We created a treasure hunt for the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival. Here’s the first clue

In case you missed it, the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival is set to take over the screens of the Oriental and Downer theaters April 16-30. (Tickets and passes are on sale NOW.) We’ve already written 8,000 articles about MFF26, but it’s this article, number 8,001, that we’re most excited about…

Yes, as part of our sponsorship of the Cinema Hooligante program, we’re doing another SEMI-ELABORATE TREASURE HUNT.

Like last year’s hunt, “Milwaukee Record’s Milwaukee Film Festival And Cinema Hooligante Treasure Hunt Brought To You By Milwaukee Record And The Milwaukee Film Festival” will span the full 15 days of MFF26. It’ll include both virtual clues that will be found online, and physical clues that will be found in the real world. The virtual clues will rely on some basic internet savvy. The physical clues will be located on the East Side, in or near the Oriental and Downer. Certain clues—both virtual and physical—will only be available during short, specific windows of time.

Beyond the general online and real-world sleuthing, the treasure hunt may or may not require participants to attend one specific MFF26 film, one specific MFF26 event, subscribe to one free email newsletter, and be 21 or older. A general familiarity with the East Side may or may not be helpful, too.

What’s at the END of the treasure hunt? Glad you asked! Over the course of the 15-day hunt/festival, one lucky sleuth will discover a three-digit combination code. That combination code will open a physical box that will be found in a physical location on Closing Night. Inside the box will be some goodies from Milwaukee Film (TBA), some goodies from Milwaukee Record (TBA), and $200 cash! Fun!

Oh yeah: the treasure hunt begins…NOW! Here’s the first clue!

Stumped? Check out this clue-by-clue solution to last year’s hunt to get the general vibe of the thing. And heads up: the clues will get harder!