NEW ORLEANS – French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) announced that Grammy Award-winning New Orleans native PJ Morton will headline the 2026 French Quarter Festival. Morton leads an expansive lineup of Louisiana talent including legends like Bobby Rush and the Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars who are set to perform April 16 through 19.
Morton has not performed at French Quarter Festival since 2014, making his 2026 headlining appearance a highly anticipated homecoming. Since his last performance at the festival, Morton has earned multiple Grammy Awards and international acclaim while continuing to champion the rich musical traditions of his hometown.
“New Orleans raised me musically, spiritually and creatively,” said Morton. “I haven’t performed at French Quarter Festival since 2014, so returning to headline feels full circle. No matter where I go in the world, this city is home, and there’s nothing like bringing our music back to the community in a space that’s free and open to everyone.”
French Quarter Festival returns April 16-19. More than 1,700 local musicians are expected to perform during this year’s festival, reinforcing FQFI says is its ongoing commitment to providing paid performance opportunities and sustaining New Orleans’ cultural economy. As traditional funding sources shift and production costs rise, FQFI invites community minded individuals and organizations to participate through performance sponsorships or contributions of any amount.
The 2026 festival also features the work of official poster artist Anne Lipscomb, whose commemorative designs are currently available for presale online. Additional artist announcements and full culinary menus will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit frenchquarterfest.org.