Jared Herr, jherr@battlefields.org
Tickets are on sale now for America’s only history-focused film festival, hosted in one of the most historic towns in the nation. From April 2–4, 2026, the Gettysburg Film Festival 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.
Renowned filmmaker Ken Burns, who serves as Chair of the Festival, will headline a series of screenings and special programs. Special guests include Phillipa Soo and Christopher Jackson from the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, Sam Waterston, Rick Atkinson, Annette Gordon-Reed, Susan Eisenhower, Jeff Shaara and more, including American Battlefield Trust’s Garry Adelman and Kris White.
Tickets and a full schedule of events can be found at gettysburgfilmfestival.org/festival.
“At this milestone moment in our nation’s history, Gettysburg offers a powerful setting to reflect on our founding ideals,” said Andrew Dalton, president and CEO of Gettysburg History. “We are deeply grateful to Ken Burns for shining a national light on our community through this annual history festival.”
“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,’” added Festival Director Jake Boritt.
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. Other past festival themes have explored American presidential elections and celebrated the legacy of Ken Burns’ 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, with support from 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 festival is just one example of the Trust’s strong relationship with Gettysburg History. Last November, Gettysburg History’s Beyond the Battle Museum played host to the Trust’s inaugural Battlefield BookFest, and plans already underway for the 2nd annual event to return to the museum later this year.
Gettysburg History, an initiative of the Adams County Historical Society, connects visitors from across the country to the people, places, and events that shaped the story of Gettysburg—and the nation. Learn more at gettysburghistory.org.
The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at battlefields.org.
