Cincinnati Music Festival 2026

Attend the 2026 Cincinnati Music Festival at Paycor Stadium from July 23 through 25.

The Cincinnati Music Festival is traditionally known as Cincinnati Jazz Fest or the Cincinnati Jazz Festival. The festival will occur July 23, 2026, through July 25, 2026, along the Ohio River at Paycor Stadium, where the Cincinnati Bengals play.    

Looking for something? Use the table of contents below to jump ahead to a specific section:

• Tickets
• Lineup
• Entering Paycor Stadium
• Additional Excursions
• Travel

Tickets to the Cincinnati Music Festival

Tickets to the Cincinnati Music Festival are on sale now by phone at 513-924-0900 or on Ticketmaster.

The lineup for the 2026 Cincinnati Music Festival

Thursday Lineup: Talib Kweli, DJ Spinderella, DJ Vader, Hi-Tek

Friday Lineup: Charlie Wilson, Tyrese, Ledisi, 803 Fresh, Nelly

Saturday Lineup: Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, SWV, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Heatwave

Arriving at the Cincinnati Music Festival

Parking and Travel

There is a $20 rate for CRG Mid, CRG West, and Lots A, B, D, & E. Garage lane and lots will open for event parking from 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Payment will be made by credit card only.

See real-time parking availability and parking with Best Parking. Reserve spaces ahead of time with SpotHero or ParkWhiz. Cincy EZ Park allows patrons to pay for online meter parking from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Take the Cincinnati METRO to the venue. Get real-time updates with the METRO App.

The Cincinnati Bell Connector is a free three-mile circulator that can quickly move concertgoers through downtown. Cincinnati Red Bikes has rentable bikes to get around. Bird and Lime scooters may be available. Check their apps for scooter locations.

Guests using rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can be dropped off and picked up on the North Curb Lane on 2nd Street between Vine and Walnut.

Cincinnati Music Festival Road Closures

Road closures will be announced closer to the festival.

Bag Policy

Prohibited Items

Paycor Stadium DOES NOT ALLOW the following items:

• Alcoholic beverages, beverage containers, bottles, and cans, except for unopened bottled water
• Obscene or indecent clothing
• Recording equipment
• Illegal substances
• Umbrellas
• Backpacks
• Seat cushions
• Binocular case
• Laser pointers
• Noise-making device
• Weapons of any kind

Experiences in Cincinnati

Dining

Check out over 40 Cincinnati Black-owned Restaurants, Eateries, and Food Trucks around the City. Want to stay downtown? These Black-owned restaurants are located in the Downtown/OTR area.

Shopping

Check out Black-owned clothing boutiques in Cincinnati

Entertainment

Enjoy the Black-owned clubs that the city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County have to offer on the weekends.

What events are happening during the 2026 Cincinnati Music Festival?

See what’s happening during the Cincinnati Music Festival weekend.

In the meantime, relive the excitement with a recap of the 2024 Cincinnati Music Festival below, or find upcoming African American events in the Midwest.

Travel to the Cincinnati Music Festival

How can I travel to Cincinnati?

By Car: The Queen City is less than a half-day car ride from 60% of the US population. Travelers can use Interstates I-75, I-71, and I-74.  

By Bus: Greyhound offers the largest intercity bus service. The Cincinnati Greyhound station is located in Arlington Heights.  

By Train: Amtrak’s Cardinal Line stops in Cincinnati and travels thrice a week between New York and Chicago. Amtrak offers Coach and Business Class seating or Viewline bedroom accommodations. Amtrak is located inside Union Terminal on the western edge of downtown Cincinnati.  

By Plane: Cincinnati, Ohio, is within 500 miles or a one-hour flight of 60% of the US population. Nearby airports in the Midwest include Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Lexington. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has 150 daily departures with nonstop connections to around 50 destinations.  

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport travelers can now access a new taxicab service. CVG has partnered with zTrip to provide a new service that combines the safety standards of traditional taxi services with the convenience of ride-hailing apps like Uber.  

Where should I stay in Cincinnati?

• Check out these downtown hotel deals in Cincinnati, CVG Airport, and Newport on the Levee. Consider the Hampton Inn & Suites, Hyatt Regency, the Westin, the Renaissance, or another option.
• Not feeling a hotel? Stay with Black Airbnb hosts in Cincinnati.

The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job postings, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-966-3328.

Photo provided by Cincinnati Music Festival

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