Black Music Festivals 2020
We’re highlighting some of the best African American Music Festivals in the U.S. and Caribbean. Please note that we are updating this post as soon as information is released on various Black music festivals.
Tampa Bay Black Heritage & Music Festival
Tampa Bay, FL
Jan. 10-19, 2020
This ten-day celebration includes live entertainment, exciting cultural events, relevant health tutorials, business advising seminars, renowned speakers, food vendors, craft vendors, a music fest with national recording artists and more. Tampa Bay’s annual family-friendly festival commemorates the many contributions and influences African Americans have made in our society. Previous performers included Rick Braun & Richard Elliott. More info to come soon.
Festival International de Jazz de Port-au-Prince
Port au Prince, Haiti
January 18-25, 2020
Presented by the Haiti Jazz Foundation, this one week festival is in its 13th year. Enjoy Jazz artists from around the world including France, Canada, the US & Brazil as well as local Haitian favorite artists such as Rutshelle Guillaume, Wesli and JohnBern Thomas. 2020 Line up information coming soon.
Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Januar 26-29, 2020
The annual Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues festival in Montego Bay at Cinnamon Hill Golf Crouse. More than 30,000 attend to watch jazz & blues artists along with Jamaica’s most popular bands. 2020 performers include Norah Jones, Dione Warwick, Roseanne Cash, Roberta Flack, Boyz II Men, Toots and Azucar Negra.
Jazz in the Gardens Music Fest
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
March 14 & 15, 2020
This 2 day festival will includes new and old school artists. Last years performers included Anita Baker, Smokey Robinson, Fantasia, Chaka Khan, Will Downing, Marion Meadows, Chante Moore & Betty Wright. 2020 Line up information coming soon.
20th Cape Town Jazz Festival
Awaiting 2020 dates
Cape Town, South Africa
This annual Jazz Festival at the convention center brings Jazz legends from around the world. In 2019, over 40 artists play on 5 stages over the 2 day event. 2018 performers include Alistair Izobell, Amanda Black, Corinne Bailey Rae, Nicholas Payton, and Miles Mosley. 2020 information coming soon.
Coachella
Coachella Valley, CA
April 10-19, 2020
This festival includes many genres of music including rock, indie and hip hop. Way too many acts to mention (over 175,) and the line up for 2020 will not be released until January, but past performers include Beyonce, Eminem, The Weekend, Cardi B, SZA, Kygo, St. Vincent, War on Drugs, Vince Staples, the Man, Migoes, HAIM and more. Coachella is one of the biggest, most well-known, and most gainful music celebration in the United States and everywhere throughout the world.
Pure Grenada Music Festival
St. George, Grenada
TBA
Grenada is unique, and the Pure Grenada Music Festival will offer a unique experience due to its picturesque location at Port Louis Marina on the lawn, overlooking the picturesque Carenage, Grenada’s natural habor, welcoming people, going green focus while offering a variety of musical genres of excellent standard. Although you will see some Grammy winners performing, the focus is give exposure to local new artists.
Soul’d Out Music Festival
TBA – dates being finalized
Portland, Oregon
In it’s 9th year, this festival features a mix of jazz, funk, electronic, fusion and hip-hop artists from around the world to Portland’s most popular venues. The festival aspires to unite music lovers of all generations and provide a platform for new artists as well. Enjoy Erykah Badu, De La Soul R+R = Now, Wyclef Jean, Zapp, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Noname, The Dazz Band, BJ The Chicago Kid and more.
http://www.souldoutfestival.com/
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
April 23rd – May 3, 2020
This will be the 51st year for this festival. Performers and guests alike come from all over the world to be a part of this great event. Jazz and Dixieland are the focal points, but many different kinds of music are performed. At the Jazz Fest site, there are about 10 stages and show areas and the included admission ticket allows the guest to roam between each venue at their own pace on an open-seating basis. The New Orleans Fairgrounds site is a short distance from the French Quarter. Last years performers included Aretha Franklin, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker, LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip, Khalid, Smokey Robinson, Sting and Aerosmith. The musical lineup is usually announced and tickets go on sale near the first of the year.
Kaya Fest
Long Beach, CA
2020 dates being finalized
Reggae music festival. Past performers include the Marley Brothers, Sean Paul Wyclef Jean, Cypress Hill, SOJA and Inner Circle with special appearance by Ms. Lauryn Hill.
SunFest 2020
West Palm Beach, Fl
April 30 – May 3rd, 2020
Founded in 1982, SunFest is Florida’s largest waterfront music and art festival. Held annually in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida the first week in May, SunFest attracts more than 175,000 visitors. Artists cover a range of music genres. Popular performers in 2019 included Diplo, Pitbull, Rae Sremmurd, Nick Jonas, PartyNextDoor, Billy Idol, Toots & the Maytals, Living Colour & Dafeaunito. 2020 line up being worked on.
Saint Lucia Jazz Festival
Pigeon Island, Rodney Bay, Derek Walcott Square & Soufriere, St. Lucia
May 2020 – dates being finalized
St. Lucia is a small, out-of-the-way island, but its annual jazz fest is often cited as one of the world’s best. Performances take place during the day and at night, at sweeping venues and intimate spots, all around St. Lucia. Performers include Arnaud Dolmien, Avery Sunshine, Lalah Hathaway, R+R=Now, Zara Mc Farlane & more.
Miami Haitian Compas Festival
Mana Wynwood, Miami
May 14-18, 2020
In honor of May 18th 1803, creation of the Haitian blue and red flag, the Haitian Compas Festival in Miami was born. This will be the festival’s 20th year, and it has been ranked among the Best in Live Music Entertainment events by Billboard Magazine. The festival highlights different genres of Haitian music including Hip Hop, Konpa Direk, Nouvel Generasyon, Kreyol and more. Attended annually by over 25,000 people. Past performers include Harmonik, Tabou, AJAKOUT, Nu Look, Kai, Klass, ADA, DJ FMA, Gabel, T-VICE and more.
