The biggest week of early summer is here. The 31st Nantucket Film Festival (NFF31) runs June 17–22, 2026, bringing six days of premieres, documentaries, and intimate conversations to the island. Whether you’re a year-round local or just off the fast ferry, here’s how to make the most of it — and how to skip the lines when you’re planning your nights out.
What’s screening in 2026
This year’s lineup leans into big names and great storytelling:
- Opening Night — The Invite: Directed by Olivia Wilde, a dinner-party-gone-wrong story with a stacked ensemble cast.
- Centerpiece — Give Me the Ball: An intimate documentary portrait of tennis legend Billie Jean King.
- Closing Night — The Five Star Weekend: Directed by Minkie Spiro and based on island author Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling novel — set right here on Nantucket.
Expect dozens more features, shorts, and the festival’s signature panels and Q&As, including a returning conversation with documentarian Ken Burns.
Where it all happens
Most screenings take place at The Dreamland and the Nantucket Performing Arts Center, with select events out at the ‘Sconset Casino. Downtown venues are easy to reach on foot or by bike; for ‘Sconset events, plan to drive, grab a cab, or hop the WAVE bus. Screenings sell out fast, so book ahead and build in time between shows.
Make a night of it
Half the fun of NFF is the dinner reservation before the screening and the drink after. A few island favorites worth booking: Cru for oysters on the water, Slip 14 and Straight Wharf downtown, and Or the Whale when you want a lively late table. Tell Reef we say hi.
Skip the line on your way in
Festival week means crowds, and the last thing you want is to wait around before a 7 p.m. screening. Order ahead for pickup and we’ll have everything ready when you swing by — we’re just five minutes from town at 19 Spearhead Drive. As Nantucket’s only locally grown dispensary, we’ve got island-made flower, edibles, and THC seltzers for a low-key evening back at the house after the credits roll.
Open daily 10 AM–7 PM, Fridays & Saturdays until 8 PM. Must be 21+ with a valid ID. Please consume responsibly.
