Twenty-five years ago, a film festival was born out of tragedy, and it helped save a neighborhood. This June, the Tribeca Festival marks its 25th anniversary with its most ambitious edition yet: 118 feature films, 103 world premieres, live music performances, games, podcasts, and a lineup of A-list talent that makes New York City the center of the storytelling universe for twelve days. Whether you’re a lifelong cinephile or just looking for the most culturally alive week the city has to offer, here’s everything you need to know about Tribeca 2026.
A Festival Born From the Ashes of 9/11
The Tribeca Festival didn’t start as a cultural institution, it started as an act of civic healing. Co-founders Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff launched it in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center.
What began as a neighborhood rally became one of the world’s most respected film and culture festivals. Over 25 years, it has served as a launchpad for filmmakers who went on to reshape modern cinema, including Damien Chazelle, Jon M. Chu, Ryan Coogler, Nia DaCosta, the Daniels, David Gelb, and Domee Shi, among many others.
“Tribeca began 25 years ago as an act of healing, a mission to reunite our community through the power of storytelling,” said co-founder Jane Rosenthal. “Today, that purpose feels more urgent than ever. As we navigate an increasingly divided world, the same spirit that rebuilt our city after 9/11 now fuels a new generation of artists and storytellers.”
That spirit is what makes this 25th edition matter, not just as a milestone, but as a statement.
The Numbers Behind the 25th Edition
The 2026 Tribeca Festival will feature 103 world premieres out of its slate of 118 feature films and 86 short films, the highest number of world premieres in the festival’s history.
The festival runs June 3–14, 2026, across multiple venues in Manhattan, and spans every major storytelling format: film, television, music, podcasts, games, and immersive XR experiences.
To mark the quarter-century, the festival is also launching Tribeca at 25, a free outdoor screening series at Hudson Yards that revisits defining premieres from the past 25 years, open to all New Yorkers.
Opening Night: Questlove and Earth, Wind & Fire
The festival opens Wednesday, June 3rd, with the world premiere of Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World), directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, followed by a special performance by Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots.
Academy Award winner Questlove kicks off the 25th Tribeca Festival with the boisterous, decades-spanning story of this legendary American band and its enigmatic founder, Maurice White — from humble beginnings to the epic, celestial, pyrotechnical stadium shows of their height.
It is, in every sense, the right film to open a celebration of this scale: joyful, American, and built around the idea that great art doesn’t just entertain, it elevates.
Closing Night: Alicia Keys Comes Home
The festival closes where it began: in New York. Closing Night features the world premiere of Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell’s Kitchen, directed by Tribeca alum One9, a love letter to New York City from one of its own, followed by an appearance by Keys.
Multi-Grammy Award winner and New York City native Alicia Keys reflects on her childhood growing up in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen and the journey that led her from the gritty streets of 1990s New York to the Broadway stage. It’s a fitting bookend for a festival that has always been, at its core, a New York story.
The Must-See Films and Moments of Tribeca 2026
🎬 Madonna: Confessions II — June 5 | Beacon Theatre
The Tribeca Festival announced that Madonna will world premiere a cinematic presentation accompanying her forthcoming new album Confessions II, directed by David Toro and Solomon Chase (TORSO), on Friday, June 5 at the Beacon Theatre. Following the screening, she will join the directors for an exclusive conversation with Jimmy Fallon.
The Confessions II visual work is built around the first six tracks of Madonna’s upcoming album, including “I Feel So Free” and “Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter, weaving together interconnected, music-driven sequences into an immersive cinematic experience.
🎬 Only What We Carry — Quentin Tarantino, On Screen
One of the most buzzed-about narrative films in the lineup features Quentin Tarantino, not directing this time, but acting. He stars alongside Sofia Boutella, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lizzy McAlpine, and Simon Pegg in what promises to be one of the festival’s most talked-about premieres.
🎬 The Star-Driven Feature Slate
Feature highlights include Susan Sarandon and Aubrey Plaza in The Accompanist; Katie Holmes, who writes, directs, and stars in Happy Hours with Joshua Jackson; Alicia Vikander and Wagner Moura in The Last Day; Paul Rudd and Jeremy Sisto in Rain Reign; Vera Farmiga, Tim Blake Nelson, Jim Parsons, and Simon Rex in The Leader; Alison Brie, André Holland, Tom Sturridge, and Dustin Hoffman in The Revisionist; André Holland alongside Wendell Pierce and Samira Wiley in They Fight; and Marc Maron in In Memoriam.
🎬 Documentaries Worth Watching
The documentary slate reflects the festival’s strength in non-fiction. Highlights include Born Melo, featuring Carmelo Anthony, and Chris & Martina: The Final Set. The television lineup also includes 9/11: Reunited, a powerful three-part series made in collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which brings survivors together for the first time in decades through emotional reunions and immersive storytelling.
