The Cincinnati Music Festival will return to Paycor Stadium in July, and organizers have just released the 2026 headliners.
The music festival is happening Thursday-Saturday, July 23-25 and will feature several big names in R&B, soul and hip-hop, including Mary J. Blige, Charlie Wilson, Nelly and Trey Songz. Tickets go on sale Saturday, Dec. 6.
“The Cincinnati Music Festival is always the highlight of the summer, and we can’t wait to bring this lineup to Paycor Stadium in 2026,” Joe Santangelo, the festival’s producer, said in a press release. “Mary J. Blige, Charlie Wilson and the rest of this year’s artists are going to put on a weekend packed with great music and good vibes. We love seeing fans come together to celebrate the soundtrack of R&B, and the Festival keeps growing because the energy, the people and the city make it something special.”
The Thursday of the music festival will feature a tribute to hip-hop, with artists to be announced. Charlie Wilson, Nelly, Tyrese, Ledisi and 803 Fresh will perform at Paycor on the Friday night of the festival, followed by Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, SWV, Doug E. Fresh and Heatwave on Saturday.
New this year is the Club Lounge, a modern hospitality space that will serve as a social hub for festivalgoers, say organizers. The lounge will offer indoor seating, upgraded bar service, contemporary lounge furnishings and large video screens, and it will also serve as the host venue for Thursday night’s hip-hop tribute.
According to a recent study by the UC Economics Center, commissioned by the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Cincinnati Music Festival contributes $107.4 million in annual economic impact to the city. You can learn more at cincymusicfestival.com.