The 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival Schedule
The 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival is now just a little over a week away!The festival will take place from April 30th through May 3rd, 2026. This year's theme is "The World Comes to Hollywood."
I'm very happy to say I'll again be covering this year's festival as a member of the credentialed media. This is my twelfth year covering the festival; it's always an honor and a privilege to do so.
During the festival please follow me on Twitter ("X") for "as it happens" news and photos. The Twitter hashtag #TCMFF is also always a great way to stay up to date on current festival news.After the festival I'll have lots more to share here, as always, including a festival overview and photos.
This year's venues will be the same as the past couple years, the Egyptian Theatre, the Chinese Theatre and multiplex, and a single screening at the El Capitan Theatre.
There will also be the usual poolside screenings at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.The festival schedule was posted earlier this month, as I shared here, and while I was recently traveling I carefully studied it.
Longtime readers are familiar with the criteria which goes into TCM Festival viewing selections. Of course, interest in a film is key, but beyond that there are several other factors, including whether or not I've seen a film previously; how long ago I last saw a film I'd be revisiting, and whether or not I've seen it theatrically in the past; the format (35mm, 35mm nitrate, or DCP); special guests; and how the times and locations fit together.Over the years I've also tended to stay away from the "big" Chinese Theatre, finding the sound in the cavernous building to be a poorer experience than other theaters. Last year every film I saw was in the Egyptian Theatre or the Multiplex, including nine films in my favorite Theater 4, which only seats 148.
Thursday, April 30th
Like most film noir fans, I love OUT OF THE PAST (1947), which will be introduced in a restored digital print by actress Dana Delany at the Egyptian. That said, I just saw OUT OF THE PAST in a 35mm print at least year's Noir City Hollywood Festival, so instead I'm planning to kick off this year's festival with THE OZU DIARIES (2025), a new documentary about my favorite Japanese director, Yasujiro Ozu.THE OZU DIARIES will be introduced in Theater 6 at the Chinese Multiplex by the film's director, Daniel Raim; I've previously reviewed several of his documentaries, including IN SEARCH OF OZU (2018) and IMAGE MAKERS: THE ADVENTURES OF AMERICA'S PIONEER CINEMATOGRAPHERS (2019).
After THE OZU DIARIES my plan is to get back in line for Theater 6 and see Fritz Lang's MAN HUNT (1941), a new-to-me film which will be introduced by Keith Carradine. It stars favorites Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, and George Sanders, so I really need to see it!
Friday, May 1st
Friday morning I'd especially love to be at the 75th anniversary restoration of one of my favorite Disney films, ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951), but unfortunately ALICE gets out only 15 minutes before the film of the festival, LETTY LYNTON (1932), starts at the Egyptian. Indeed, I'm sure Letty will be in such demand that I'm not even sure if I dare see a film in the first time slot of the day; if I do, it will be the Warren William pre-Code THE MOUTHPIECE (1932) at the Egyptian, purely for logistical reasons. (ON MOONLIGHT BAY is another appealing option, but the theater is too far away!) I may just get in line early for LETTY...After LETTY LYNTON I will probably spend the rest of the day at the Egyptian. Next up will be STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951), which I've never seen theatrically, and it's been about 15 years since I saw it on DVD.
I've also never seen HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1986) theatrically, so I expect to see it next, especially as nothing much else in that time slot appeals to me, which is rare!I'll probably close out the night at the Egyptian with George Stevens Jr. introducing SHANE (1953); I'd love to see Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray in THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS (1936) theatrically, but with HANNAH getting out at 8:15 there's no way I'd make it into little House 4 at the Multiplex just half an hour later. If I hurried I might make it into House 6 in time for PAL JOEY (1957), but why race down the street toward uncertain plans when I could be watching Alan Ladd?
Saturday, May 2nd
Saturday morning will find me back at the Egyptian for a favorite romantic comedy, THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER (1947), in a 35mm nitrate print. I love the chance to see Loretta Young on a big screen; I have fond memories of seeing this particular film as a teenager at a FilmEx tribute to Loretta where she was there in person. The rest of the cast is also great, including Joseph Cotten, Charles Bickford, and Ethel Barrymore.I next plan to be at, you guessed it, the Egyptian to see Leonard Maltin and Luis Reyes introduce Maria Montez and Jon Hall in COBRA WOMAN (1944). I'm excited about seeing a Montez-Hall film theatrically for the first time! Although I often see a Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers movie at the TCM Fest, I'm choosing COBRA WOMAN over SWING TIME (1936), which is in the big Chinese Theatre. I've seen SWING TIME theatrically a couple of times, although not for many years.
Unfortunately a 15-minute gap between films will probably preclude me seeing this year's "B" film introduced by Jeremy Arnold, THE BAMBOO BLONDE (1946), directed by Anthony Mann. I always enjoy Jeremy's intros and would love to see it.
For my final film of the day I plan to see one of the films I look forward to most, Jean Arthur in THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES (1941). I'm glad it's being shown in the largest Multiplex theater, House 1, which seats 350. As a side note, this film was scheduled for the cancelled 2020 festival, so I'm very glad it's finally made its way into the lineup.
Sunday, May 3rd
On Sunday morning I'm excited to see THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946), which I've never seen theatrically. It will be introduced by Alison Macor, who wrote an impressive "making of" book on the film which I reviewed here in 2023.Although BEST YEARS gets out only 45 minutes before the world premiere of a restoration of Lubitsch's TROUBLE IN PARADISE (1932), I'm hopeful of making it in, since it's also in the good-sized House 1. In my opinion one can never see TROUBLE IN PARADISE too many times!
Sunday always has a great deal of uncertainty due to five "TBA" slots, where some of the most-attended films from earlier in the festival are reshown; I'm already anticipating one of those slots will be a second showing of LETTY LYNTON. However, there's no TBA film in the third slot of the day, so I'll probably choose CABIN IN THE SKY (1943). If I can't get into it, given it's in little House 4, I expect I'll take another look at Hitchcock's ROPE (1948), despite just having seen it on nitrate last year.There are fewer options in the fourth slot of the day due to a couple overlapping films, so I'm hoping for a good "TBA" title. Otherwise I may see ARABESQUE (1966), but given that I wasn't a huge fan of it, it may also be a good time for dinner!
It seems like most years I end the festival either at a silent film with a live orchestra or at an MGM musical, such as last year's showing of TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME (1949). This year's silent film on closing night is LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN (1925), which I saw at UCLA a few years ago, so -- barring choosing a TBA film -- I will probably finish out the festival with ON THE TOWN (1949). I saw ON THE TOWN theatrically several times as a teenager, but it's been literally decades since I saw it in a theater and it sounds like a great way to wrap things up.And that completes this year's plans! I should have an overview posted here soon after the festival ends.
I saw 11 films in 2013, 14 in 2014, 16 in 2015, 15 in 2016, 17 (including a block of cartoons) in 2017 and 2018, and 15 films plus a clip show in 2019 and 2011. I also saw 15 films in 2023 and 2024 and 16 movies in 2025. What does 2026 have in store?!For reference, my posts on the schedules for previous festivals are linked here in reverse chronological order: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.
I hope to see many readers at the festival! As always, I welcome comments with festival picks, both from attendees and those who can't be there but might want to follow along at home.
Previously: TCM Announces 2026 Festival Dates and Theme; TCM Classic Film Festival Passes on Sale December 9th; New Titles Announced for 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival; The Latest 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival Titles; More Titles Announced for the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival; TCM Classic Film Festival Announces Additional Titles.









































