"Papi Chulo" had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2018. The film also screened at BFI London Film Festival; the Torino Film Festival on November 23, 2018; the Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 6, 2019; and the Dublin International Film Festival on February 20, 2019. It then released in select theaters on June 7, 2019.