Madoka Magica Walpurgisnacht Rising: The August 28 IMAX Release
Puella Magi Madoka Magica -Walpurgisnacht Rising- opens in Japanese theaters on August 28, 2026, the same day it begins a simultaneous IMAX rollout across 37 territories. It is the first new Madoka Magica film since Rebellion in 2013, and the first entry in the franchise ever shown in IMAX. This is what has been confirmed, and what it means if you collect Madoka figures.
What is Walpurgisnacht Rising?
Walpurgisnacht Rising is the fourth Puella Magi Madoka Magica theatrical film and a direct sequel to the 2013 movie Rebellion, produced by Studio SHAFT. The original creative team returns: Akiyuki Shinbo as chief director, Yukihiro Miyamoto directing, Gen Urobuchi (Nitroplus) writing the script, and Yuki Kajiura composing.
The lead cast returns as well, including Aoi Yuki as Madoka Kaname and Chiwa Saito as Homura Akemi. The film picks up from Rebellion's ending, in which Homura reshaped the world after taking on the role of a "demon" — a starting point fans have argued over for more than a decade.
Release date and IMAX: what's confirmed
The headline facts are settled after several delays. Here is the confirmed information, cross-checked across Anime News Network, Oricon, and Aniplex's own announcements.
| Detail | Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Japan release | August 28, 2026 |
| Format | IMAX plus standard screens (first IMAX release in the franchise) |
| Global scope | Simultaneous release across 37 territories |
| North American distributor | Aniplex of America |
| Studio | SHAFT |
| Sequel to | Rebellion (October 2013) |
The 37-territory IMAX rollout is one of the widest simultaneous large-format launches on record for a Japanese anime film. If you want to see it on IMAX, treat opening weekend as the window — premium screens rotate out quickly once the next blockbuster arrives.
Why the 13-year wait matters
Rebellion opened in Japan in October 2013, so Walpurgisnacht Rising arrives roughly 13 years later. The gap was not for lack of trying. The film was first targeted for winter 2024, pushed to winter 2025, then to February 2026, before landing on August 28, 2026.
That long runway is exactly why interest is spiking now: a generation of fans who watched the 2011 TV series has been waiting for the story to continue. For newcomers, the original series and the 2020 spin-off Magia Record stream on Crunchyroll, which is the fastest way to catch up before the film.
What collectors should watch
Madoka has one of the deepest figure catalogs in anime, and a new film reliably restarts that pipeline. Rebellion drove waves of figma, Nendoroid, and scale figures of Madoka, Homura, and the magical-girl cast, plus Ichiban Kuji sets. A theatrical revival on this scale is the usual trigger for fresh announcements.
- Expect new reveals to follow the film, not precede it — manufacturers typically time announcements to opening buzz.
- Back-catalog Homura and Madoka figures often climb on the aftermarket around a sequel, so prices can move before new stock exists.
- IMAX-tied theater goods (bromides, ticket bonuses) are Japan-only and tend to resell quickly.
Akibato does not run a dedicated Madoka collection yet, but Madoka fans overwhelmingly collect figma and scale figures, and Ichiban Kuji is where most magical-girl prize figures land. Both are worth watching while the film is fresh.
The bottom line
- Walpurgisnacht Rising opens August 28, 2026, in Japan and across 37 territories on the same day.
- It is the first Madoka Magica film shown in IMAX, and the first new entry since Rebellion (2013).
- SHAFT and the original staff — Shinbo, Miyamoto, Urobuchi, Kajiura — all return.
- Aniplex of America handles North American distribution; the original series and Magia Record stream on Crunchyroll.
- A revival this size usually restarts the figure pipeline, so expect fresh Madoka merch news to follow.
If you collect magical-girl figures, browse Akibato's Figures collection for figma and scale pieces, or the Ichiban Kuji collection for in-stock prize figures shipped worldwide.
Sources
- Anime News Network — Madoka Magica -Walpurgisnacht: Rising- Anime Film Gets IMAX Screenings
- Oricon News — Walpurgisnacht Rising Set for August 28 Release After Multiple Delays
- Anime Trending — Walpurgisnacht Rising Receives IMAX Screenings in Japan
- ComicBook — 13 Years Later, Major Fantasy Anime Confirms Big Upgrade for 2026 Revival
- IMDb News — Walpurgisnacht Rising Announces August 28, 2026 Release Date