By:Betty Coker, Editor in Chief  For World Liberty TV

The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, announced its 2026 lineup of Talks, Reunions, and Retrospectives, a series of one-night-only events spanning film, music, and culture. Tribeca’s 25th anniversary edition runs June 3–14 in New York City.

“Tribeca was founded on the belief that storytelling brings people together and moves culture and our society forward. For 25 years, those ideas have shaped everything we do,” said Tribeca Festival Co-Founder and Co-Chair Jane Rosenthal.

“This milestone Festival honors the artists who have defined our cultural landscape, including Bruce Springsteen’s enduring legacy, while revisiting films that continue to resonate across generations, like Taxi Driver.

At the same time, we are proudly championing new voices and creating space for the next generation of storytellers. This balance between legacy and discovery is what keeps Tribeca vital, relevant, and looking ahead.”

Bruce Springsteen received the 2026 Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award, an honor established by the late Paula Weinstein—Tribeca’s former Chief Content Officer, acclaimed producer, and lifelong activist.

Named for Harry Belafonte, the legendary singer, actor, and civil rights leader who fused artistry with activism, the award recognizes artists who don’t just speak out, but actively use their platform to advance equality, dignity, and human rights.

“There are few figures who embody the spirit of Tribeca’s Harry Belafonte Award more fully than Bruce Springsteen,” said Rosenthal.

The evening bought together an extraordinary circle of artists and activists highlighted by a conversation between Springsteen and his longtime friend and fellow activist Bono.

Robert De Niro and Patti Smith also join to pay tribute to a legacy defined not just by artistry, but by action.

The Festival also announced additional world premieres as part of the feature film lineup, including Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris, followed by a conversation with Katy Perry, and Tony Kaye’s Humpty Dumpty X, chronicling the director’s creative journey in the wake of directing American History X in 1998.

Fan-favorite retrospectives and reunions spotlight iconic films across genres and generations, with special screenings and conversations.

Taxi Driver marks its 50th anniversary with a screening and conversation featuring Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese.

Bridget Jones’s Diary celebrates its 25th anniversary followed by a conversation with director Sharon Maguire and Renée Zellweger. A newly restored 4K presentation of Daft Punk’s Electroma marks the film’s 20th anniversary, followed by a conversation with Daft Punk member Thomas Bangalter.

Tribeca’s beloved Storytellers Series returned with a can’t miss lineup of live conversations. Sean Penn sat down with Kaitlan Collins, CNN Chief White House Correspondent and anchor of The Source, for a timely discussion on activism and global impact.

Este Haim, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the groundbreaking rock trio HAIM and as a composer, shares insights from her work spanning performance and composing for film.

Tribeca X: the Tribeca Festival’s flagship program dedicated to brand-supported storytelling, today announced the inaugural Tribeca X Filmmaker of the Year Award, honoring A$AP Rocky for his work at the intersection of music, fashion, film, design, and brand storytelling. Tribeca X also unveiled its 2026 speaker lineup and official selections for the annual Tribeca X Awards.

“Tribeca X was built to celebrate the creators reshaping modern storytelling,” said Rebecca Glashow, CEO of Tribeca Enterprises.

“Today’s cultural landscape is being defined by artists and entrepreneurs who push creative boundaries across mediums and industries. A$AP Rocky represents the kind of genre-defying visionary the inaugural Tribeca X Filmmaker of the Year Award was created to honor.”

Took place  on June 8–9 at Spring Studios during the 25th annual Tribeca Festival, Tribeca X convenes influential voices across entertainment, advertising, media, technology, and the creator economy for two days of conversations, screenings, networking, and industry programming.

This year’s Tribeca X programming showcases how brands and entertainment leaders are building new models for storytelling that move across screens, platforms, communities, and culture. Highlights from the 2026 lineup include:

Cedric the Entertainer reflects on building businesses rooted in storytelling, culture, community, and purpose, from executive producing Kings of BBQ and building AC Barbeque to launching Setta Wines.

