soulhead Tribeca Film Festival Music Lovers Guide 2026

Welcome to the ultimate day-by-day guide to the 2026 Tribeca Festival, curated specifically for the soulhead community. This year marks a historic 25th anniversary for the festival, bringing a massive lineup of music documentaries, high-profile icon talks, and legendary live hybrid performances to New York City.

From the driving rhythms of Earth, Wind & Fire to intimate story sessions with rock and R&B royalty, here is your curated map to the absolute best music-focused offerings at this year’s festival.

Top Overall Picks

Documentaries

  • Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World)
    Directed by Academy Award and Grammy winner Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, this boisterous, decades-spanning film chronicles the legendary American band and its enigmatic founder, Maurice White. From humble beginnings to the epic, celestial, pyrotechnical stadium shows of their height, Questlove’s celebratory doc showcases the group’s out-of-this-world music, metaphysics, and joy.
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  • Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear
    Directed by Justin Krook and Michael Dwyer, this intimate documentary traces Travis Barker’s journey from growing up in Laguna Beach to becoming Blink-182’s powerhouse drummer. The film deep-dives into his harrowing recovery, pain, and survival following the tragic 2008 plane crash, celebrating a relentless spirit when the music almost stopped.
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  • Alejandro Sanz: When No One Sees Me
    An intimate look into the life, creative process, and global impact of the legendary Spanish singer-songwriter. The film explores the vulnerabilities, trials, and massive stadium triumphs of one of Latin music’s most enduring and celebrated voices.
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Concert Films & Musicals

  • Hadestown: The Musical
    Anaïs Mitchell’s Tony-winning musical giant arrives on the silver screen. This brilliant capture reunites the five principal members of the original Broadway cast—Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada, and Patrick Page—on the West End for a transcendent, mythic musical experience.
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  • Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris
    A visual and sonic spectacle capturing Katy Perry’s electrifying, highly immersive concert production in France. Blending massive pop powerhouse performances with exhilarating cinematography, it offers a front-row seat to her spectacular visual identity and stage craft.
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Narrative & Experimental

  • Imaginal Disk (Magdalena Bay)
    Serving as a bold cinematic companion to pop duo Magdalena Bay’s acclaimed eponymous album, this 53-minute film expands their signature retro-futuristic, kaleidoscopic world into a stunning, visually driven narrative.
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  • Noga
    A striking blend of art, biography, and music, this 95-minute feature follows fearless alternative pop singer Noga Erez as she stands on the precipice of global superstardom. When geopolitical shifts and personal fractures erupt, she is forced to completely redefine her identity and role as an artist.
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DAILY TRIBECA FESTIVAL MUSIC LOVERS GUIDE

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Opening Night Gala

  • Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World) — World Premiere [STAFF TOP PICK]
    Questlove’s celebratory HBO original documentary kicks off the milestone 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. After the Premiere: A massive, one-night-only joint live performance by Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots live at the Beacon Theatre.
    Get Tickets

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Spotlight Documentaries & Concert Films

  • Sara Bareilles: Good Grief — World Premiere
    Seven years after her Grammy Award-winning Amidst the Chaos, Sara Bareilles reunites with her closest collaborators to record a new album. What emerges is an intimate, cinematic process that lays bare the musician’s deep connections and inspiration. After the Premiere: Followed by an exclusive post-premiere live performance from Sara Bareilles.
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  • Frampton — World Premiere
    From the arena-shaking triumph of Frampton Comes Alive! to a final tour shaped by a degenerative diagnosis, Frampton follows a rock icon who lost everything and fought his way back—again and again. After the Premiere: Features a highly anticipated special post-premiere live performance and appearance by Peter Frampton.
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  • The Last Play at Shea
    The intersecting histories of a stadium, a team, and a music legend are examined in a documentary that charts the ups and downs of the New York Mets and the life and career of Long Island native Billy Joel, the last performer to play Shea Stadium.
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Narrative Features

  • Imaginal Disk — World Premiere
    Serving as a bold cinematic companion to pop duo Magdalena Bay’s acclaimed eponymous album, this 53-minute film expands their signature retro-futuristic, kaleidoscopic world into a stunning, visually driven narrative. After the Premiere: A special stripped-back live performance from Magdalena Bay immediately follows the premiere.
    Get Tickets

Friday, June 5, 2026

Music Narratives & Musicals

  • Airport BLVD. — World Premiere
    Set in the rapidly transforming streets of East Austin, this vibrant, jazz-infused musical follows Xavier as he watches his community, long-held friendships, and fundamental sense of home disappear.
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  • Árru — World Premiere
    When a proposed copper mine threatens the land and livelihood of reindeer herder Maia and her Sámi community, the arrival of a politically powerful uncle brings up long-buried trauma in this lyrical, emotionally resonant musical-drama.
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Saturday, June 6, 2026

