Tribeca Festival Announces Opening Night for 25th Anniversary Edition
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Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire documentary to world premiere with live performance from Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots at the Beacon Theatre on June 3, launching the festival’s milestone 25th anniversary edition.
The Tribeca Festival has announced its Opening Night selection for its 25th anniversary edition, marking the official launch of the milestone 2026 festival and its first major programming reveal. In keeping with its long-standing tradition of merging film, music, and live performance, Tribeca will open with the world premiere of Questlove’s new HBO Original Documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World), followed by a live performance from Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots at the Beacon Theatre on June 3, 2026.
The announcement sets the tone for a landmark year for the festival, which was founded in 2001 in the wake of 9/11 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff with the goal of revitalizing lower Manhattan through storytelling and community-driven cultural programming. Twenty-five years later, Tribeca has evolved into one of the most influential global festivals for film, television, music, podcasts, games, and immersive storytelling.
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This year’s Opening Night continues Tribeca’s tradition of pairing major documentary premieres with live musical performances, reinforcing the festival’s identity as a hybrid cultural event where cinema and live performance intersect. The screening will take place at the Beacon Theatre, one of New York City’s most iconic venues, before transitioning into a full live performance from Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots.
The documentary, directed by Academy Award and Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, examines the legacy of Earth, Wind & Fire and their founder Maurice White through archival footage, cultural analysis, and rare creative access. The film is produced by Questlove alongside Dave Sirulnick, Samantha Grogin, KB White, and Arron Saxe, with executive producers including Jon Kamen, Cheo Hodari Coker, and others across music and film industries.
Questlove described the project as the result of two years of deep creative exploration into the band’s cultural impact, legacy, and musical innovation, positioning Earth, Wind & Fire as one of the most influential American bands of all time. The film will debut in the United States on HBO and will stream on HBO Max in 2026.
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Tribeca Festival Co-Founder and Co-Chair Jane Rosenthal said the Opening Night selection reflects both the spirit of the festival’s founding and its continued commitment to uniting artists and audiences in New York City.
“Opening Night is always a magical moment. This year, as we celebrate 25 years of the Festival, it is especially meaningful,” Rosenthal said. “Tribeca was born in the wake of 9/11 with a belief that storytellers have the power to bring communities together. For 25 years, we’ve seen artists, filmmakers, musicians, and audiences come together in New York City in ways that are inspiring, surprising, and deeply human.”
Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming Cara Cusumano also emphasized the significance of pairing Questlove’s documentary with a live performance, calling it a defining expression of the festival’s identity.
“Opening Night will be a once-in-a-lifetime New York event that reflects the energy, creativity, and communal experience that has defined Tribeca for 25 years,” Cusumano said.
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Earth, Wind & Fire previously opened the Tribeca Festival in 2017, and their return in 2026 underscores the festival’s ongoing relationship with artists who have helped shape its cultural legacy. Over the past two decades, Tribeca has hosted landmark performances and appearances from artists including David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Bono, Metallica, Carlos Santana, KISS, Jon Bon Jovi, Jennifer Lopez, Nas, Herbie Hancock, Miley Cyrus, The Black Eyed Peas, and many others.
Following the world premiere screening, Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots will take the stage for a live performance at the Beacon Theatre, continuing Tribeca’s tradition of integrating music as a core component of its Opening Night experience. The evening will conclude with an official Opening Night after-party at Tavern on the Green in Central Park.
The 2026 Tribeca Festival runs from June 3–14 in New York City and will feature programming across film, television, music, audio storytelling, gaming, and immersive media. The festival is presented by OKX with support from partners including City National Bank and a wide network of cultural and media
Tribeca Festival passes and ticket packages are available now at TribecaFilm.com. Single tickets go on sale April 28.
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