> At a Glance
> – Elvis Presley’s 91st birthday celebrated at Graceland on Jan. 8, 2026
> – Baz Luhrmann’s new film EPiC premiered same day, built from 59 hours of unseen footage
> – Priscilla Presley, Riley Keough, and Luhrmann did not attend
> – Why it matters: Rare footage offers fresh look at Elvis’ life, family, and Las Vegas era
Elvis Presley turned 91 in spirit as thousands gathered at Graceland under unusually warm winter skies. The annual birthday tribute doubled as launchpad for EPiC, a documentary stitched from recently discovered home movies and show reels.
Birthday Crowd & Cake
Fans wearing Elvis-branded jackets, scarves, and sunglasses lined the mansion’s driveway for the morning ceremony. Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Graceland Holdings, addressed the crowd from a podium beside an eight-tier cake decorated with both Elvis’ initials and EPiC branding.
- Event drew visitors from every U.S. state and 14 countries
- Cake cutting followed a crowd-wide sing-along of “Happy Birthday”
- Weinshanker was joined by editor Jonathan Redmond and Elvis confidant Jerry Schilling
Inside the EPiC Premiere
The 90-minute film, culled from canisters stored in a Nebraska salt mine, focuses on Elvis’ record-breaking 636 sold-out shows at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. It also weaves in private moments with family and members of the Memphis Mafia.
Weinshanker said:
> “We talk about a minute of new Elvis footage as a Holy Grail. Finding 59 hours was overwhelming.”
| Release Format | Date |
|---|---|
| IMAX exclusive | Feb. 20, 2026 |
| Wide theatrical | Feb. 27, 2026 |
Key Takeaways
- First public U.S. screening occurred at the Guest House at Graceland the evening of Jan. 8
- EPiC uses only restored archival material; no modern interviews were added
- Estate plans new exhibits at Graceland centered on the unearthed clips
The dual celebration kept Elvis’ legacy front-and-center nearly five decades after his passing, offering fans both a party and a never-before-seen window into the King’s world.
