The Miami Film Festival has dropped its 2026 lineup, and it is leaning hard into big-screen spectacle and live music. The ten-day run, set for April 9 to 19, will bring more than 160 projects from around the globe to indoor theaters and outdoor stages across the city, mixing world premieres, anniversary showings, and concert-style events that turn the festival into part movie marathon, part live show.
Opening and closing nights
According to Miami New Times, opening night belongs to Tuner, directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Daniel Roher and starring Leo Woodall. It will launch the festival on Thursday, April 9. Closing night goes to Power Ballad, John Carney’s music-tinged comedy drama with Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, scheduled for Sunday, April 19. Both titles are locked in as gala centerpiece events, complete with the kind of red carpet and fanfare Miami film crowds have come to expect.
Special screenings, live scores and anniversaries
The festival’s program page highlights a slate of location-savvy presentations that match films to some of Miami’s splashiest venues. A 25th anniversary screening of The Princess Diaries is slated for Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, while John Waters will mark his 80th birthday with a special presentation at the Adrienne Arsht Center. Composer Justin Hurwitz is set to conduct an 18 piece jazz band for a live score performance of Whiplash. Milly: Queen of Merengue will make its U.S. premiere at the Miami Beach Bandshell, with director Leticia Tonos Paniagua and legendary singer Milly Quezada in attendance, per Miami Film Festival.
Awards and visitors
This year’s honorees list blends film and television favorites who will be on hand for tributes and onstage conversations. Adam Scott is set to receive a Vanguard Award for his work in Hokum, and Matt Bomer will pick up a Vanguard honor of his own and sit down for a live taping of the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Bob Odenkirk, Danielle Brooks and Lili Reinhart are also named as award recipients. Sesame Street alum Sonia Manzano will be presented with the Impact Award following a screening of Street Smart: Lessons From a TV Icon, according to Miami New Times.
Program size and premieres
The festival says its full 2026 lineup features more than 160 projects from 45 countries, including roughly 40 world premieres, two international premieres and five U.S. premieres. The spread underscores Miami’s positioning as a crossroads for Ibero American cinema and a natural home for music-driven programming. The complete slate and ticket information are available on the festival website, per Miami Film Festival.
For Miami moviegoers, April is shaping up to be packed: red carpets, open air screenings and a run of events that blur the line between concert and cinema. Locals will want to keep an eye on the schedule for venue details and ticket drops as opening night gets closer.
