Cinephiles, get ready: the 37th annual New Orleans Film Festival returns October 22–27, 2026, bringing six days of extraordinary cinema to the Crescent City. This Oscar-qualifying festival will showcase 175 films in person at venues across the city — from its central hub at the Contemporary Arts Center to the historic Prytania Theatre Uptown and The Broad Theater — with a virtual edition running October 22 through November 1 for audiences worldwide.
The festival opens with “Victory,” a moving portrait of beloved New Orleans soul legend Irma Thomas, celebrating the extraordinary legacy of the city and its people. The closing night brings the world premiere of “Maestro.” New this year, the free Filmmaker Conference moves entirely into the CAC Hub with workshops, live podcast recordings and fireside chats, all under one roof.
And here is the best part: thanks to The Helis Foundation, the “First Ticket On Us” campaign returns, giving every New Orleanian a free ticket to any film or shorts block with the code ARTFORALL. Individual tickets are on sale now at neworleansfilmsociety.org.
MovieMaker Magazine named it one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” — come see why.
Photo: Katie Sikora / New Orleans Film Society
