Connect Beyond Festival 2026

is back for three days of music, storytelling, and immersive experiences at in Asheville.

The 2026 festival brings together filmmakers, musicians, creatives, and cultural voices for a weekend of live performances, conversations, and interactive installations, including The Community Garden, a large-scale venue-wide art exhibit where attendees actively engage with the experience.

LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS:

• SPEAK. - award winning documentary screening and Q&A with filmmakers Guy Mossman and cast member Sam Schaefer
• The Community Garden - a venue wide interactive art installation brought to you by some of the creative talent behind Meow Wolf, CalArts, and Epic Games
• Oakland Rising - performances by musicians and vocalists August Lee Stevens, B. Deveaux, and NAIMA
• Shared Roots: Songs & Stories in the Round - an intimate songs and stories evening with award-winning musicians Mary Gauthier, Marisa Blake, and Shana Tucker, moderated by music journalist Marcus K. Dowling
• Modern Biology - ambient music performance by globally renowned musician and biologist Tarun Nayar, using synthesizers and bioelectric changes in actual plants and mushrooms
• StoryLab: Build The World You Want - youth workshop where participants can explore different types of media from newspaper design to film storyboarding to social storytelling, presented by BPR
• ...and much more! More films, workshops, artists and events will be announced on the website and social media.

THE VENUE

• The Orange Peel -

Select the following options when adding tickets to your cart.

PAY WHAT YOU CAN DAY PASS | $0-50
Includes entry to a full day of programming. Select this and donate what you can for your ticket.

WEEKEND PASS | $80
Includes all programming.

FRIDAY MAIN FESTIVAL
1-DAY PASS | $25

Friday Day Pass and Weekend Passes Include: Entry to the full day of programming, see schedule for details. Come and go as you please!

SATURDAY MAIN FESTIVAL
1-DAY PASS | $50

Saturday Day Pass and Weekend Passes Include: Entry to the full day of programming, see schedule for details. Come and go as you please!

SUNDAY MAIN FESTIVAL
1-DAY PASS | $25

Sunday Day Pass and Weekend Passes Include: Entry to the full day of programming, see schedule for details. Come and go as you please!

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