Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham: dates, passes, venues

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Updated every year at this address. Details come from the Sidewalk Film Festival’s own website. Where the festival has not yet posted 2027 details, we show how the 2026 festival worked and say so.

The Sidewalk Film Festival is Birmingham’s late-summer week at the movies. Founded in 1999 as the flagship of the Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema, it fills the historic theater district downtown with more than 200 films, filmmaker Q&As, panels, workshops and parties, according to the festival. MovieMaker Magazine has listed it among the top 25 festivals in the world.

2027 at a glance

• When: Monday, Aug. 23, to Sunday, Aug. 29, 2027 (the 29th festival)
• Where: downtown Birmingham’s historic theater district
• Passes: early bird VIP passes on sale Black Friday (Nov. 27, 2026)
• Box office: 205-324-0888
• Organizer: sidewalkfest.com

Dates

The 2027 festival runs Aug. 23-29, Monday to Sunday, like the 2026 festival, which ran Aug. 24-30 (2026 recap). The festival programs films in tracks: Life & Liberty for civil and social issues, Black Lens, Women in Film, Festival de Cine for Spanish and Portuguese language films, SHOUT for LGBTQ filmmakers and an Alabama track for local filmmakers. The film schedule is expected in July, when premium single tickets go on sale.

Passes and tickets

From the festival’s tickets page:

• Early bird VIP passes: on sale Black Friday.
• VIP and weekend passes: on sale May 1, 2027.
• Day passes (Saturday or Sunday): on sale July 1, 2027.
• Premium single tickets: on sale in July, once the schedule is out.
• Price increases: June 1, July 1, Aug. 1 and Aug. 23, 2027. Buy early.
• General admission tickets: sold only at festival box offices during festival weekend, never online or in advance.

The festival has not posted 2027 prices. What each pass gets you:

Spotlight films (Alabama filmmakers, SHOUT, Black Lens and animation) are ticketed separately, and pass holders must buy seat reservations for them. All sales are final. Only premium single tickets guarantee a seat; with any other pass, arrive early for popular films.

Venues

The 2026 festival screened at these venues, all within walking distance downtown (accessibility guide):

• Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, in the Pizitz Building, 1821 2nd Ave. N.
• Alabama Theatre, 1817 3rd Ave. N.
• Lyric Theatre
• Carver Theatre, 1631 4th Ave. N.
• Alabama School of Fine Arts, 1800 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.: the Recital Hall and the Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre
• Birmingham Museum of Art, Steiner Auditorium
• McWane Science Center, Rushton Theater
• First Church Birmingham, Contemporary Worship Space
• Kress Building: the ballroom for screenings and the rooftop VIP lounge

Box office

In 2026 the main box office was in The Gallery at the Pizitz Building, at 2nd Avenue North and 19th Street North; enter from 19th Street. It opened 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. VIP passes are picked up there only. On the weekend, satellite box offices opened at the Alabama Theatre, the Carver Theatre and the Alabama School of Fine Arts (How-to-Fest).

Parking, shuttles and getting around

• No dedicated lots. The festival has no parking lots or garages of its own and publishes no street closures.
• Street parking in the festival footprint was free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sunday during the 2026 festival. Lots and garages charge their own rates.
• The Pizitz deck enters at 1st Avenue North and 18th Street North, behind the Pizitz Food Hall; pay by phone (directions and parking).
• Free shuttle. In 2026, three shuttles looped along 19th Street North between Sidewalk Cinema and the Alabama School of Fine Arts from 9 a.m. to midnight on festival Saturday and Sunday.
• Accessibility. Ask at the main box office for an accessibility wristband: it gives early entry to venues and use of a door-to-door wheelchair accessible shuttle.

What to know

• Food and drink: no outside food or drink in any screening venue.
• Ratings: most festival films are unrated; the festival advises viewer discretion.
• Recording: not allowed without Sidewalk media credentials.
• Help on the street: CAP Downtown safety ambassadors, in bright blue polos, answer 205-251-0111 from noon to midnight on festival weekend for directions or a walk to your car.

The rest of the year

Sidewalk Cinema shows films year round at the Pizitz. Its next big fundraiser is the 17th annual $10K Party (festival news).

Related: live music and nightlife, date night and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Sidewalk Film Festival in 2027?

The 29th Sidewalk Film Festival is Aug. 23-29, 2027, in downtown Birmingham’s historic theater district, according to the festival. The 2026 festival ran Aug. 24-30.

When do Sidewalk Film Festival passes go on sale?

Early bird VIP passes go on sale Black Friday. VIP and weekend passes follow on May 1, 2027, and day passes on July 1, 2027. Prices rise June 1, July 1, Aug. 1 and Aug. 23.

Where is the Sidewalk Film Festival box office?

In 2026 the main box office was in The Gallery at the Pizitz Building, at 2nd Avenue North and 19th Street North, entered from 19th Street. Satellite box offices opened at the Alabama Theatre, the Carver Theatre and the Alabama School of Fine Arts on the weekend.

Where do you park for the Sidewalk Film Festival?

There is no dedicated festival lot. Street parking in the festival footprint was free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends in 2026, and a free shuttle ran along 19th Street North on festival weekend.

Can you buy Sidewalk tickets at the door?

Yes. General admission tickets are sold only during festival weekend at the festival box offices, not online, and they are seated after every pass and premium ticket holder.