🎵 Live Music: A Festival Within the Festival
Beyond opening and closing night, the lineup includes post-premiere performances from Sara Bareilles, Peter Frampton, Mumford & Sons, The LOX, Magdalena Bay, and Noga Erez & Ori Rousso. Tribeca 2026 is as much a music event as a film event, and the Beacon Theatre is at the heart of it.
Beyond the Screen: TV, Podcasts, Games, and Digital Storytelling
Tribeca has long outgrown the “film festival” label, and 2026 is the proof. The festival encompasses:
- Tribeca TV — world premieres of series and episodes before they hit your streaming service, including the Gareth Southgate England football drama and other prestige titles
- Tribeca Podcasts — now in its sixth year, expanded to include audiovisual submissions and a new out-of-competition category
- Tribeca Games — playable at Pier 57, celebrating artful and innovative game design alongside industry conversations
- Tribeca NOW — Tribeca’s dedicated platform for digital-first storytelling, which became the first major film festival to open official submissions to social media creators across platforms including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram
“At Tribeca, we’ve always believed in showcasing great storytelling no matter where we find it,” said Festival Director and SVP of Programming Cara Cusumano. “This year’s TV and podcast lineup reflects a creative landscape where stories move fluidly across formats.”
Where the Festival Happens: Venues Across Manhattan
Tribeca 2026 is not a single-venue event. Screenings and events are spread across multiple Manhattan locations:
- Beacon Theatre (Upper West Side) — Galas, Madonna, and major music premieres
- OKX Theater at BMCC TPAC (Lower Manhattan) — Competition screenings and special programs
- SVA Theatre (Chelsea) — Feature and short film screenings
- AMC 19th St. East 6 (Flatiron) — Daily screenings throughout the festival
- Pier 57 — Tribeca Games Experience
- Hudson Yards (Public Square & Gardens) — Free outdoor screening series (Tribeca at 25)
Pro tip: Download the Tribeca Festival app and use the Venue Map on the official site to plan routes between venues. Some events have multiple screenings; checking for repeat slots can help you avoid sold-out first runs.
How to Get Tickets and Passes
The festival offers multiple pass tiers. The Hudson Pass provides VIP access to every part of the festival, including priority entry to marquee screenings and access to exclusive lounges and parties. For the 25th anniversary, a limited-edition pass offers expanded access to festival festivities and ceremonies previously closed to the public.
Ticket packages allow you to lock in your festival schedule early and secure seats online before general sale. Walkup Box Office stations will be located at primary screening venues during the festival and are cashless.
Key ticketing details:
- A 20% discount is available for festival filmmakers, students, seniors aged 62 and over, and downtown Manhattan residents with proof of residency
- All attendees must be in line at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time
- Rush tickets are available when advance tickets for a screening are no longer available
- Passes do not include events at the Beacon Theatre outside of Opening Night
Tickets are available at TribecaFilm.com.
Tribeca at 25: Free Outdoor Screenings for New Yorkers
In the spirit of the festival’s founding mission, the 25th anniversary includes a free outdoor screening series at Hudson Yards — Tribeca at 25: Celebrating the Stories We Share, revisiting defining Festival premieres from the last 25 years, including Let the Right One In and Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
These free screenings are Tribeca at its most democratic — open to anyone who shows up, no pass required. It’s the festival giving back to the city that gave it life.
Plan Your Visit: Quick Reference Guide
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 3 | Opening Night: Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire doc + band performance |
| June 5 | Madonna Confessions II premiere + Jimmy Fallon conversation (Beacon Theatre) |
| June 3–14 | Feature, short, TV, podcast, and games programming across venues |
| June 3–14 | Free outdoor screenings at Hudson Yards (Tribeca at 25) |
| June 14 | Closing Night: Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell’s Kitchen + Keys appearance |
Your Summer of Storytelling Starts Now
The 25th Tribeca Festival is the rare event that manages to be both a major cultural milestone and a genuinely accessible New York experience, from free outdoor screenings to the most star-studded indoor premieres in the festival’s history. If you’re in the city this June, it deserves a place on your calendar.
Browse the full program and secure your tickets at the official Tribeca Festival website. Sign up for their newsletter for real-time updates on rush tickets, surprise additions, and 25th-anniversary announcements.
At DOME Property Management, we’ve been part of this city since 1987 — and we know that few things define New York in June like the Tribeca Film Festival. Whether you’re visiting for the festival or building your life in this city, we’re here to help you make the most of it. Visit DOMEgroup.com or reach out to our team at properties@DOMEproperty.com. Our DOMEport website and mobile app, featuring the AI Chatbot Ask The Dewitts, is available around the clock.