Soul Beach Music Festival
Aruba
May 20th-25th, 2020
The 20th Annual Soul Beach Music Festival will offer a unique combination of excitement and sophistication nestled in an intimate setting. Be part of the action, because our festival is sure to amaze you with sultry day and night events, the hottest internationally renowned performing artists in music and comedy, all in one jam packed weekend of music, fun and sun! Just when you thought it couldn’t get any hotter, loyal followers and newcomers alike are sure to enjoy the sexy, smoldering beaches and entertainment! Past performers include Usher, Mary J. Blige, The Roots, Faith Evans, DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Chubb Rock.
Hot 97 Summer Jam
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Dates being finalized
Past performers include Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, DJ Khaled, Trey Songz, Fat Joe & Remy Ma, Migos, Joey BADA$$ and more on the main stadium stage. On the festival stage they also feature emerging artists such as Young M.A, A Boogie, Don Q and Lil Yachty.
St. Kitts Music Festival
June 27th – 29th, 2020
By blending exciting music with exhilarating performances, The St Kitts Music Festival is now the most diversified musical show in the Caribbean. Performers include Davido, Edwin Yearwood & Krosfyah, Nadia Baton, Popcaan, French Montana, Buju Banton, Smokey Robinson, Farmer Nappy & more.
Essence Festival 2020
New Orleans
July 3rd – 6th, 2020
For the past 25 years Essence without a doubt is one of the top black music festivals. Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Miguel And More Headlined the 2018 Essence Festival. Loni Love, Missy Elliott, Mary J Blige, H.E.R. & RBRM were just some of the performers in 2019. Don’t expect the line up to be released for 2020 until the Spring.
Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival
Brooklyn, NY
July (final dates to be announced)
Established in 2005, The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is New York City’s largest Hip-Hop cultural event that showcases the positive aspects of Hip-Hop culture by highlighting Hip-Hop’s legacy as an agent of artistic progression, community building and social change. In the last ten years, the Festival has achieved a number of memorable milestones with an impressive roster of Hip-Hop acts that include Grammy winner Lupe Fiasco, the front man of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night band Black Thought of The Roots and VH1 Hip-Hop Honoree Big Daddy Kane. They skipped 2019, but are expected to announce dates for 2020.
Reggae SumFest 2020
Montego Bay, Jamaica
July 12th – 18th, 2020
Jamaica’s Premier Reggae Festival. 2020 marks the 28th anniversary of Jamaica’s biggest summer festivals. Its organizers intended for Reggae Sumfest to be a testament to Jamaica’s indelible impact on music in international genres like R&B, hip-hop, soka, and reggaeton. Today, the event has no problem attracting elite performers and tens of thousands of attendees and from all over the world. Past performers include Beyonce, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, LL Cool J, Missy Elliott and Akon. 2017 performers include Alkaline, Mavado, Tory Lanez, TJ, Sizzla, Mystery Star and Deep Jahi.
Dream Weekend: Jamaica’s Premier Independence Music Festival
Negril, Jamaica
Aug 5th – 9th, 2020
Dream Weekend is Jamaica’s #1 and most anticipated music festival held on the white sand beaches of Negril, Jamaica. Enjoy 5 days of parties with high energy genres of music, inclusive or liquor and food. Appleton Rum is the main sponsor and the parties for Dream Weekend include Yush, Twisted Spiritz, Igloo, Daydreams, Dream Live and other events.
OVO Fest (Drakes Event)
Toronto, Canada
May 31, 2020
Every summer, hip hop megastar Drake curates, hosts, and performs at the OVO Fest, hands-down the biggest rap festival north of the border – and with past headlining acts like Snoop Dogg, B2K, Mario, Ying Yang Twins, Chingy, Wiz Khalifa, Machel Montano, Future, and Beenie Man, it’s no wonder it has become one of the top music festivals to attend.
Houston Black Heritage Music & Arts Festival
Downtown Houston
2020 TBA
The annual Houston Black Heritage Festival is a Texas-sized African-American cultural celebration that takes place in the heart of Downtown.
Gammy award winner Monica will perform as well as Blushhh Music, Brian Jack, Endurance, DeeSmuve and H.I.S.D. The event also emphasizes empowerment and features highly-regarded speakers and discussions on topics like education, health, wellness and economic literacy.
Breakaway Music Festival
Columbus, Ohio
2020 TBA
The Breakaway Music Festival highlights EDM, indie, pop and hip-hop music. Artist lineup coming soon.
Made in America
Ben Franklin Parkway in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
2020 TBA
Created & curated by Jay-Z and sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, this annual music festival is a massive musical celebration. Rihanna, ColleGrove, Chance the Rapper, FKA twigs, DJ Khaled, Travi$ Scott, Coldplay and several other acts will perform this year.
ONE MUSIC FEST 2020
Atlanta, GA
2020 TBA
ONE Music Fest is the Southeast’s largest annual urban progressive music festival featuring a diverse range of music that includes everything from classic and next generation hip-hop, and soulful R&B, to alternative and rock. Now in it’s 7th year, ONE Music Fest pulls together the best in progressive music for an eclectic mix of talent that expands the boundaries of the urban genre. Past performers include SZA, The Roots and Janelle Monae.
Music Midtown 2020
Piedmont Park – Atlanta, GA
September 12th-13th, 2020
Hip hop, electronic, pop and indie rock festival held in downtown Atlanta. This year it will feature more than 30 artists on 4 stages.