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham joins chef and entertainer Claire Saffitz to discuss how authenticity, emotion and craft became the foundation for his international culinary brand Cloud23, now sold at Whole Foods and Erewhon.

Michelle Khare, creator and host of Challenge Accepted, speaks with The Ankler’s Christopher Rosen about how she transformed her YouTube channel into a full in-house production company and built a creator business where brand partnerships function as true creative collaborations.

Stagwell executive David Sable sat down with PayPal Global CMO and CCO Antonio Lucio, and his daughter, the award-winning actor Irene Lucio.

The group explores how storytelling evolves across generations and disciplines, from global brand-building to acting, writing and producing, and why human connection remains central as technology reshapes how stories are made and shared.

“Tribeca X is a rare space where marketers, filmmakers, creators, and entrepreneurs come together as storytellers,” said Rebecca Glashow, CEO of Tribeca Enterprises.

“Today, brands and creators are not only shaping culture—they are producing, financing, and distributing premium entertainment.

As storytelling continues to evolve across platforms and technologies, Tribeca X celebrates the artists and innovators building entirely new models for creative and commercial success.”

The 2026 Tribeca X Awards Jury includes Daniel Cherry III (Global CMO, Vans), Juliana Cobb (Chief Creative Officer, 72andSunny New York), and Lena Waithe (Emmy-Winning Writer, Producer, and Founder of Hillman Grad).

The audio jurors include Giancarlo Bizzarro (Vice President of Sales, Crooked Media), Carrie Brody (VP, Business Development at Higher Ground), and Stuart Sevier (President  & Co-Founder at The Independent Media Initiative).

We also had the Pleasure to Michael Kors, Legendary Fashion Designer, and Philantropist, being interviewed by Judith Light, award winning actress.

Who did a wonderful job of interviewing, Mr Kors, about fashion, creativity, his charity organization Gods Love We Deliver, and his new project, LGBTQ+ Museum that will be housed in New York City.

Tribeca X 2026 closed with the annual Tribeca X Awards, celebrating the year’s most innovative and impactful work in brand storytelling and creative marketing.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of Tribeca X’s inaugural Director of the Year Award to A$AP Rocky, presented by Tribeca Co-Founder Jane Rosenthal in recognition of his creative vision and contributions to storytelling across film, music, fashion, and culture.

While accepting the honor, Rocky shared, “There are people who come and really do some cool shit, and I just want to be a pioneer and advocate for folks.” The evening served as a fitting finale to two days of conversations that underscored the power of storytelling to drive culture, business, and meaningful audience engagement.

2026 TRIBECA X AWARD WINNERS: FEATURES: Meal Ticket, from McDonalds, SHORTS: The Book of George, from Stio, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The Theory of Spice, from YogiTea, EPISODIC: Built to Move, from Autodesk, COMMERCIALS: Last Coke in the Desert, from Coca Cola, CONTENT CREATOR/INFLUENCER: The Master of Speed & Stability, from Beats, SOCIAL IMPACT: The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix, from Accenture/Philipstown WireCar Co and Inaugural Director of the Year Award – A$AP Rocky.

Madonna returned to world premiere a cinematic presentation accompanying her forthcoming new album Confessions II, directed by David Toro and Solomon Chase (TORSO), on Friday, June 5 at the Beacon Theatre. After the screening, she joined the directors for an exclusive conversation with Jimmy Fallon.

Twenty-five years ago, in the wake of September 11, a festival was born to heal a city–conceived and built in just 120 days.

That resilient spirit endures, and the Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, announced a slate of programming celebrating 25 years of community and storytelling, including a special conversation with co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, free outdoor screenings at Hudson Yards, and, for the first time, limited public tickets to the Tribeca Festival Awards Ceremony on June 11, where De Niro and Rosenthal presented the signature Founders Award.

TRIBECA FESTIVAL GAMES 2026: The 2026 Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, announced its official games program, celebrating the convergence of games, entertainment, and culture for the 25th anniversary edition.

