Cincinnati Music Festival 2026 by Cincinnati Magazine

CINCINNATI MUSIC FESTIVAL

PRESENTEDBY

WELCOME TO THE MUSIC CELEBRATION!

P&G is excited to be celebrating its 12th year as a Presenting Sponsor of the Cincinnati Music Festival! We are bringing you an incredible music line-up and fun brand experiences. Be sure to visit the P&G experiences all throughout the stadium.

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Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 2026 Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G!

We are so glad to welcome you back to the Cincy Region for one of the biggest weekends of the year. Thanks to generations of fans, artists, partners, and community supporters, the Cincinnati Music Festival has grown into one of the top music events in the country. This year’s celebration promises another unforgettable weekend of music, culture, and connection.

For decades, Cincinnati has brought people together through music and community. The festival is about more than the performances on stage. It is about celebrating the power of diversity, shared experiences, and the traditions that continue to shape this city and this event. That spirit also drives our commitment to Inclusive Hospitality, making sure every visitor feels genuinely welcomed and valued while they are here.

• Visit Cincy Marketplace on Fountain Square and Elm Street Plaza | July 23-26

Shop from local and inclusive vendors, artists, and creators. Whether you are looking for original

• Queen City 5K at The Banks | Saturday, July 26 at 8 a.m.

Start your morning with a scenic run or walk along the Ohio River. Proceeds support scholarships and opportunities for local youth.

hope you take time to explore our restaurants, museums, shops, neighborhoods, and riverfront.

And do not miss the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, July 26, at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center. It is a powerful tribute to the artists and trailblazers whose music and

Thank you for choosing to spend this special weekend with us. We are grateful to welcome you to Cincinnati and hope you enjoy every moment of your time here.

Sincerely,

WelcometoHamiltonCountyandthe2026CincinnatiMusicFestival!

OnbehalfoftheHamiltonCountyBoardofCountyCommissioners,we're thrilledtowelcomevisitorsfromacrossthecountryforoneofthe nation'spremiermusicweekends.Yourvisitsupportsourlocal restaurants,hotels,shops,andattractionswhilehelpingmakethis celebrationalastingtradition.

Whileyou'rehere,joinuson Saturday,July25,at12:00p.m.forthe CincinnatiBlackMusicWalkofFameInductionCeremony: HomecomingEditionatTheAndrewJBradyMusicCenter.Thisfree eventwillhonorHeatwaveandWCINandfeatureliveperformancesby ShirleyMurdock,ReginaBelle,andMidnightStar.

ThankyouforspendingyourweekendinHamiltonCounty.Wehopeyou enjoythemusic,thecity,andtheunforgettablememoriesmadealongthe way.

Enjoythefestival!

Sincerely,

TheHamiltonCountyBoardofCountyCommissioners

Proud to Play a Supporting Role

Thank you to Cincinnati Music Festival for bringing exceptional performances to our community!

THURSDAY

HI-TEK

Hi-Tek is a Grammy-recognized, Cincinnati-born producer whose soulful, hard-hitting sound helped define the late ’90s and early-2000s era of hip-hop. As one half of Reflection Eternal and a key contributor to Black Star, he produced genre-shaping records including “The Blast,” “Respiration,” and “Definition.” In 2022, he was inducted into the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame as its first hip-hop honoree.

TALIB KWELI

Talib Kweli stands as one of the world’s most talented and most accomplished Hip Hop artists. Whether working with Mos Def as one-half of Black Star, partnering with producer Hi-Tek for Reflection Eternal, releasing landmark solo material or collaborating with artists like Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, J Dilla, or Madlib, Kweli commands attention by delivering top-tier lyricism, crafting captivating stories and showing the ability to rhyme over virtually any type of instrumental.

DJ SPINDERELLA

DJ, MC and producer Deirdra “Dee Dee” Roper, better known under her stage name DJ Spinderella, has fixed her place in the history of hip-hop over an illustrious career that spans three decades. At the age of 16, Roper joined Cheryl James and Sandra Denton as the third member of hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa in Dee Dee was involved in the recording of Salt-N-Pepa’s following four albums, sharing their success with timeless hits such as “Shoop”, “Let’s Talk About Sex”, “Shake Your Thing” and the single “None of Your Business”, which was awarded a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1995.

