A long time ago, in a PNW far, far away (well, for some of us), the very first Portland Motorcycle Film Festival ever took place. How long ago are we talking? The year was 2014, which makes the 2026 event that's just around the corner at the end of January its 12th birthday. Movie theaters, much like the motorcycle industry, have decidedly had some tough times in recent years, so that's kind of an impressive feat in itself.
So, what is the PDX Motorcycle Film Festival? Apart from the clues you can probably gather from the name, it's a non-profit that works to fundraise to purchase Air Fence and other safety equipment for use at the Portland International Raceway, and is affiliated with the Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association.
Every year, the festival programming includes a range of both feature-length films and shorter entries (typically between 20 and 40 minutes in length). It takes place at Portland's historic Hollywood Theatre, which is a beautiful and historic facility that dates back to 1926. It's even on the US National Register of Historic Places, if you're busy checking those buildings off your bucket list.
What's on for 2026? You can find the full list here, on the PDX Motorcycle Film Festival website, but a few choice feature entries include Malle Moto: The Forgotten Dakar Story, Dirt Track Dickie, The Drixton, Between the Hedges: Joey Dunlop, and LeMans: Racing Beyond Limits.
(T)The 2026 PDX Motorcycle Film Festival will take place on January 30 and 31, 2026, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday (doors open at 6 p.m.). If you're interested in attending, you can prepurchase one-day passes for each day for $20, or else get yourself a full event pass that includes both nights of films and a Saturday VIP pre-party event for $60.
All tickets are currently available for purchase via the Hollywood Theatre website. And remember, if you're cold, they're cold! Be sure to bring your bikes inside and work on them this winter. Or sit on them and tell them you love them; I'm not the boss of you. Just remember to rinse 'em clean when they're salty to avoid unnecessary tears later!
