TRIBECA FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, JUNE 3–14, 2026

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Sep 26

Written By Jonathan P. Moustakas

The 2026 edition of Tribeca will run June 3–14 in NYC, honoring 25 years of storytelling with expanded submissions, team promotions, and a global spotlight on independent voices.

The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, is officially set to return for its 25th anniversary edition from June 3–14, 2026, in New York City. Now one of the world's most influential platforms for film, television, immersive media, music, games, podcasts, and emerging creators, the festival marks this milestone by opening submissions across all categories and unveiling a series of key internal promotions.

"Twenty-five years ago, we started Tribeca to bring people back downtown following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and to bring storytellers and audiences together," said Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca Co-Founder and CEO. "Since then, Tribeca has become a home for bold ideas and powerful voices, a place where culture is shaped and new forms of storytelling are discovered. Our 25th Festival will honor where we’ve been and boldly look ahead."

Robert De Niro, Tribeca Co-Founder, added: "As we celebrate 25 years of Tribeca, I’m reminded of why we started it in the first place: to support artists and bring people together through stories. It’s been incredible to see how the Festival has grown and evolved, and I couldn’t be prouder of what it has become. This anniversary is about celebrating the artists, audiences, and New York City itself."

Expanded Categories and Submission Opportunities:

To commemorate the 25th anniversary, Tribeca is widening the net for creators across film and digital media. Submissions are now open for:

Features & TV

Shorts
Tribeca NOW (for social media and online storytelling)
Tribeca TV (episodic, both indie and studio-backed)
Podcasts (including a new out-of-competition track)
Games
Works in Progress
Tribeca X (branded content)

The 2026 edition will continue to spotlight boundary-pushing work from both established filmmakers and emerging talent, with categories designed to embrace the evolving media landscape. Notably, Tribeca NOW is making a return to its original format, seeking online creators and building on the momentum of programs like UpNext Creators. This expansion reflects Tribeca’s growing commitment to digital voices shaping tomorrow's culture.

Celebrating the Tribeca Alumni Legacy:

Tribeca also used the occasion to spotlight its alumni, whose careers began at the festival before shaping the landscape of global storytelling. These include Damien Chazelle (Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench), Ryan Coogler (Locks), Nia DaCosta (Little Woods), the Daniels (Possibilia), Domee Shi (Bao), Jon M. Chu, Alex Gibney, and many more. Their journeys reflect Tribeca’s enduring impact as a launchpad for bold, creative visions.

Internal Promotions and Leadership Expansion:

Tribeca also announced internal promotions in preparation for this milestone year:

Casey Baron: Senior Programmer, Film & Games
Shayna Maci Warner: Director of Programming Operations
David Speer: Vice President of Operations
Eileen Rodriguez: General Counsel, EVP of Legal & Business Affairs, Secretary to the Board
Megan Younger: SVP of Partnerships, Client Services & Activation
Nellie Norden: VP of Program Development & Growth Initiatives
Gretchen Higgins: VP of Partnerships & Global Development
Bryce Norbitz: VP of Tribeca Studios, Artist Development

These leadership changes underscore the organization’s long-term investment in innovation and infrastructure, as the festival continues to grow beyond its Lower Manhattan roots.

Submission Deadlines for Tribeca 2026:

Submissions for Tribeca Festival 2026 are now officially open. Below are the key deadlines by category:

Features & TV:
Early: Oct 22, 2025 | Official: Nov 19, 2025 | Extended: Dec 17, 2025

Shorts:
Early: Oct 29, 2025 | Official: Dec 3, 2025 | Extended: Feb 4, 2026

Tribeca NOW:
Early: Oct 29, 2025 | Official: Dec 18, 2025 | Extended: Feb 5, 2026

Games:
Early: Oct 29, 2025 | Official: Jan 14, 2026 | Extended: Feb 11, 2026

Podcasts:
Early: Dec 3, 2025 | Official: Jan 14, 2026 | Extended: Feb 11, 2026

Works in Progress:
Submissions open: Feb 4, 2026 | Official Deadline: Mar 4, 2026

Tribeca X:
Early: Nov 12, 2025 | Official: Jan 13, 2026 | Extended: Feb 25, 2026

Industry Accreditation Deadlines

Industry Badges (Hudson, Franklin, Chambers, Virtual):

Early Bird: Sept 24 – Dec 31, 2025
Regular: Jan 1 – May 31, 2026
On-Site: June 1 – June 14, 2026

Full eligibility criteria and submission guidelines are available at tribecafilm.com/festival/submissions.

About Tribeca

The Tribeca Festival, founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, began as a response to the 9/11 attacks and has since evolved into a world-renowned event celebrating storytelling in all forms. With roots in independent film, Tribeca now spans music, television, immersive experiences, podcasts, and gaming. In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems acquired a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, working alongside the original founders to expand the Festival’s global reach.

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For the 25th anniversary edition in 2026, Tribeca looks back on a legacy of creative risk-taking and forward to a new era of cross-platform storytelling and cultural innovation.