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Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, with Dhanteras on 6 November and Bhai Dooj on 10 November. As always, the festive week is one of the biggest of the year at the box office – and this time one giant film has the Hindi market almost to itself, while Tamil cinema lines up a crowded Deepavali Friday. Here is every big film releasing around Diwali 2026, which dates are confirmed, and what to watch at home if you are staying in.
Dates below are as of 13 October 2026. Indian release dates often move in the last few weeks, so we have marked anything not officially announced as tentative.
Diwali 2026 releases at a glance
| Movie | Language | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramayana: Part 1 | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam | 5 Nov (confirmed) | Cinemas, incl. IMAX |
| Scene | Tamil | 6 Nov (announced) | Cinemas |
| Mookuthi Amman 2 | Tamil, dubbed in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam | 6 Nov (announced) | Cinemas |
| Moonwalk | Tamil, Telugu, Hindi | Diwali week – 6 Nov reported (tentative) | Cinemas |
Ramayana: Part 1 – 5 November
The film of the season. Nitesh Tiwari's two-part epic stars Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, with music by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer and visual effects by DNEG. The makers confirmed the date on 11 October: a worldwide release on Thursday, 5 November, in all premium formats, with advance booking opening on Dussehra. It releases in five Indian languages, and Part 2 is planned for Diwali 2027.
Full cast, budget and Part 2 plans: Ramayana (2026) – everything we know.
No other big Hindi film has taken the Diwali week – apart from Ramayana, no Hindi release is listed between 30 October and 20 November.
Scene – 6 November
Suriya teams up with director Jithu Madhavan (Romancham, Aavesham) for Scene, produced by Zhagaram Studios. The film was known as Suriya 47 until the title teaser arrived on 9 September with a 6 November worldwide date and a #Deepavali2026 tag. Nazriya Nazim plays the female lead, with Naslen in an important role and John Vijay and Anandaraj in the cast. Story details are still under wraps. Pairing Suriya with one of Malayalam cinema's most popular new-age directors makes this the most interesting Deepavali release in Tamil.
Mookuthi Amman 2 – 6 November
Nayanthara returns as the goddess in Sundar C's sequel to the 2020 devotional comedy Mookuthi Amman. The makers announced the 6 November date along with a teaser on 14 September. Duniya Vijay, Regena Cassandrra and Urvashi are in the cast, and Hiphop Tamizha has composed the music. It is a Tamil film, but it will also release dubbed in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam – so it is technically a pan-India film opening the day after Ramayana. A devotional-fantasy theme in the same week as an epic about Ram makes for an interesting double bill.
Moonwalk – Diwali week (tentative)
Prabhu Deva and A.R. Rahman reunite for Moonwalk, a dance musical comedy directed by Manoj NS. Rahman has composed the music and sung all five songs – and also appears on screen. The makers have said it will release for Diwali, and listings carry 6 November, but we have not seen an official date announcement yet. It was earlier expected in May 2026, so treat the date as tentative. It is planned in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.
The Diwali clash
In Hindi, there is no real clash. Ramayana gets a rare open Diwali – no rival Hindi film within two weeks either side. Distributors clearly decided nobody wanted to stand in front of a film of this scale. That means maximum screens and a long holiday run from Thursday through Bhai Dooj.
The real fight is in Tamil Nadu, where Deepavali is traditionally the biggest box-office weekend of the year. Suriya's Scene and Nayanthara's Mookuthi Amman 2 both open on Friday, 6 November, with Moonwalk also eyeing the same day, and Ramayana's Tamil version already in cinemas from Thursday. Screens in Tamil Nadu will be split four ways. Expect Scene to draw the biggest opening among the Tamil films thanks to Suriya's star power, with Mookuthi Amman 2 playing well with family audiences. Ramayana's pull in the south will depend heavily on Yash and Sai Pallavi.
In Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, no big local film had a confirmed Diwali-week date at the time of writing, so Ramayana's dubbed versions should get plenty of screens there.
What about OTT premieres in Diwali week?
As of 13 October, none of the big streaming services has confirmed a major Indian film premiere for the 5–8 November window. Platforms usually announce their festive line-ups only a week or two ahead, so expect announcements closer to the date. If you would rather skip the cinema crowds, NoWireTV already has new and recent releases ready to stream – browse the latest movies or try the new Hindi thriller Animals.
Diwali movie nights at home
Diwali is for family – and not everyone wants to fight for tickets. These feel-good films are perfect for watching together after the puja, all on NoWireTV:
- 3 Idiots – the ultimate all-ages favourite. Laughs, tears and "All is well".
- Dangal – Nitesh Tiwari's wrestling drama with Aamir Khan. A perfect warm-up before Ramayana.
- Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. – Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi's classic comedy with a big heart.
- 12th Fail – an inspiring true story the whole family can enjoy.
- 2 States – a light romantic comedy about two families learning to get along. Very Diwali.
- Moana – for the kids (and the kids at heart).
Or let the TV decide. Diwali week is when the Hindi movie channels roll out their biggest films and world TV premieres. Tune in live on Sony Max HD, Star Gold HD, Colors Cineplex HD, Star Gold Select HD or Sony MAX2 for classics. All are in our live movie channels section, on the website, the Android app and Fire TV.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Dhanteras is on 6 November and Bhai Dooj on 10 November.
Which big movie is releasing on Diwali 2026?
Ramayana: Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, opens worldwide on 5 November 2026. In Tamil, Suriya's Scene and Nayanthara's Mookuthi Amman 2 open on 6 November.
Is any Hindi film clashing with Ramayana?
No. As of mid-October, no other major Hindi film is scheduled between 30 October and 20 November.
Are any new films premiering on OTT for Diwali 2026?
No major Indian OTT premiere has been confirmed for Diwali week yet. Platforms usually announce festive titles closer to the date.