Across Ohio ReliableConnections

Connects communities across Ohio, with over 70 stop locations

Safe, dependable, and accessible city-to-city service

Schedules operate 365 days a year, with fares starting under $10

Comfortable coaches with on-board bathroom for longer rides

OH the places you’ll

Green Line: Columbus // Athens // Parkersburg

Orange Line: Cincinnati // Athens

Blue Line: Cleveland // Marietta // Athens

Pink Line: Columbus // Wooster // Akron

Lime Line: Van Wert // Columbus

Red Line: Cincinnati // Dayton // Toledo

Yellow Line: Columbus // Pittsburgh

Purple Line: Toledo // Columbus

Gray Line: Toledo // Ashtabula Stop (City level, not exact location)

Reservation Only Stop: Must call in advance

Universities

CHARLIE WILSON

To say that Charlie Wilson is an icon does not truly describe the musical powerhouse whose vocal prowess began as founding member and lead singer of the legendary GAP Band (“You Dropped the Bomb on Me,” “Outstanding,” “Party Train,” and “Burn Rubber on Me”). As a solo artist, Wilson has topped the R&B charts with 13 number one singles, 13 Grammy nominations, a best-selling memoir, I Am Charlie Wilson,and a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, a Soul Train Icon Award, a Soul Train Certified Soul Award, a NAACP Music Makes a Difference Award.

He was twice named Billboard’s Top Adult Male R&B Artist (2009, 2020) and named Billboard’s Top Adult R&B Male Artist with the most number one hits in three decades. In 2024, Wilson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on his birthday, surrounded by a star-studded crowd of friends.

Known to most as “Uncle Charlie,” the lovable nickname given by Snoop Dogg, Wilson continues to be one of the most sought-after voices in music today. He has collaborated with many chart-topping artists including Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, Tyler The Creator and Nas, to name a few.

In the years between the GAP Band and his solo success, Wilson survived drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness, and prostate cancer. Now clean and sober for 30 years, the singer says, “I wouldn’t have believed I’d be where I am right now. That’s why I shout every night because I thank God for allowing me to be here.”

The Cincy Region is where culture unites and culture invites. Located where the Midwest meets the South, Cincy is where live music complements outdoor murals, history meets innovation and a classic coney dog stands on its own among an innovative, bustling local dining scene. While here for the Festival, shop with inclusive suppliers and vendors at Visit Cincy’s Marketplace on Fountain Square and Elm Street Plaza. Tour a bourbon distillery along The B-Line® in Northern Kentucky. Don’t miss the new and award-winning, Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center. Find your Cincy Culture.

CINCINNATI BLACK MUSIC WALK OF FAME

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803 FRESH

Southern soul artist 803 Fresh blends his gospel roots and R&B smoothness into a signature style dubbed “Carolina Soul.” Raised in Hollow Creek, South Carolina, and inspired by his father, a local gospel singer, he began performing at just eight years old. Today, with tracks like “Boots on the Ground” and “All Night Long,” he’s quickly approaching 30 million combined streams and views across streaming platforms solidifying his place as a powerful voice in the New Soul movement.

LEDISI

Ledisi’s remarkable talent has earned her critical acclaim and numerous accolades throughout her career. With 15 Grammy nominations including a win for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Anything for You”, her impact on the music industry is undeniable. Her chart-topping singles, including “I Need To Know”, “Pieces of Me”, and “Alright,” have

soul music. In addition to her artistic endeavors, Ledisi has advocated many times on Capitol Hill for the rights of writers and performers. She also garnered an honorary Doctorate Degree from the Berklee School of Music at their 2024 Commence-

in the entertainment industry.

HEADLINE HERE FRIDAY

TYRESE

2 Fast 2 Furious Four Brothers

Baby Boy

Transformers

NELLY

Country Grammar

Nellyville

MARY J. BLIGE

With eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (37 nominations), an Emmy, two Oscar nominations, and an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024, it’s safe to say that artist, actress,

What’s the 411?

