AniMela, India’s first international celebration of Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics and XR, returns to Mumbai with its most ambitious edition yet. What began as a spark has grown into a landmark gathering for the global creative technology community, bringing together imagination, innovation and play at scale.

The 2026 programme spans four immersive days of screenings and premieres, artist talks, behind-the-scenes journeys into major productions, a gaming arena, an international VR showcase, a vibrant comics experience, and an industry ecosystem designed to connect talent with real opportunities. This edition also introduces India’s first Transmedia Stage—a dedicated space for world-building where narrative, sound, interactivity, characters and fandoms come together to extend stories across platforms.

Featuring curated work from around the world, including France, Japan, Australia, Spain and the USA, AniMela 2026 positions Mumbai at the centre of the global AVGC-XR conversation.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE : https://animela.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/AniMelaSchedule2026.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Partnership with the French Institute.

* Partnership with Annecy Animation Festival, a 65 year old institution and the world biggest festival dedicated to Animation and Gaming. The CEO, Mickaël Marin will be attending.

* IMC-Animela campus and IMC Pitch

* In association with IndieVerse Comics Challenge, organised by IICT

* Partnership with Australia: co-production panel, screening of 2 feature films.

* 14 International Features Films like “Arco” & “Little Amélie” (France’s entries to Oscars 2026), Memoir of a Snail (Australian Award winning film), India Premiere “A Magnificent Life” by the makers of Belleville Rendez-Vous and 120+ shorts from around the world.

* AniMela’s first South Asia Competition for short films.

* First time in India, Immersive with Small Creative Studio LBVR experiences: Titanic and Colosseum

* Preview and exhibition of Indian VR “Jharokha” on Gond Art.

* Presence of Design and Animation institutes from all around India and USA. 

* Comics Panel and Indie Comix Fest (full space dedicated to comic artists and illustrators).

* Dominic Arun’s Blockbuster Lokah VFX and Production Design talk.

* 8 Masterclasses by Industry experts, artists and educators like VJ Kaycee, French distributor Gaëtan Trigot, Indian animator Upamanyu Bhattacharya, Immersive & Animation artist Ulysse Lefort from France.

* Innovative Collaboration of “Inspiring Innovators” by Netflix India & Graphiti Studio.

* Indie Video Game Demo such as Mukti by Playstation and VR films from around the World.

* Anand Gandhi and Zain Menon’s Transmedia project “MAYA” - AniMela is focusing on Transmedia and supporting talents in that journey of discovery.