The Tribeca Festival, established in 2002 as a response to the 9/11 attacks to aid in the revitalization of Lower Manhattan, has evolved into a significant cultural event in New York City. It now features world premiere films, industry seminars, podcasts, live music, and gaming demonstrations.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the festival will commence on Wednesday and continue until June 14, 2026, highlighting themes of music, Broadway, and narratives from New York.
This year’s program boasts nearly 120 feature films, including 103 world premieres, alongside various short film presentations. Screenings and events will take place at multiple locations across the city.
The opening night gala will showcase “Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World),” directed by Questlove, who previously won an Oscar for “Summer of Soul.” This film chronicles the journey of the iconic R&B/funk group and its founder, Maurice White, with screenings scheduled for June 3, 4, and 13.
In a poignant documentary titled “Sara Bareilles: Good Grief,” Grammy Award-winning artist Sara Bareilles, returning to the music scene after a hiatus, captures her emotional experience as she collaborates with friends to produce a new album focused on themes of loss, love, and hope. This film will be shown on June 4, 5, 10, and 14, with live performances by Earth, Wind & Fire and Bareilles following their respective premieres.
Closing the festival will be “Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell’s Kitchen,” where the New York native reflects on her musical journey from the West Side to Broadway, with screenings on June 13 and 14.
The festival will also feature “Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris” (June 8, 10, 11), a full-length concert film, and “Hadestown: The Musical” (June 8, 9, 12), a recorded performance of the acclaimed Tony Award-winning show featuring the original Broadway cast.
Musical documentaries will include “Frampton” about rocker Peter Frampton (June 4, 5, 6), “Mumford & Sons: The House Band” (June 12, 13, 14), “Imaginal Disk” featuring alternative duo Magdalena Bay (June 4, 5, 6, 8), “Noga” showcasing Israeli pop star Noga Erez (June 7, 8, 11), “Trinity: The Story of The LOX” about the Yonkers rap trio (June 11, 12, 14), and “Jail Time Records,” which highlights a unique recording studio within a Cameroonian prison (June 6, 7, 11).
The festival will also present “Time Warp,” a production by a drag theater group in Rock Springs, Wyoming, that aims to stage “Rocky Horror” (June 6, 8, 13) and the Canadian horror-comedy “Turn It Up!” about an indie rock band’s cursed guitar riff (June 4, 5, 7). Additionally, “Funk” will tell the story of a young woman’s ambition to rise in the Brazilian funk scene (June 5, 6, 8).
Madonna will debut a short film from her forthcoming album “Confessions II,” followed by a discussion with Jimmy Fallon on June 5. Furthermore, Bruce Springsteen will receive the 2026 Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award and will engage in a conversation with Bono from U2 on June 13.
“House of Criticism” explores the relationship and artistic endeavors of art critics Roberta Smith and Jerry Saltz (June 12, 13, 14). Sean Ono Lennon directs “threeASFOUR: Full Circle,” a documentary about innovative fashion designers in New York City (June 7, 8, 11).
The essence of urban life is depicted in “Human Theories,” a collection of 40 interconnected vignettes showcasing New Yorkers seeking meaningful connections (June 6, 7, 13, 14). “Whipple’s World” offers a glimpse into the life of George Whipple, an attorney and well-known entertainment reporter in New York (June 12, 13, 14), while “Bang My Box: The Robyn Byrd Story” profiles a different sort of NYC cable personality (June 9, 12, 13).
The controversial 1980 film “Cruising,” which follows a homicide detective infiltrating New York’s gay clubs, is examined in “Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders,” reflecting on the protests it ignited within the LGBTQ+ community (June 6, 7, 9). Socialite Jocelyne Wildenstein, known for her extensive plastic surgery, shares her story in “The Lion Queen” (June 11, 12, 13).
The documentary “Jean-Michel” delves into the life and influence of the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (June 5, 6, 13). “The Symphony of Dance” chronicles the struggles of married “Dancing With the Stars” dancers Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert Hough during a health crisis (June 7, 8, 11). Lastly, “Playing POTUS” features notable comedians reflecting on the art of presidential impersonation, with contributions from Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell, and others (June 6, 7, 9).
In “In the Hand of Dante,” directed by Julian Schnabel, Oscar Isaac plays dual roles as the 14th-century poet Dante Alighieri and a modern novelist entangled in a mafia scheme related to Dante’s works (June 10, 11). The film “Guggi” follows an Irish punk musician’s transformation into a punk artist (June 13, 14), while “Stealing Magic” sees magician Andi Gladwin investigating a figure stealing secrets from illusionists (June 5, 6, 7, 14).
