The British cinematic landscape for 2026 is shaping up to be a spectacularly diverse and star-studded affair. From Greek epics and gothic romance to sci-fi survival and biting satire, the year's slate promises something for every filmgoer. We have compiled a comprehensive preview of the most anticipated titles set to grace UK screens.
Winter & Spring Highlights: From Grief to Biopics
The year kicks off with a powerful adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel 'Hamnet' on 9 January. The film stars Jessie Buckley as Anne Hathaway and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare, exploring the couple's grief over their son's death and its imagined influence on the play 'Hamlet'.
Later in January, documentary and fiction blend in 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' (16 January), a harrowing account of a five-year-old Palestinian girl's final hours. Claire Foy stars in 'H Is for Hawk' (23 January), based on Helen Macdonald's memoir about training a goshawk to cope with loss.
January also brings Park Chan-wook's Korean thriller 'No Other Choice' (23 January) and the football drama 'Saipan' (23 January), starring Éanna Hardwicke as Roy Keane and Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy. The month closes with Bradley Cooper's comedy 'Is This Thing On?' (30 January), featuring Will Arnett as a divorcé discovering stand-up.
Blockbuster Season: Sequels, Classics and Musical Legends
February sees Oscar-winner Emerald Fennell's bold take on 'Wuthering Heights' (13 February), with Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, a casting choice that has already sparked debate. Brazilian intrigue follows in Kleber Mendonça Filho's 'The Secret Agent' (20 February).
March heralds Maggie Gyllenhaal's reimagining of 'The Bride!' (6 March), starring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley, and Paolo Sorrentino's melancholic 'La Grazia' (20 March). Sci-fi fans can rejoice as Ryan Gosling leads 'Project Hail Mary' (20 March), from the directors of 'The Lego Movie'.
Spring peaks with the musical biopic 'Michael' (24 April), starring Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, and the massively anticipated 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' (1 May), which reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt.
Summer & Beyond: Epics and Franchise Finales
The summer brings perhaps the most ambitious project of the year: Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey' (17 July), starring Matt Damon as Odysseus. The autumn offers Aaron Sorkin's Facebook drama 'The Social Reckoning' (9 October), with Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg.
The festive season welcomes a new 'Meet the Parents' sequel, 'Focker In-Law' (25 November), and the epic conclusion to Denis Villeneuve's saga, 'Dune: Part Three' (18 December).
Further Notable Releases
The year is packed with other intriguing titles awaiting final dates. These include Pedro Almodóvar's comedy 'Bitter Christmas', Tom Cruise's indie pivot 'Digger' with Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Greta Gerwig's return to 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew'. Also watch for Danny Boyle's media drama 'Ink', starring Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch, and the Cillian Murphy-led 'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man'.
With such a rich and varied line-up, 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for cinema in the United Kingdom, offering both high-concept spectacle and intimate human drama.
