanning everything from star-driven spectacle to grounded genre thrillers.

Top Romance & Drama Releases

Yeh Prem Mol Liya and Daayra carry the rest of the year's romantic drama slate, each pairing established stars with fresh on-screen chemistry.

Which Bollywood Movie Should You Watch This Season?

Most expected overall: Drishyam 3 is definitely in this place as the track record and the presence of Ajay Devgn are such that it is a game that is expected to be played by the franchise.

Best ensemble cast: This goes to the Ranger, who is able to bring together Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt and Tamannaah Bhatia in one action-adventure film.

Best for families: Khosla Ka Ghosla 2 keeps one of Bollywood's most popular comedy series alive but in a lighter vein and makes the viewer feel good.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the biggest Bollywood movie releasing in 2026?

Ramayana Part 1 is the most anticipated release of this year. 

2. Which Bollywood movies are releasing in October 2026?

Drishyam 3, Haiwaan and Jailer 2 are the big releases this October.

3. When is Ramayana: Part 1 releasing?

An exact date has not been finalised, with reports pointing to either late October or early-to-mid November 2026, though this could still shift.

4. Is Drishyam 3 releasing in theatres or on OTT?

It releases theatrically first, on 2 October, with a four-week exclusive theatrical window before it moves to OTT.

5. Which Bollywood movies are clashing at the box office in 2026?

Drishyam 3 and Valmiki Ramayana clash on 2 October; O' Romeo and Tu Yaa Main clash on Valentine's Day; and Raja Shivaji and Ek Din clash on 1 May.

6. Which Bollywood movies are releasing on Diwali/Christmas 2026?

Ramayana: Part 1 leads the Diwali window, with King anchoring Christmas Day itself on 25 December.