Kiki's Delivery Service Gets First IMAX Release in UK and Ireland
The IMAX debut marks the first tangible result of GKIDS' recent acquisition of the Studio Ghibli UK and Ireland distribution rights, signaling a coordinated rollout of the remastered library across premium large-format screens.
Key Facts
- Kiki's Delivery Service will screen in IMAX theaters in the UK and Ireland starting August 21, 2026.
- The film has been newly remastered in 4K for the IMAX release.
- A wider 4K theatrical release in UK and Irish cinemas follows on August 28, 2026.
- GKIDS acquired the UK and Ireland distribution rights to the 23-film Studio Ghibli library in July 2026.
- Additional Studio Ghibli titles slated for future IMAX releases in the UK and Ireland include Arrietty and Whisper of the Heart.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime UK News, Otaku News.
Kiki's Delivery Service, the 1989 Studio Ghibli film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, will screen in IMAX theaters across the UK and Ireland starting August 21, 2026. The release is the first time the film has played on IMAX screens in those territories. Tickets are on sale now for both the original Japanese language with subtitles and the English dubbed version. The film has been newly remastered in 4K. A wider 4K theatrical release follows on August 28, 2026. The IMAX release is the first UK cinema outing for GKIDS after the distributor acquired the rights to the 23-film Studio Ghibli library earlier in July 2026. GKIDS is working with sister company Anime Limited, the Glasgow-based distributor recently acquired by GKIDS' parent company Toho Global. Additional Studio Ghibli titles slated for future IMAX releases in the UK and Ireland include Arrietty and Whisper of the Heart.
Kiki's Delivery Service will play in IMAX theaters in the UK and Ireland from August 21, 2026, the first time the film has been shown on those screens in the region. The release follows GKIDS' acquisition of the Studio Ghibli catalog for the UK and Ireland, announced earlier in July 2026. GKIDS is partnering with Anime Limited, the Glasgow-based distributor that was recently bought by GKIDS' parent company Toho Global. The 4K remaster of the film, originally released in 1989, highlights the hand-drawn animation from Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, who wrote and directed the feature based on the novel by Eiko Kadono. The score is by longtime Miyazaki collaborator Joe Hisaishi. Screenings will be available in both the original Japanese with subtitles and the English dub, which features Kirsten Dunst as Kiki and the late Phil Hartman as Jiji. A wider 4K release across UK and Irish cinemas follows on August 28, 2026. Future IMAX releases for the region include Arrietty and Whisper of the Heart, with additional Studio Ghibli 4K remasters planned for autumn 2026 and beyond.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.