Your Guide to the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival
Lights, camera, Newport Beach! The Newport Beach Film Festival returns Oct. 15-22, 2026, bringing eight days of standout cinema, star-studded screenings and after-hours celebrations to the coast. Celebrating its 27th year, the festival will showcase more than 100 feature films and 250 shorts from 21 countries, pairing some of awards season’s most talked-about titles with independent films, documentaries and international premieres.
Whether you’re planning a full weekend of screenings or simply looking for the perfect film-and-dinner date night, there’s plenty to put on your calendar. Here’s your guide to making the most of the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival.
Opening Night: Kick Off the Festival
The festival officially gets underway Thursday, Oct. 15, setting the stage for a week of screenings, special events and celebrations throughout Newport Beach. The NBFF is known for making Opening Night one of the biggest events of the week, bringing together filmmakers, industry insiders and movie lovers for a quintessential Newport Beach kickoff. More details to come!
Friday, Oct. 16: Music, Premieres and Opening-Weekend Picks
Friday marks the first full day of screenings, with films beginning at 5 p.m. Music lovers can head straight for Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart at 7:30 p.m. The Dori Berinstein-directed documentary makes its West Coast premiere at the festival and puts the spotlight on the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter behind decades of hits.
Also screening at 7:30 p.m. is the world premiere of Danny Peykoff’s …And Out Comes the Wolf, one of this year’s Centerpiece selections. At 8 p.m., catch another Centerpiece film, Noah Segan’s The Only Living Pickpocket in New York. Those looking for something off the beaten path can choose from documentaries, international films and shorts programs running throughout the evening.
Saturday, Oct. 17: Spend the Day at the Movies
Clear your calendar—Saturday is packed. Screenings begin before noon and continue well into the evening, with everything from environmental documentaries and family-friendly shorts to fashion, art and major Centerpiece films.
Foodies can catch California Roll: The Rise of American Sushi at 1:30 p.m., while fashion fans can opt for the West Coast premiere of Couture to the Max at 4 p.m. Then, at 5:30 p.m., movie buffs can choose between the world premiere of As Far Back As I Can Remember… The Story of Goodfellas and Jimmy.
One of Saturday’s biggest screenings arrives at 8 p.m. Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine brings an impressive ensemble to the screen, including John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Mariana di Girolamo, Ailín Salas, Tom Waits and Parker Posey. Keep the music going afterward with Frampton at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 18: Big Names Take the Screen
Sunday brings some of the festival’s most recognizable names to the lineup. At 1:15 p.m., James Gray’s Paper Tiger stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller. Just 15 minutes later, Danny Boyle’s Ink screens at 1:30 p.m., starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy. Both are among this year’s Centerpiece selections.
Later in the day, switch gears with Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion at 6 p.m., followed by Australian surf film Stern Fever at 7 p.m. Round out the night with A Talent for Murder, directed by Anton Corbijn, at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 19: Documentaries Take Center Stage
The weekend may be over, but the festival is far from finished. Monday offers encore screenings alongside a strong documentary lineup. Catch Frampton at 5 p.m., then look to the stars—literally—with Carl Sagan: We Are Made of Star Stuff at 7:30 p.m.
Photography and fashion fans can head to Avedon at 8 p.m., directed by Ron Howard and centered on celebrated photographer Richard Avedon. Then trade the theater for the dance floor at the Latin Showcase Afterparty, beginning at 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 20: Go Global
Tuesday is an especially good day to explore the international side of the 2026 NBFF. Start at 11 a.m. with Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion, or stop by later for films from France, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland.
One of the evening’s major screenings is Josephine, directed by Beth de Araújo, at 7:30 p.m. Other international selections include De Gaulle: Tilting Iron at 6:45 p.m., A Journey to Piedmont at 7:15 p.m., What A Way To Go at 7:30 p.m., Empty Nesters at 7:45 p.m. and Fatherland at 8 p.m.
When the credits roll, the European Showcase Afterparty starts at 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 21: Around the World in One Night
The international celebration continues Wednesday. At 7 p.m., The Sixty-Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World explores the lasting impact of one of television’s most recognizable franchises.
From there, take your pick of films from around the globe. The evening includes the Philippines’ Sisa, Korea’s Jeju Olle, Egypt’s Ezma, New Zealand’s There’s a Hole in my Bucket, Australia’s How to Talk Australians and Japan’s Look Back. Many of this year’s International Spotlight selections are making their world, North American, West Coast or California premieres at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Cap off the night at the Pacific Rim Showcase Afterparty at 10 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22: One Last Day at the Movies
All good things must come to an end. The final day of the Newport Beach Film Festival offers one last chance to settle into a theater, beginning with Turned Tables Shorts at 3 p.m. and RelationShorts at 5:30 p.m.
At 7 p.m., Iranian filmmaker Ali Asgari’s A Bit of Light makes its North American premiere. The festival’s listed schedule wraps with two 8 p.m. programs: Music Videos and the appropriately named Put on Your Dancing Shorts.
Where to Stay
Turn your Newport Beach Film Festival experience into a coastal getaway with a stay at one of the festival’s hotel partners. Whether you want to be close to the action at Fashion Island, wake up to harbor views or retreat to Newport Coast between screenings, these four properties make an ideal home base for festival week.
Pendry Newport Beach
Located just steps from Fashion Island, Pendry Newport Beach pairs contemporary luxury with a prime location. Its stylish rooms, restaurants and resort-style amenities make it easy to turn a day of screenings and events into a full Newport Beach vacation.
Balboa Bay Resort
For waterfront accommodations, Balboa Bay Resort offers a quintessential Newport Beach stay along the harbor. Enjoy scenic bay views and a relaxing waterfront setting before heading out for another day at the festival.
The Resort at Pelican Hill
Perched above the Pacific in Newport Coast, The Resort at Pelican Hill offers a sprawling, luxurious retreat away from the festival buzz. With sweeping coastal views and an elevated resort atmosphere, it’s a fitting choice for visitors looking to make an entire getaway out of festival week.
VEA Newport Beach
Across from Fashion Island, VEA Newport Beach puts guests in the heart of the city’s premier shopping and dining destinations. The modern resort and spa offers an easy home base for catching screenings, attending festival events and exploring the surrounding shops and restaurants.
Tip: Festival week is a popular time to visit Newport Beach, so consider booking your stay early.
More Than Movies
Part of the fun of the Newport Beach Film Festival happens after the credits roll. In addition to its extensive film lineup, NBFF hosts nightly parties and events featuring more than 60 culinary partners, making it easy to turn a screening into an entire night out.
And with everything from Hollywood talent and international premieres to music documentaries, surf films, fashion stories, shorts and late-night celebrations on the calendar, you don’t have to be a film aficionado to find something worth seeing.
The 27th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival takes place Oct. 15-22, 2026. View the complete lineup, purchase passes and find tickets at the Newport Beach Film Festival website.