Indie Rock & Cult Documentaries

  • Curse Melody (Midnight Selection)
    An indie rock band struggling to make its mark finds a possible meal ticket in an infectious new guitar riff. Unfortunately, it’s also a cursed melody that just so happens to open a portal to another, much scarier dimension.
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  • Time Warp — World Premiere
    50 years after The Rocky Horror Picture Show electrified audiences, a drag theater company in the once-booming mining town of Rock Springs, Wyoming, stages a shadow cast of the cult classic. Led by the charismatic 25-year-old performer Kenny Starling, the determined company fights for queer visibility and acceptance in their community.
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Sunday, June 7, 2026

Documentaries & TV Premieres

  • The Symphony of Dance — World Premiere
    A powerful documentary focusing on dancing partners and married couple Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert. The film tracks their “Symphony of Dance” national tour when Hayley is suddenly forced to fight for her life following a shocking medical emergency. After the Premiere: Features a special, intimate live dance and movement performance from Derek and Hayley Hough following the premiere.
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  • Alejandro Sanz: When No One Sees Me — Series Premiere
    After a startling post on social media shakes the world, Latin music icon Alejandro Sanz hits a crossroads—facing his past, reclaiming his flamenco roots, and exposing the vulnerable, unfiltered artist hidden beneath his global stardom. After the Premiere: Features an in-depth post-screening discussion with the four-time Grammy winner.
    Get Tickets

Monday, June 8, 2026

Concert Film / Music Feature

  • Hadestown: The Musical — Screen Premiere
    The cinematic capture of the legendary Broadway production makes its grand debut. After the Premiere: A highly anticipated, special acoustic musical performance from original cast members Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada.
    Get Tickets

Narrative / Live Pop Event

  • Imaginal Disk — World Premiere & Performance
    Dive headfirst into the surreal aesthetic universe of electronic pop sensations Magdalena Bay. After the Premiere: A special, stripped-back live performance from the duo.
    Get Tickets

Art / Alternative Pop Feature

  • Noga — World Premiere & Performance
    Experience the intense story of alternative icon Noga Erez navigating relationships, art, and rising fame. After the Premiere: A live musical performance by Noga Erez & Ori Rousso.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Retrospectives & Reunions

  • Daft Punk’s Electroma — 20th Anniversary 4K Presentation [STAFF TOP PICK]
    A pristine, remastered 4K screening of the French electronic duo’s legendary 2006 avant-garde science fiction film. After the Screening: A rare, highly exclusive live conversation with Daft Punk co-founder Thomas Bangalter.
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Thursday, June 11, 2026

Hip-Hop Spotlight

  • The LOX Tribute Screening & Performance
    Celebrating foundational New York hip-hop history with an archival documentary showcase honoring Yonkers’ finest. After the Screening: Followed by a rare, energetic live set from Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch (The LOX).
    Get Tickets

Thursday, June 13, 2026

Documentary Premiere

  • Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear — World Premiere
    The deeply emotional and inspiring world premiere screening at Spring Studios mapping out the life, near-fatal tragedy, and sonic legacy of rock’s most recognizable modern drummer. After the Screening: An intimate post-screening live conversation with Travis Barker himself.
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  • Mumford & Sons: The House Band — World Premiere
    Mumford & Sons invite the camera onto the train for one of the most purely pleasurable concert docs in years. Featuring Noah Kahan, Darius Rucker, Lainey Wilson, Maggie Rogers, and several other special guests along for the ride, the journey captures brilliant collaborative jam sessions across America. After the Premiere: Followed by an exclusive acoustic performance by Mumford & Sons.
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  • The Best Summer — World Premiere
    A found-footage documentary from a legendary concert tour in 1995 that features live performances, candid interviews, and a behind-the-scenes view of what it was like to be on tour with the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Beck, Pavement, and Rancid.
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  • Concert & Conversation: Hrishikesh Hirway Moderated By Adam Scott
    A special conversation and live concert at Le Poisson Rouge between Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder) and acclaimed actor Adam Scott (Severance) to celebrate and support the release of Hirway’s new album, In the Last Hour.
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Sunday, June 14, 2026

Closing Night Gala

  • Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell’s Kitchen — World Premiere [STAFF TOP PICK]
    Directed by Tribeca alum One9, the festival closes with this beautiful, evocative cinematic love letter to New York City tracking the roots and creative genius of one of its most treasured native daughters. After the Premiere: A special live appearance and performance by Alicia Keys.
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Daily at Spring Studios

Curated Shorts & Music Videos Program

  • Jack White“Archbishop Harold Holmes” (Directed by Gilbert Trejo, starring John C. Reilly)
  • Linda Perry“Beautiful” (Directed by Sara Gilbert)
  • Benson Boone“Mr. Electric Blue”
  • 5 Seconds of Summer“Everyone’s a Star”
  • Kiloran Bay – A musical short film starring Alan Cumming and Jack Wolfe

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