MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in cancer development and progression. The purposes of this study were to explore the role of miR-376c in cervical cancer and to clarify the regulation of BMI1 by miR-376c. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure miR-376c expression in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. The cell proliferation, cell cycle and Transwell invasion assays were performed. A luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the target gene of miR-376c, and the results were validated in cervical cancer cell lines and tissues. MiR-376c was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer cell lines and clinical tissues. Upregulation of miR-376c impaired cell proliferation, blocked G1/S checkpoint of cell cycle and suppressed cell invasion in vitro. BMI1 was verified as a direct target of miR-376c, which was further confirmed by the inverse expression of miR-376c and BMI1 in patient specimens. The newly identified miR-376c/BMI1 pathway provides an insight into cervical cancer progression and may represent a novel therapeutic target.