Marvel Studios has announced new release dates for its next two Avengers films, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, pushing them back to later in the year. Originally scheduled for May 1, 2026, Avengers: Doomsday will now hit theatres on December 18, 2026, while Avengers: Secret Wars is moved to December 17, 2027.
The shift has caught the attention of Marvel fans worldwide as the new Avengers: Doomsday release date puts it directly in competition with another highly anticipated blockbuster, Dune: Messiah. The Dune sequel, starring Timothée Chalamet, is set to release on the same day, December 18, 2026. This marks the third installment in the acclaimed Dune franchise.
The simultaneous release of these two major films has led to excitement and speculation about a possible “Barbenheimer” moment—a phenomenon that took place on July 21, 2023, when Barbie and Oppenheimer were released on the same day, creating a cultural sensation and driving box office records. Fans have already coined a playful nickname for this potential clash, calling it “Dunesday.”
“2026 has found its potential Barbenheimer… unless someone moves again,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, “No joke, I truly believe that we could get another Barbenheimer movement with Avengers: DunesDay.” A third fan jokingly suggested, “WB and Disney are in cahoots to manufacture a new Barbenheimer with Dunesday.”
Along with the date changes, Disney has reshuffled its theatrical calendar, removing several unannounced Marvel titles, including an Untitled Marvel project that was initially slated for February 13, 2026. Dates for other Marvel releases in late 2026 and 2027 have also been revised.
Meanwhile, production for Dune: Messiah is set to begin this June, according to Deadline. The second film in the series, Dune: Part Two, was a massive success, grossing over $700 million worldwide and earning a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
With fans eagerly awaiting both the return of the Avengers and the continuation of the Dune saga, December 18, 2026, could become one of the most talked-about release dates in recent cinematic history. Whether “Dunesday” will replicate the magic of “Barbenheimer” remains to be seen, but the buzz is already building.
Sources By Agencies
