EU Film Festival 2026: 28 European films across Shillong, Delhi, Pune
Synopsis
The EU Film Festival's 31st edition lands in India with 28 films from 27 EU states and Ukraine — and for the first time, Shillong joins the circuit. Across three cities and six Delhi venues, the festival is as much a statement on EU-India cultural ties as it is a celebration of European cinema's extraordinary diversity.
Key Takeaways
The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) returns for its 31st edition in India with 28 films from 27 EU Member States and Ukraine .
The festival opens in Shillong on 12 November 2026 — a new host city for the event.
New Delhi screenings run from 25 November to 4 December 2026 across six venues , including India Habitat Centre and Goethe-Institut.
Pune follows in December 2026 ; full schedule details are to be announced.
EU Ambassador Jean-Eric Paquet and curator Artur Zaborski both described the festival as a cultural bridge between Europe and India.
The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) returns for its 31st edition in India, bringing 28 films from 27 EU Member States and Ukraine to audiences in Shillong, New Delhi, and Pune. The festival opens in Shillong on 12 November 2026, before travelling to New Delhi from 25 November to 4 December, with Pune following in December.
What the Festival Offers
This edition spotlights the breadth of European cinema — spanning politics, sport, society, family, and love — across distinct cultures, languages, and perspectives. The line-up draws on award-winning work from across the continent, with each film rooted in its own national culture while exploring themes that reportedly resonate far beyond European borders.
Artur Zaborski, curator of the festival, described the selection process as 'bringing the many voices of the European Union to audiences in India.' He noted that the films collectively offer 'a portrait of Europe in all its diversity, intimacy, humour and contradictions,' and expressed hope that Indian audiences would 'discover unfamiliar worlds, recognize something of themselves, and find connections between these European stories and their own lives in India.'
What the EU Ambassador Said
Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union to India, called the festival 'an opportunity to experience Europe through the lens of its most compelling filmmakers, presenting stories that provoke, evoke interest, and often reflect our own shared human experiences.' Paquet added that cinema in this edition serves as 'a bridge: not just between our regions, but between the world we live in and the one we still believe is possible.'
Delhi Venues and Cultural Partners
In New Delhi, the festival will be held across six iconic venues: India Habitat Centre, Instituto Cervantes, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre, India International Centre, and Triveni Kala Sangam. The multi-venue format reflects the festival's longstanding collaboration with European cultural institutes operating in India.
Significance and Context
The EUFF is one of the longest-running European cultural initiatives in India, and the 31st edition marks a notable geographic expansion — Shillong joins the circuit as a new host city, broadening the festival's reach beyond the traditional metropolitan axis. This comes amid growing EU-India cultural diplomacy efforts and a broader push by European nations to deepen people-to-people ties with India. The inclusion of Ukraine in the line-up, alongside 27 EU Member States, also carries symbolic weight given the ongoing conflict in Europe.
Details on specific film titles, screening schedules, and ticketing are expected to be announced closer to the opening date in Shillong.
Point of View
Normalising Ukraine's cultural alignment with the European project at a time when that alignment is contested militarily. What the festival cannot yet answer is whether its multi-city reach will translate into sustained audience development, or remain a well-attended annual ritual for urban cinephiles.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the European Union Film Festival in India?
The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is an annual cultural event that screens films from EU Member States across Indian cities. Now in its 31st edition, the 2026 festival brings 28 films from 27 EU countries and Ukraine to Shillong, New Delhi, and Pune.
When and where will the EUFF 2026 take place in India?
The festival begins in Shillong on 12 November 2026, moves to New Delhi from 25 November to 4 December 2026, and then travels to Pune in December. Delhi screenings will be held at six venues including India Habitat Centre and India International Centre.
Which countries are represented at the EUFF 2026?
The festival features films from all 27 European Union Member States as well as Ukraine, offering a cross-section of the continent's cinematic output across cultures, languages, and genres.
Why is Shillong significant as a new EUFF venue?
Shillong's inclusion marks a geographic expansion of the festival beyond India's major metropolitan centres. It broadens the EUFF's cultural reach into Northeast India, a region with a rich tradition of storytelling and music.
How can audiences attend the EUFF 2026?
Specific film titles, screening times, and ticketing details are expected to be announced closer to the opening date. Audiences can watch for updates from EU cultural institutes and the six Delhi venues partnering on the festival.
