GKIDS has partnered with Fathom Entertainment for the upcoming Studio Ghibli Fest 2026, which will bring back seven iconic Studio Ghibli movies to U.S. theaters. Among the line-up are four classic movies that will be celebrating milestone anniversaries this year.
What are the major Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 anniversaries?
For its 20th anniversary, Goro Miyazaki’s feature directorial debut, Tales from Earthsea, will return to theaters on August 8 and August 10. This marks the first time that the epic anime fantasy movie was chosen for the Studio Ghibli Fest lineup. The 2006 film was written and directed by Miyazaki, based on Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea novel series. It featured the voices of Bunta Sugawara, Junichi Okada, Aoi Teshima, and Yūko Tanaka.
“In the land of Earthsea, a mysterious force threatens to plunge humanity into destruction and chaos. A powerful wizard named Sparrowhawk seeks the source of his world’s imbalance, and along the way rescues a runaway prince named Arren,” reads the synopsis. “When Sparrowhawk’s powers begin to weaken, he and Arren must join forces with a former priestess and her daughter to defeat an evil foe whose quest for immortality will destroy Earthsea.”
Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata’s 1991 movie Only Yesterday is also set to return to theaters on August 9 and August 11 for its 35th anniversary. The animated drama film was based on the 1982 manga Omoide Poro Poro by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone. During its initial theatrical run, the movie had both critical and commercial success. Since its debut, it has maintained its perfect Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2016, GKIDS also released the first English-dubbed version of the film, featuring the voices of Daisy Ridley and Dev Patel.
“A put-upon 27-year-old Japanese office worker travels to the countryside and reminisces about her childhood in Tokyo and what life could have been,” reads the synopsis.
In addition, two of Hayao Miyazaki’s classic animated movies will also be celebrating important anniversaries this year, including 1986’s animated fantasy adventure Castle in the Sky and 2001’s universally acclaimed film Spirited Away. For its 40th anniversary, Castle in the Sky will head back to the theaters from August 22 to August 26. The voice cast was led by Mayumi Tanaka, who’s best known as the voice actor of Luffy in the One Piece anime.
“Young orphan Sheeta and her kidnapper, Col. Muska, are flying to a military prison when their plane is attacked by a gang of air pirates led by the matronly Dola,” reads the synopsis. “Escaping from a mid-air collision via a magic crystal around her neck, Sheeta meets fellow orphan Pazu, and the pair join forces to discover the mystical floating city of Laputa while pursued by both Muska and the pirates, who lust for the city’s myriad treasures.”
As for Spirited Away, the Academy Award-winning movie will be returning to theaters from October 17 to October 21. During its original theatrical run in 2001, it became Japan’s highest-grossing film of all time, an impressive record it held for 19 years before 2020’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train. It currently holds an approval rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 225 reviews.
“10-year-old Chihiro moves with her parents to a new home in the Japanese countryside. After taking a wrong turn down a wooded path, Chihiro and her parents discover an amusement park with a stall containing an assortment of food,” reads the synopsis. “To her surprise, Chihiro’s parents begin eating and then transform into pigs. In this supernatural realm, Chihiro encounters a host of characters and endures labor in a bathhouse for spirits, awaiting a reunion with her parents.”
What’s the full Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 schedule?
Listed below is the full line-up schedule for Studio Ghibli Fest 2026:
Ponyo
- Saturday, June 13 at 3:00 PM (DUB)
- Sunday, June 14 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, June 15 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Wednesday, June 17: 7:00 PM (DUB)
My Neighbor Totoro
- Saturday, July 11 at 3:00 PM (DUB)
- Sunday, July 12 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, July 13 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Wednesday, July 15 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary
- Saturday, August 8 at 3:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, August 10 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Only Yesterday 35th Anniversary
- Sunday, August 9 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Castle in the Sky 40th Anniversary
- Saturday, August 22 at 3:00 PM (DUB)
- Sunday, August 23 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, August 24 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 PM (SUB
- Wednesday, August 26 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
Princess Mononoke – 4K Remastered
- Saturday, September 26 at 3:00 PM (DUB)
- Sunday, September 27 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, September 28 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, September 29 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
Spirited Away 25th Anniversary
- Saturday, October 17 at 3:00 PM (DUB)
- Sunday, October 18 at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, October 19 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
