Honoring America’s 250th Anniversary
In the town synonymous with American history, the 2026 Gettysburg Film Festival will honor the birth of the United States. From April 2–4, 2026, this one-of-a-kind event will feature a powerful lineup of films, speakers, and conversations exploring the American Revolution, the nation’s founding, and the ties between 1776 and 1863.
Presented by Gettysburg History, the festival is made possible with support from key partners including the American Battlefield Trust, The Better Angels Society, and local collaborators such as The Gettysburg Film Commission, Destination Gettysburg, and the Dobbin House Tavern.
The 2026 festival will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States, offering a unique opportunity to reflect on the values at the heart of America. Renowned filmmaker Ken Burns, who serves as Chair of the Festival, will headline a series of screenings and special programs. Burns will also discuss his newest documentary, The American Revolution (premiering November 16, 2025 on PBS) alongside a slate of award-winning filmmakers, historians, and public figures.
In a video released today, Ken Burns shared his excitement: “The 2026 festival will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the creation of the United States. Four score and seven years later, President Lincoln would of course travel to Gettysburg to deliver his famous address, rededicating our country to our founding principles…. I hope you can join us.”
“In these divisive times, there’s no better opportunity to return to the founding promises of our nation and examine what those promises still mean today,” said Andrew Dalton, President & CEO of Gettysburg History. “Gettysburg has always been a place to reckon with our past and imagine a brighter future. Our festival brings those conversations to life on the stage and on screen.”
“In 2026, the big screens of our small town will light up with the origin stories of America. In Gettysburg, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation, dedicated to the best idea human beings have ever had – that all of us are entitled to ‘Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’ Ken Burns, America’s storyteller, returns to share his brand new film series, The American Revolution. We will have a festival worthy of America’s quarter-millennium. History and film lovers will join us in the fellowship offered in a darkened cinema to explore the American story on screen in this uniquely historic place,” said Gettysburg Film Festival Director Jake Boritt.
Details about special guests, film screenings, and ticketing will be announced later this year on the festival’s website.
The 2026 Gettysburg Film Festival will mark the event’s fourth year. The most recent festival, held in May 2025, commemorated the 80th anniversary of Allied victory in World War II and drew more than 8,000 attendees. Guests experienced unique historical film programming featuring Ken Burns, Susan Eisenhower, Martin Sheen, Stephen Lang, Trace Adkins, Judy Collins, and a host of acclaimed historians and filmmakers. Past festival themes have explored American presidential elections and celebrated the legacy of Ken Burns’s films. Founded by Jake Boritt and Ken Burns in collaboration with Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater, the festival is now presented and operated by Gettysburg History, a national initiative of the Adams County Historical Society.
Watch the full announcement and learn more at GettysburgFilmFestival.org.
Photo Caption: Filmmaker Ken Burns speaks during a press conference at the Gettysburg Film Festival on May 8, 2025. He is joined by actor Martin Sheen, policy strategist Susan Eisenhower, and author Jeff Shaara.