Hollywood’s old-school glamour is getting a fresh polish when the TCM Classic Film Festival returns to Hollywood from April 30 through May 3, 2026. Over four days, the festival will roll out restored rarities, late-night screenings, and in-person presentations from filmmakers and technicians, all clustered around Hollywood Boulevard. Headlining the lineup is a newly completed 4K restoration of the long-shelved 1932 Joan Crawford vehicle Letty Lynton, part of a slate that pairs archival premieres with hands-on craft conversations. Events will unfold across the Egyptian Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt, with live orchestral accompaniments, midnight shows, and technical deep dives giving cinephiles plenty of excuses to skip sleep.
In a press release, Turner Classic Movies confirmed the final additions to the 2026 lineup, including appearances by Laura Dern and Carol Burnett and an expanded Festival hub with Fandango at Home. The release also locked in the world premiere of the restored Letty Lynton, set to screen at the Egyptian Theatre in the festival’s discoveries track. TCM is framing the gathering as both a fan-friendly party and a preservation showcase for prints and restorations that rarely make it into public screenings.
Programming chief Charles Tabesh has pegged this year’s theme, “The World Comes to Hollywood,” to spotlight international influences inside studio-era filmmaking and the artists who carried them onto American soundstages. As reported by KPBS, the festival will welcome director Charles Burnett to present a director’s cut of his restored My Brother’s Wedding and will tap Edgar Wright as a special presenter for a midnight screening of Vanishing Point. KPBS also notes that Turner Classic Movies counts filmmakers including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson among its high-profile supporters.
Restorations, Live Music, and Behind-the-Scenes Craft
The printed schedule threads crowd-pleasing favorites with deep-cut discoveries. The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra is set to accompany Lady Windermere’s Fan, while silent-film pianist Ben Model will provide live music for The Patsy. As listed by RevivalHouses, Letty Lynton will screen at the Egyptian Theatre with Warner Archive librarian George Feltenstein and archivist Casey LaLonde appearing in person. The festival schedule also includes a hands-on session with sound designer Ben Burtt and visual-effects artist Craig Barron that will unpack the practical effects and sound design of The Towering Inferno, underscoring how the fest treats film history as both scholarship and showmanship.
A Festival for Diehards and Curious Newcomers
Organizers say the festival is built to lure both veteran collectors and casual fans, with programming that runs from meticulously restored studio obscurities to culty late-night fare and panel conversations. In a press release, TCM highlighted an expanded digital and retail partnership with Fandango at Home, aiming to stretch the festival’s footprint beyond the Hollywood zip code even as screenings anchor a busy spring calendar for Los Angeles cinemas. As NBC Los Angeles observed, the festival brings “titans of classic filmdom” and a burst of special events to the Walk of Fame corridor.
Where to Get Tickets and Plan Your Visit
Passes, single-ticket details, the full daily schedule, and venue information are all available through the festival’s official site. For the complete lineup, ticketing options, and day-by-day breakdown, visit the TCM Classic Film Festival page. Festivalgoers are encouraged to check individual screening listings for in-person guests and any schedule changes before heading to Hollywood.
