AceShowbiz - The upcoming 2026 Tribeca Festival will pay tribute to Bruce Springsteen by presenting him with the prestigious Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award. This honor celebrates artists who leverage their influence to promote equality, dignity, and human rights.

The award, named after the legendary activist and entertainer Harry Belafonte, was established by the late Tribeca chief content officer Paula Weinstein. Festival co-founder and co-chair Jane Rosenthal commented on the selection, saying, “There are few figures who embody the spirit of Tribeca's Harry Belafonte Award more fully than Bruce Springsteen.”

The ceremony honoring Springsteen will feature a conversation with his longtime friend Bono, as well as tributes from iconic figures including Robert De Niro and Patti Smith. These segments will highlight Springsteen's enduring commitment to social justice through his art and activism.

In addition to this highlight, the festival announced several world premieres and special events. Among them is the debut of Katy Perry’s concert film The Lifetimes Tour - Live From Paris, which will be followed by a discussion with Perry herself. Another notable premiere is Tony Kaye’s documentary Humpty Dumpty X, which explores the filmmaker’s creative process since directing the 1998 film American History X.

The festival will also feature several milestone anniversary screenings paired with in-depth conversations. These include the 25th anniversary of Bridget Jones's Diary, with appearances by director Sharon Maguire and star Renée Zellweger; the 30th anniversary of Bound, with director Lilly Wachowski and stars Gina Gershon and Joe Pantoliano joining the discussion; and the 50th anniversary of Taxi Driver, highlighted by a conversation between Robert De Niro and director Martin Scorsese.

Other special screenings include 20th anniversary showings of Daft Punk’s experimental film Electroma and the documentary Small Town Gay Bar. The festival’s talks lineup will also feature a delayed conversation between Sean Penn and Kaitlan Collins, rescheduled after last year’s cancellation, as well as a session with musician Este Haim.

The Tribeca Festival has recently expanded its reach by launching the NOW (New Online Work) program, the first major film festival to accept submissions from social media creators. This year’s selected projects cover a variety of genres and formats, such as the New York rom-com series And They Were Roommates, the workplace comedy Shanked, and the Gen Z satire BK Coffee Shop. Other entries include the found-footage dating comedy VHS Dates, a sports memorabilia documentary titled Sideline Archive, and bilingual storytelling in Retache, which supports people returning to Mexico from the U.S.

Additional NOW selections are 15 Second Film, coming-of-age stories rooted in 1990s Black cinema with Mechanical Pencil, and the documentary Taylor Cassidy. These projects reflect the festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse voices and innovative storytelling methods.

The 2026 Tribeca Festival is scheduled to take place in New York City from June 3 to June 14. Further details about the full lineup and ticketing options will be available on the festival’s official website as the dates approach.