Tribeca festival 2026: 8 can’t-miss films from Aubrey Plaza to SNL

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• Festival snapshot: dates, legacy and what’s new at Tribeca 2026
• Eight premieres to watch at Tribeca — what makes each one notable
  • Earth, Wind & Fire — Questlove’s sweeping music documentary
  • The Accompanist — Zach Woods directs a tender family drama
  • Iconoclast — a dark look at online obsession
  • In the Hand of Dante — Julian Schnabel’s starry literary drama
  • Playing POTUS — how late-night comedy reshapes politics
  • The Man Will Burn — an inside look at Burning Man’s turmoil
  • The Siege of Paradise — tourism versus local life in Cinque Terre
  • The Last Day — Rachel Rose’s modern take on Woolf

The Tribeca Festival returns to New York City this June for its quarter-century celebration, bringing premieres, big-name talent and cultural conversations to downtown Manhattan. What began as a post-9/11 revival project co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff has grown into a major destination for films, TV debuts, live events and industry talks. From daring documentaries to star-studded dramas, this year’s lineup offers something for cinephiles and casual viewers alike.

Festival snapshot: dates, legacy and what’s new at Tribeca 2026

The 25th Tribeca Festival runs June 3–14 across venues in New York City. Organizers mark the milestone with a program that mixes veterans and first-timers. The event that helped revive Lower Manhattan after 9/11 has long been a launchpad for mainstream hits and indie discoveries.

• Founders: Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff.
• Notable past premieres: titles and series that went on to wider fame.
• This year: feature films, documentaries, a multi-part series and live talks.

Eight premieres to watch at Tribeca — what makes each one notable

Earth, Wind & Fire — Questlove’s sweeping music documentary

The festival opens with Questlove’s new film, a career-spanning portrait of Earth, Wind & Fire. The documentary traces the band’s rise and the life of founder Maurice White. Expect archival performances and deep interviews.

• Opening night selection.
• Contributors include prominent cultural figures and fellow musicians.
• Focus: legacy, creativity and the band’s impact on soul and pop music.

The Accompanist — Zach Woods directs a tender family drama

Comedian Zach Woods makes his feature debut behind the camera. The story centers on a nine-year-old child removed from a frail guardian and placed in the care of an eccentric woman. Aubrey Plaza leads the cast as a rookie child welfare agent.

• Lead actors: Aubrey Plaza and Susan Sarandon.
• Plot threads: memory loss, family secrets and moral gray zones.
• Tone: intimate, character-driven and emotionally rooted.

Iconoclast — a dark look at online obsession

Gabriel Basso writes, directs and stars in this psychological thriller. The narrative follows a man consumed by an internet personality and pushed toward violent reinvention. The film examines radicalization in digital subcultures.

• Key cast: Courtney Eaton, Kiernan Shipka, Noah Centineo.
• Theme: incel culture, masculinity and social media influence.
• Style: tense, character-focused and contemporary.

In the Hand of Dante — Julian Schnabel’s starry literary drama

Julian Schnabel adapts a layered tale that blends medieval and modern worlds. Oscar Isaac plays dual roles, crossing time between Dante Alighieri and a contemporary writer entangled with criminal forces. The ensemble adds Hollywood heavyweights to the screen.

• Notable names: Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, Al Pacino.
• Plot beats: lost manuscripts, creative struggle and mafia entanglement.
• Why it matters: one of the festival’s most cast-heavy and talked-about films.

Playing POTUS — how late-night comedy reshapes politics

Director Josh Greenbaum explores the comedic riffs that have altered public views of presidents. Interviews with Saturday Night Live alums and other comics show how satire has become political currency.

• Featured interviewees: Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Alec Baldwin and more.
• Festival moment: post-screening talk with special guests.
• Focus: comedy’s cultural and electoral influence.

The Man Will Burn — an inside look at Burning Man’s turmoil

Filmmakers Jehane Noujaim and Vikram Gandhi present a four-part documentary series examining Burning Man’s shifting identity. The directors secured access to the event’s leadership and long-time insiders, promising revealing stories.

• Format: multi-episode doc series debuting in part at Tribeca.
• Subsequent release: slated to stream on HBO later this year.
• Subjects: community conflict, commercialization and cultural change.

The Siege of Paradise — tourism versus local life in Cinque Terre

Gar O’Rourke captures the friction between coastal residents and online creators who flock there for content. The documentary explores how social media fame reshapes small towns and everyday routines.

• Setting: Cinque Terre, Italy.
• Theme: cultural tension, gentrification and influencer impact.
• Approach: observational, often wry and empathetic.

The Last Day — Rachel Rose’s modern take on Woolf

Writer-director Rachel Rose debuts with a contemporary reimagining inspired by Virginia Woolf. Alicia Vikander stars as a grieving writer whose Fourth of July weekend forces her to confront creative blocks and personal loss.

• Co-stars: Victoria Pedretti and Wagner Moura.
• Story elements: postpartum struggles, memory, artistic identity.
• Style: introspective, character-led and literary in tone.