2026 Top of the Park Movies By Moonlight Lineup

The 2026 Ann Arbor Top of the Park Movie Lineup is out! It has a nice mix of classic movies and newer movies – plenty of which are family-favorites.

My family loves attending Top of the Park, particularly when we can meet up with friends. My daughter and I particularly enjoy seeing the movies. On the other hand, my husband doesn’t like the late hour of the movies since he has to work the next day.

Top of the Park 2026 runs from June 12 through June 28. Movies start on Sunday, June 14 and are held on Sundays, and Tusdays-Thursdays.

Table Of Contents

About the Top of the Park Movies by Moonlight Series
2026 Top of the Park Movies
- 2026 Top of the Park Movies by Moonlight Series
Our Experiences at Top of the Park
Frequently Asked Questions About Ann Arbor Summer Festival Movies
More Top of the Park Events

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About the Top of the Park Movies by Moonlight Series

Movies by Moonlight are shown on a screen in front of UM’s Rackham Auditroium with seating on Washington St, and the Ingalls Mall.

It appears that the shorter 2 week Top of the Park season is here to stay.

2026 sees movie times shifting again. Most movies start at 9:45p with the first movie (Hamilton) starting at 9:30p and the last movie (It’s a Wonderful Life) starting at 10p. I’m glad they’re starting Hamilton early since it is nearly 3 hours long!

2026 Top of the Park Movies

The 2026 Movies by Moonlight series leans heavily into holidays. Why not celebrate Christmas in June, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, or Groundhog Day.

2026 Top of the Park Movies by Moonlight Series

The 2026 movie lineup is:

🎬 Sunday, June 14 – Hamilton - Top of the Park Movie at 9:30 PM
🎬 Tuesday, June 16 – Gremlins - Top of the Park Movie at 9:45 PM
🎬 Wednesday, June 17 – Sleepless in Seattle - Top of the Park Movie at 9:45 PM
🎬 Thursday, June 18 – Sinners - Top of the Park Movie at 9:45 PM
🎬 Sunday, June 21 – Coco - Top of the Park Movie at 9:45 PM
🎬 Tuesday, June 23 – Groundhog Day - Top of the Park Movie at 9:45 PM
🎬 Wednesday, June 24 – Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - Top of the Park Movie at 9:45 PM
🎬 Thursday, June 25 – Elf - Top of the Park Movie at 9:45 PM
🎬 Sunday, June 28 – It's a Wonderful Life - 80th Anniversary - Top of the Park Movie at 10:00 PM

Our Experiences at Top of the Park

We love attending Top of the Park. On nights that we plan to see the movie, we typically have dinner at home and arrive around 9p. Even if we don’t stay for the entire movie, my daughter enjoys watching part of the movie. Since we have many of these movies accessible via streaming or DVD for the older movies, we’ll continue watching the movie the next day.

I’m hoping we can attend a few Top of the Park events this year as a family. My daughter missed Top of the Park last year since she was in Iceland.

Snacks are available at Culinary Row.

The movies are also listed on the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ann Arbor Summer Festival Movies

What time do the movies start?

This year they are moving the start times back to 9:45p except for the opening movie, Hamilton, which will start at 9:30p and the closing movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, which will start at 10p.

Any tips for my kids to stay up late?

I suggest choosing a shorter movie. For example Elf is 1hr 37 minutes vs Hamilton at 2hr 59minutes, That extra hour make a big difference.
It took several tries for my daughter to make it through a Top of the Park movie. We would try to rest the afternoon before, but I have not been able to get my daughter to actually take a nap since kindergarten. She is naturally a night owl and would typically be up until 10:30p anyway.

Should I have a Backup Plan?

Yes! Be prepared that some of your family may want to leave early. The first time my daughter tried a Top of the Park movie was a Harry Potter movie. We brought two cars because my husband only planned to stay until 11:30, my daughter gave up about 20 minutes after him. We were sitting with friends, and half their family gave up and got a ride home with us.
As a consolation, the next afternoon we reunited to watch the rest of the movie. This made it easier for our girls to leave. I definitely suggest trying with a movie they can finish watching at home via streaming or DVD.

What should we bring?

Seating. There are usually folding chairs setup in front of the screen, but they are not very comfortable for an entire movie.
We usually bring a blanket and some chairs and setup off to the side in the grassy areas. If using chairs we try to setup so we don’t block people behind us – setting up near trees or towards the back. If you have blankets, consider some cushioning like pillows or rolled blankets.
Warm apparel. Summer nights in Ann Arbor can get chilly. It isn’t a bad idea to bring sweatshirts or hoodies. If you don’t need to wear it, it can be used as a pillow.

Are bugs an issue at Top of the Park?

It seems like everywhere we go on summer evenings, bugs are an issue. However, we have never had an issue with mosquitos at Top of the Park. We usually prepare by bringing some bug spray and ThermaCell lanterns, but never use them.

Can I bring snacks?

You can bring your own snacks, but Ann Arbor Summer Festival encourages you to buy snacks at Culinary Row. These stands help to support the free programming. The Festival tent usually has popcorn, sno-cones, and water/sodas. There is usually ice cream and coffee beverages available on Culinary Row.

More Top of the Park Events

Our Top of the Park Kids Guide will be updated for 2026 as new announcements are made. We are still waiting on announcements of Culinary Row participants, any additional main stage shows. Kids Zone, Retreat, Spectacles, and other activities.

Summer Spectacular: Family Guide to Top of the Park

Get details on all of the great activities happening. as part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival’s Top of the Park in our Family Guide. Ann Arbor Top of the Park 2026 includes movies, music, kids zone tents, food, Annex activities, retreat fitness classes, and more. Top of the Park 2026 starts on June 12, […]