Connect at MUBI Fest 2026

MUBI Fest brought its vibrant energy back to Chicago for the third time this year, firmly establishing itself as an art powerhouse that masterfully converses with the cinema canon. The fact that Chicago remains the sole home for this event is a testament not just to the Windy City’s reputation, but to its status as a premier destination for arts and cinematic exploration.

This year’s iteration anchored itself around the philosophy of “Better Together.” Instead of isolated screenings, the festival paired films that acted as cinematic siblings, encouraging audiences to watch them in dialogue. Whether the connection was rooted in shared directorial history—like pairing Akinola Davis Jr.’s “Monster” with Hirokazu Kore-eda’s work—or thematic resonance, the result was a richer, more complex viewing experience.

For instance, the festival explored profound questions by linking Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums” with Karim Aïnouz’s “Rosebush Pruning,” inviting viewers to reflect on themes of identity and existence. The intention was clear: that two films, when viewed side-by-side, could echo or complicate each other, proving that the magic often lies in the synergy between stories.

Beyond the screenings, MUBI Fest offered unique activations that turned a movie week into an immersive experience. One memorable moment was the “Happy Dipping Sauce Hour,” where food and film merged in delightful ways. On a scorching Chicago day, attendees enjoyed drinks inspired by films, such as a refreshing matcha-lime-mint concoction that playfully mimicked the sickly green activator from Coralie Fargeat’s body-horror film, “The Substance.”

The festival was equally bold in its thematic programming, providing space for challenging and deeply personal subjects. It gave prominence to works like Jane Schoenbrun’s “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” a hauntingly beautiful film that tackled the interrogation of media post-transition. By placing such content alongside other works, MUBI Fest provided vital scaffolding, creating a safe space for necessary conversations about identity and experience.

The festival also embraced interactive theater, enhancing the communal feeling of the cinematic experience. A scratch ‘n sniff edition of “The Substance” allowed audiences to physically engage with the film’s themes, solidifying the idea that watching movies in a shared space is a sacred act of community.

Adding another layer of collaborative fun was the inclusion of drag performer Peaches Christ and co-hosts Michael Varrati and Felissa Rose, who engaged audiences in a Q&A about “Sleepaway Camp,” exploring the queer slasher canon. This willingness to engage with provocative material shows the festival’s commitment to fostering conversations that might otherwise remain unspoken.

The event seamlessly blended high art with accessible, communal fun, proving that cinema is not a solitary pursuit. The experience culminated in an equally memorable segment where the cinematic magic met live performance. A screening of Steven Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s Eleven” was elevated by a live score from Mazurek and his quartet, which transformed the heist film into something truly kinetic.

This intersection of art and life extended into a deep personal reflection on fandom itself. The festival sparked thoughts about the relationship between passion and mystique, particularly in light of films like Alex Russell’s “Lurker,” which explored love and obsession in the parasocial age. It offered a beautiful reminder that appreciating art is not just about viewing it on its own merits, but acknowledging the context—the shared experiences and personal landscapes that inform how we see the world.