My Life. Each subsequent album she released reads like a chapter from an autobiography leading to February 2022, when Blige released Good Morning Gorgeous, earning her six Grammy nominations and a performance at the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show (yes, the one with the Bengals) alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar.

Mudbound—for which she received two Academy Award nominations for Best Support Actress and Best Original Song—as well as shows like The Umbrella Academy and POWER BOOK II: GHOST. On the producing side, Blige worked

Mary J. Blige’s My Life celebrating the 25th anniversary of the My Life

Mary J. Blige: My Life, My Story The Las Vegas Residency

HEATWAVE

This ever-changing funk band began in West Germany when five young men stationed in the U.S. Army came together after work to sing a little harmony. After years of different members, the group was officially signed to a record label in 1976 with their most popular lineup featuring Johnnie Wilder Jr. and Keith Wilder on the mic, Rod Temperton on the keys, Mario Mantese on bass, Ernest “Bilbo” Berger on drums, and Eric Johns and Roy Carter on guitar. Inaugural album Too Hot To Handle was released in 1976 followed by hit singles “Ain’t No Half Steppin,” “Always and Forever,” “Groove Line,” and “Boogie Nights,” spelling major success for Heatwave. “Boogie Nights” was a number one single in Europe and provided an opportunity for people to hear Heatwave in America for the first time. Today’s current touring lineup—Elliot Levine, Napoleon Eugene Phillips, ElWarren Witherspoon, Byron Byrd, and Ignatuis Mason—carry on the funk spirit of the original group.

DOUG E. FRESH

During his nearly 40-year career, Doug E. Fresh has etched himself into the annals of music history with his creation of the human beatbox art form. Proudly raised in Harlem, Fresh shot from local phenomenon to nationally recognized talent with the help of an appearance in the 1984 cult classic movie Beat Street. By 1985, Fresh had become one of hip-hop’s biggest international stars, thanks to the success of his classics, “The Show” and “La Di Da Di,” recorded with his Get Fresh Crew, including MC Ricky D (a.k.a. Slick Rick).

SLICK RICK

Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters, known to the world as Slick Rick and widely regarded as “hip-hop’s greatest storyteller,” began his career in 1983, as a member of Doug E. Fresh’s Get Fresh Crew, pioneering what is today celebrated as the “Golden Age of Hip- Hop”. With four albums to his credit—the landmark The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988), The Ruler’s Back (1991), Behind Bars (1994) and The Art of Storytelling (1999)— Rick has collaborated with a range of musical icons and has been sampled and interpolated over 650 times.

SWV

In 1992, a trio of vocally talented women called SWV (Sisters With Voices) was introduced to the music world. Their debut album, It’s About Time, produced a string of top ten R&B hits including: “I’m So Into You,” “Right Here,” “Downtown,” “Weak,” and “You’re Always On My Mind.” SWV earned 11 Billboard Music Award nominations for the record. The group went on to produce several other platinum albums like New Beginning and Release Some Tension which included hit singles “You’re the One,” “Use Your Heart,” “Lose My Cool,” “Rain,” and “Can We.” In the group’s career, SWV has received numerous accolades from its peers in the industry. In 1993, the debut album received nominations for a Grammy, American Music Award, and Source Award. The group has also won a Kid’s Choice Award and a BET “Best of Video Soul” Award. SWV disbanded in 1998 but reunited in 2005 and have hit the stage non-stop, as a commitment to fans to produce 90s-esque hits.

TREY SONGZ

For two decades, Trey Songz has been one of the most influential voices in modern R&B. Since the release of his debut album I Gotta Make It, Trey has built an iconic career defined by platinum-selling records, sold-out international tours, unforgettable live performances, and a catalog of timeless music that has helped shape a generation. Known for his signature vocals, magnetic charisma, and an extraordinary ability to evolve with the culture, Trey Songz remains a dominant force in music and entertainment— with billions of streams worldwide and a fiercely loyal global fanbase spanning continents and generations.