A Welcomed Economic Boost Comes with the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A February infusion of thousands of people each day in the downtown Santa Barbara area is expected to be a big boost for the economy during the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
It takes place starting Wednesday, February 4 and continue until Saturday, February 14. That takes in both two other big events, Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day.
The new McHurley Film Center with 900 seats and five screens is expected to be full daily and have a rotation of film lovers who are coming for the movies, and to see what else is happening in downtown Santa Barbara.
That will include stopping in restaurants, retail stores and popping in to art galleries and museums.
It will create a vibrancy any city would love to see.
For those in the area of the Film Center, it comes at a time when the downtown economy is looking for some new energy.
Nadia Ajlouni is the owner of the Blue Owl Restaurant on Canon Perdido Street near the Film Center. “In the cold winter months when the film festival comes about, it is nice big relief. We find ourselves busy at all hours of the day not just for lunch, not just for dinne but the in between hours as well so we are looking forward to that.”
The festival foot traffic is exactly what’s need this time of year whether it’s full meals or faster to go items. Ajlouni says, “these ten days really offer a lot of replenishment for businesses and it is really healthy we love it.”
For the businesses up by the Arlington Theatre, it is an annual boost with the 2000 guests that can fill the classic movie venue for the festivals tributes that will have some of the top stars in Hollywood on stage.
The Arlington will also have daily free films, some that will be well attended because they are Oscar nominees.
One of the newest businesses in a classic landmark location is right between the Film Center with a packed schedule of movies and the Arlington Theatre where tributes will take place.
Rish Rozera owns the Copper Coffee Pot Restaurant on State Street a block up from the Film Center and just down from the Arlington. It’s in a prime spot for film fans to get a bite, and also to have a larger gathering. “Already (guests have) made some reservations, so Saturday we are booked up for the film festival and it will be a two hour private event.” Other seating is available throughout the day “in the nice beautiful courtyard that we have.”
The restaurant is also planning to have specials for film fans who are wearing passes or have movie tickets. “That’s what we are anticipating,” said Rozera. He also has been closing for two hours during the afternoon but for the festival he will “keep it open all the time and then welcome in all the guests that we can have.”
The downtown corridor is also beautified with newly hung film festival flags.