This year’s slate featured 12 selections that exemplify potential in phenomenal storytelling and innovation through interactive experiences.

Each selection is eligible for the Tribeca Games Award, which honors an unreleased game for excellence in artistic storytelling. The games gallery   hosted free playable demos of this year’s selections exclusively at Pier 57, which was open to the public from June 10-14.

2026 TRIBECA FESTIVAL GAMES SELECTION: Milktooth Project, (United Kingdom) World Premiere, Demi and the Fractured Dream, (United States), Drifted, (Taiwan, Japan) – North American Premiere, Forever Ago, (Germany) – New York Premiere, Kidbash: Super Legend, (Indonesia) – North American Premiere, LOFSÖNG, (Italy) – World Premiere, Rebounder, (Canada) – World Premiere, Rivage, (Canada) – New York Premiere, ROCKBEASTS, (Poland) – New York Premiere, There Are No Ghosts At The Grand, (United Kingdom) – World Premiere, Truck-Kun Is Supporting Me From Another World?!, (United States) – New York Premiere, Virtue and a Sledgehammer, (Ireland, Spain) – New York Premiere.

We went to Pier 57, and tried our hand at 2 games ROCKBEASTS and Rivage, I had a good time playing them. There is no charge  free for all anyone can go and learn out TRIBECA FESTIVAL GAMES.

Epicenter and Box Office Guru Media had an intimate breakfast of about 30 leaders across arts, culture, film, media, and New York civic life to fete Mohammed Ali Naqvi, director of Hanging By a Wire, and Habiba Nosheen, the Pakistani-Canadian director of The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony.

Both from Pakistan film makers, living here in the USA. Mohammed Ali Naqvi, director of Hanging by a Wire: Action, Documentary, Thriller.

When a cable car fails over a remote valley in the Himalayas, eight passengers are left suspended in crisis. What follows is a gripping rescue effort shaped by a community’s extraordinary courage, as well as an investigation into the uneven systems that govern whose lives get to be protected.

To learn more about Hanging By a Wire: Action, Documentary, Thriller. Click here.

Habiba Nosheen, the Pakistani-Canadian director of The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony. Documentary Competition. The birth of a gymnastics team in Pakistan provides an inspiring spark of light for a small group of girls on the margins. The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony is a lyrical coming-of-age journey as these girls turn their team into a small rebellion. To learn more about The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony, Click here.

I want to thank S. Mitra Kalita, CEO of URL Media, Publisher of Epicenter-NYC and co-host of event alongside, Box Office Guru Media.

Tribeca film festival is one of the greatest film festival in the world, I was at the original Tribeca film festival, debut 25 years ago, at Conrad Hotel Downtown. It has grown so fast and everyone wants to be part of it. People in attendance from all over the world.

ABOUT THE TRIBECA FESTIVAL: The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, podcasts, games, and immersive. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances. The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 25th year from June 3–14, 2026 in New York City. In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise. To learn more about Tribeca film festival click here.

2026 TRIBECA FESTIVAL PARTNERS: The 2026 Tribeca Festival is presented by OKX and with the support of our partners: 8am, 10 Lives Studios, AT&T, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, CHANEL, City National Bank, DIRECTV, Don Julio Tequila, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NBC4 and Telemundo 47, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, National CineMedia, Spring Studios New York, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, and Vulture.

About Tribeca X: Tribeca X is the leading platform and community for celebrating brand-supported storytelling that prioritizes narrative excellence and cultural resonance. Rooted in Tribeca’s legacy of creative curation, Tribeca X convenes filmmakers, creators, brand leaders, and business visionaries at the intersection of culture and commerce. Through its annual program during the Tribeca Festival and year-round events, Tribeca X showcases bold collaborations and honors projects made possible by brands and powered by artists.

See more about 25th Annual Tribeca Film Festival – NYC 2026, in our World Liberty TV, Film, Movies and Gaming Channels by clicking here.