The 2026 Signature Films celebrate visionary artists, cultural icons, and the enduring power of legacy: an intimate portrait of tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King; a boisterous, decades-spanning journey through the music and mythology of Earth, Wind & Fire; singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles returning to the studio in a deeply personal moment of reflection and renewal; and the extraordinary story of the Lorraine Motel, a cradle of Black history, creativity, and civil rights whose legacy continues to shape the American story. These four films anchor the festival, illuminating the people, music, and histories that continue to impact our world.
DC/DOX returns June 11–14, 2026, with an ambitious slate of 113 new films showcasing the very best in documentary storytelling today, and a mini retrospective of Frederick Wiseman’s iconic work.
Across four dynamic days, audiences can expect world and U.S. premieres, filmmaker Q&As, special guests, and conversations that extend far beyond the screen.
The Reality Check Forum will once again anchor the festival’s commitment to advancing documentary practice, convening filmmakers, industry leaders, journalists, and policymakers for panels, workshops, and masterclasses exploring the urgent questions shaping our world — and the evolving craft of nonfiction cinema itself.
