BlackAmericana Fest 2026: Still We Sing
About this Event
BlackAmericana Fest 2026: Still We Sing — Black Protest Traditions in Americana
BlackAmericana Fest returns for its third year in New Orleans. Spirituals, freedom songs, and labor anthems have carried our ancestors through every era of struggle. These songs hold grief, resistance, courage, and imagination, and they remind us that our voices matter, even when the systems around us attempt to silence us. Still We Sing roots our 2026 festival in this lineage, honoring the long tradition of Black protest music while lifting up the contemporary artists who continue to redefine and expand what protest music can be.
Join us for a weekend of live music, storytelling, food, and fellowship as we gather in community and continue singing forward the stories that shaped us.
🎶 What to Expect:
- Two days of performances across our Sister Rosetta Tharpe Main Stage, Elizabeth Cotten Songwriter Stage, and Charley Pride Heritage Stage, with broader genre representation than ever, including zydeco music and line dancing led by Jazmine Haynes, Black bluegrass musicians, and spiritual and gospel singers
- Headliners Tray Wellington, Seratones, Joy Clark, and The Kentucky Gentlemen, with every artist on the lineup invited to incorporate a protest song into their set, whether an original composition or a reimagined traditional song
- A workshop on the evolution of spirituals, field songs, freedom songs, and labor anthems, and a panel on Black protest traditions and music as a tool of liberation
- Dance as a companion piece to the music programming throughout the weekend
- A cultural demonstration area, local food and drink vendors, and a Kids Zone with family-friendly activities
- All ages and family-friendly. Children 11 and under receive free admission with registration
📍 Location: The Broadside & Broad Theater, 600 N Broad St., New Orleans, LA 70119
📅 Dates: Friday, September 25 & Saturday, September 26, 2026
🎟️ Ticket Tiers: Tickets on sale July 3, 2026.
- Early Bird GA Weekend Pass ($30), July 3–July 31
- Advance GA Weekend Pass ($35), August 1–August 31
- Standard GA Weekend Pass ($45), September 1–26
- Single Day Pass ($30), September 1–26
- Student Weekend Pass ($20), July 3–September 26, must present valid student ID at the gate
- VIP Weekend Pass ($150), July 3–September 26, now with a viewing area closer to the stage and an exclusive Patron Party
- Children 11 and under, free with registration
🖤 Our Commitment to Access and Inclusion:
We're deeply committed to making this festival accessible to everyone who wants to be here. A limited number of community tickets are available to supporting organizations. If you're an individual who needs assistance obtaining a ticket, please reach out directly at [email protected].
In 2025, 97 percent of attendees told us they felt very welcomed and included, 95 percent learned something new about Black history, culture, or music, and 97 percent said they'd recommend the festival to a friend. One artist put it simply: it felt like instant camaraderie to be surrounded by Black Americana artists after being so used to being the only one in the room.
We're entering 2026 in a fragile political and economic moment, one where working-class and Black families are facing real instability and hardship. In moments like this, Black protest traditions offer grounding. Still We Sing is not just a theme, it is a promise. We lift our voices. We gather in community. We continue singing forward.
Come be part of the story.
Agenda
🕑: 04:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday, September 25, 2026:OPENING NIGHT
Info: Kick off BlackAmericana Fest with an intimate evening of live music, storytelling, and cultural celebration at The Broadside. Early gates open the festival, and VIP patrons are welcomed into our brand new exclusive Patron Party — the first of its kind at BAF. The evening features a banjo workshop led by headliner Tray Wellington, songwriter performances, and closes with Tray Wellington's signature headlining set on the Sister Rosetta Tharpe Main Stage.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Saturday, September 26, 2026: DAY 2
Info: A vibrant celebration of music, culture, and community across three stages at The Broadside and Broad Theater. From genre-defying performances to family-friendly fun, this is a day to immerse yourself in the sounds, stories, and spirit of Black roots music.
Enjoy live sets across the Sister Rosetta Tharpe Main Stage, Elizabeth Cotten Songwriter Stage, and Charley Pride Heritage Stage, plus zydeco music and line dancing led by Jazmine Haynes, local vendors, a cultural demonstration area, kids' activities, and opportunities to connect with artists, neighbors, and culture-bearers alike.
VIP guests enjoy early entry, a viewing area closer to the stage, and exclusive access to our VIP Lounge.
Whether you're returning from Day 1 or joining us for the first time, you're invited to celebrate with us.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 165.00
