The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026 was inaugurated at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai on June 15, 2026, positioning India as an emerging global hub for storytelling and creative entrepreneurship. Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan delivered the keynote address, highlighting significant growth in India's media and entertainment industry, which reached ₹2.78 lakh crore in 2025 with 9% growth driven by digital transformation and expanding content consumption. Digital media became the largest segment, crossing the ₹1 lakh crore revenue milestone for the first time, and the sector is projected to reach ₹3.3 lakh crore by 2028, growing at over 7% CAGR. The minister noted that more than 1,900 films were released in India in 2025 alone, contributing to a 16% rise in theatrical revenues.
The festival, organized biennially by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and executed by NFDC, received 1,459 film entries from 46 countries including India, showcasing films in more than 42 Indian languages and over 30 foreign languages. This edition introduced two new curated sections—"Marathi Films" and "Echoes from North East"—to showcase regional cinematic voices and celebrate India's cultural diversity. The WAVES Doc Bazaar was highlighted as a major platform connecting documentary filmmakers with producers, distributors, and global audiences.
Maharashtra's Minister for Cultural Affairs and Information Technology Ashish Shelar reiterated the state's commitment to supporting creative industries and announced plans to set up a media hub in Mumbai with central government support. He appreciated the establishment of the maiden Indian Institute of Creative Technology in Mumbai and the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit held in Mumbai in 2025.
The inauguration ceremony included felicitation of actor Jaideep Ahlawat for his contribution to Indian cinema, recognition of the creative teams behind opening films 'Agapito' and 'Time & Water', and formal welcome of international and national competition juries. The festival features competitive sections for documentary, short fiction and animation films, along with the 2nd edition of Doc Bazaar, masterclasses, and an Open Forum by Indian Documentary Producers' Association.