Kiki’s Delivery Service is heading back to cinemas in the UK and Ireland this summer, and for the first time, Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved Studio Ghibli classic will be shown on IMAX screens in both territories. The newly remastered 4K presentation begins on August 21, 2026, with tickets already available to book.
Audiences will be able to choose between the original Japanese version with English subtitles and the English-language dub. Screening formats can vary by venue, so fans should check the individual showing details before booking.
The IMAX engagement will be followed by a wider 4K cinema release across UK and Irish cinemas from August 28. The announcement represents an important first step for GKIDS, which recently acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights to Studio Ghibli’s 23-film library.
A first for Kiki in UK and Ireland IMAX cinemas
First released in 1989, Kiki’s Delivery Service has never played on IMAX screens in the UK or Ireland before. The new presentation has been remastered in 4K, giving the hand-drawn animation a chance to shine on the larger format while preserving the detail of Miyazaki’s original artwork.
The film follows Kiki, a young witch who leaves home as part of a traditional rite of passage. Accompanied by her black cat Jiji, she settles in a seaside town and begins building an independent life by launching a flying delivery service.
While the premise promises magic and airborne adventure, Kiki’s Delivery Service is ultimately a gentle coming-of-age story. Kiki has to navigate work, friendship, homesickness and self-doubt, with the film finding its charm in the quieter moments as much as in its occasional bursts of peril.
Japanese and English versions will be screened
The Japanese version features Minami Takayama as Kiki, with the film’s original voice cast supported by Joe Hisaishi’s widely celebrated score. Hisaishi’s music is a key part of the movie’s atmosphere, moving from bright, breezy themes to more reflective passages as Kiki adjusts to life away from home.
The English dub stars Kirsten Dunst as Kiki and the late Phil Hartman as Jiji. The dub is particularly familiar to many English-speaking fans who grew up with Studio Ghibli releases in the 1990s and 2000s, and it remains a popular alternative to the subtitled version.
IMAX lists the film at approximately one hour and 55 minutes. Although the larger format is the headline attraction, the wide 4K release from August 28 should give audiences more opportunities to catch the movie on a standard cinema screen if an IMAX venue is not nearby.
GKIDS begins its UK Studio Ghibli rollout
The release is being handled by GKIDS in partnership with Anime Limited, the Glasgow-based distributor recently acquired by GKIDS’ parent company, Toho Global. It is the first UK cinema release from GKIDS following its acquisition of the Studio Ghibli catalogue rights in the region.
That makes Kiki’s Delivery Service more than a standalone re-release. It is also the opening move in a broader plan to bring the Ghibli library back to UK and Irish cinemas, home video, television and digital platforms under the new distribution arrangement.
GKIDS has already confirmed that further Studio Ghibli titles are planned for IMAX screenings in the UK and Ireland. Arrietty, known as The Secret World of Arrietty in some territories, and Whisper of the Heart are among the titles announced for future releases, with additional 4K remasters expected from autumn 2026 and beyond.
For those who would rather revisit the film at home before the cinema release, Netflix’s UK catalogue currently lists Kiki’s Delivery Service with both Japanese original audio and English audio options, alongside English subtitles.
For longtime fans, the IMAX release offers a chance to experience one of Miyazaki’s warmest films on an unusually large canvas. Newcomers can look out for local showtimes from August 21, while the wider 4K rollout on August 28 should make Kiki’s return accessible across even more cinemas.
Sources
gkids.com
imax.com
netflix.com
