Ann Arbor’s summer calendar is packed. But this year, one of its most beloved traditions is doing something a little unexpected: celebrating the holidays… in June.
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF) has announced its 2026 Movies by Moonlight series, returning June 12–28 at Top of the Park with a playful new theme, “Holidays in June.” The outdoor film series will feature nine movies that feel completely out of season — and that’s exactly the point.
From Christmas classics to Valentine’s favorites and Thanksgiving chaos, the lineup leans into the idea that holidays aren’t about what’s on the calendar. They’re about shared moments. And few things capture that better than watching a movie outside on a summer night, surrounded by a crowd.
AASF’s 2026 Movie Lineup
This year’s selections range from nostalgic staples to newer releases, with eight films making their Movies by Moonlight debut.
- Hamilton (PG-13, 2020, 2h 59m) – Sunday, June 14 – 9:30pm
- Gremlins (PG, 1984, 1h 46m) – Tuesday, June 16 – 9:45pm
- Sleepless in Seattle (PG, 1993, 1h 40m) – Wednesday, June 17 – 9:45pm
- Sinners (R, 2025, 2h 17m) – Thursday, June 18 – 9:45pm
- Coco (PG, 2017, 1h 45m) – Sunday, June 21, 2026 – 9:45pm
- Groundhog Day (PG, 1993, 1h 41m) – Tuesday, June 23 – 9:45pm
- Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (R, 1987, 1h 33m) – Wednesday, June 24 – 9:45pm
- Elf (PG, 2003, 1h 37m) – Thursday, June 25 – 9:45pm
- It’s a Wonderful Life (PG, 1946, 2h 10m) 80th Anniversary – Sunday, June 28 – 10pm
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More Than a Movie Night
As always, the experience is as much about the setting as the films themselves. Screenings take place at Top of the Park, the festival’s central gathering space on the University of Michigan campus, where blankets spread across the lawn and the crowd settles in as the sun goes down. It’s casual, communal, and easy to drop into—one of the reasons the series continues to draw such a wide audience.
And while Movies by Moonlight is a standout, it’s just one piece of a much larger picture. A2SF runs for nearly four weeks each June and draws more than 80,000 attendees annually. In addition to film screenings, Top of the Park hosts more than 200 events, including live music, art installations, street performances, and family-friendly activities. On any given night, visitors might catch a concert, grab food from local vendors, watch a pop-up performance, and then stay for a movie — all in one place.
It’s that mix of programming that turns a single event into a full evening out. Or, for many, a tradition that spans the entire season.
Full lineup coming on May 1
The full 2026 Ann Arbor Summer Festival lineup will be announced May 1, with additional events and series still to come. But Movies by Moonlight is already setting the tone: a little unexpected, a little nostalgic, and rooted in the simple idea of gathering together.
Because whether it’s December or June, some traditions don’t need a season.
