Milwaukee Film Festival Runs April 16 Through 30

The city's biggest annual film event lands in two weeks. The 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival runs April 16 through 30, with screenings across Oriental Theatre, Avalon Theater, Rivoli, Times Cinema, and pop-up venues in the Historic Third Ward. The festival has grown into one of the Midwest's most respected regional film events, with a reputation for bringing filmmaker Q&As, world premieres, and a strong local-filmmaker spotlight alongside the international slate.

2026's slate is expected to include more than 200 films across features, documentaries, shorts, and retrospective screenings. The Oriental Theatre — Milwaukee Film's flagship East Side cinema — hosts the opening and closing night galas. The festival's traditional "Milwaukee Film at Night" series programs late-night weird-movie experiences at the Avalon in Bay View.

If you're going: festival passes are the most economical option for serious film fans. Single tickets are released about a week before opening night. The Oriental's downstairs bar has become the de facto festival clubhouse after the closing credits roll.

Sources: Discover Milwaukee festivals, Visit Milwaukee spring festival guide