NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is thrilled to welcome festgoers from near and far for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival taking place October 9-11, 2026, in New Orleans’ Lafayette Square Park. Friday’s performances run from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm. The three-day festival presents music performances by some of the Gulf South’s best, culinary delights ranging from savory barbecue to New Orleans’ Creole traditions, uniquely crafted glassware, jewelry, clothing, and more from local artisans, and a festival experience that welcomes festgoers of all ages. General admission is free, and livestreaming is made available by the festival’s sole broadcast partner, Jazz & Heritage Community Radio WWOZ 90.7 FM. A limited number of VIP Passes are available for purchase. For more information, visit www.crescentcitybluesfest.com.
“The Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival is a long-standing monument of culture and community in New Orleans. Its resilience over the last 20 years is a testament to the enduring power of music, traditions, and the spirit of the city that brings people together,” says Foundation Interim Executive Director Sarita M. Carriere. “Blues music is deeply woven into New Orleans’ cultural fabric, and as stewards of culture, we remain committed to honoring and preserving the contributions of blues for generations to come.”
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT & A SPECIAL TRIBUTE
The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival spans every corner of Lafayette Square Park, with the festival kicking off Friday evening on the St. Charles Avenue Stage and performances across both the St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street stages on Saturday and Sunday. Among the weekend’s headliners are Grammy Award winner Ruthie Foster, acclaimed singer and guitarist Samantha Fish, and legendary musician Booker T. Jones, a multi-Grammy Award winner and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The festival weekend offers nonstop music with 18 performances across both stages featuring world-class talent, including George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Cedric Burnside, Little Freddie King, The Zac Schulze Gang, Johnny Sansone, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience featuring Marcella Simien, and many more. The full music lineup is available at www.crescentcitybluesfest.com.
Kicking off Saturday’s lineup of performances on the St. Charles Avenue Stage is a special tribute to Scott Aiges, who passed away earlier this year. Aiges served as the Foundation’s Director of Programs, Marketing, and Communications from 2007 to 2019, and championed music, culture, and public service across New Orleans and beyond. The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival will feature an All-Star Tribute to Scott Aiges, honoring his cherished memory and celebrated legacy. Musicians participating in the tribute are to be announced.
FOOD & ART VENDORS
In addition to the entertainment, an annual attraction of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is the abundance of culinary delights and works of art that festgoers can explore. Over 20 local artisans will be featured in the Arts Market, showcasing their handmade creations including portraits, ceramics, glassware, fashionable clothing, body & skin care, and everything in between. 2026 Arts Market vendors include Bayousoap Co., Ridgewalker Glass, Passion Lilie, Lasalle & Jackson™, Kina B. Handcrafted, among many others. The Food Market features 14 local culinary and pastry chefs offering delights to fill your stomach while the music fills your soul. Menu items range from southern barbecue to seafood to international cuisine to culinary traditions of the diaspora. 2026 Food Market vendors include Cochon King BBQ, Central City BBQ & Las Cruces Tex Mex, Divine Cuisine, Magasin Vietnamese Cafe, Que Pasta Nola, Keyala’s Pralines, and more. For a full list of vendors, visit www.crescentcitybluesfest.com.
VIP EXPERIENCE
While festival attendance is free, festgoers can elevate their experience with a VIP Pass. For $315 plus applicable taxes and fees, a VIP Pass unlocks access to an indoor hospitality lounge with restrooms, complimentary snacks & drinks, VIP viewing areas at both the St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street stages, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation swag, and more. The indoor hospitality lounge will only be open on Saturday, October 10th, and Sunday, October 11th, from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm. VIP Passes are valid for the duration of the festival and non-transferable. VIP Passes can be purchased here.
GUITAR AUCTION
Festgoers can take home memories of the festival while supporting music education with the 2026 Painted Axe Guitar Auction. Hand-painted by artist and Painted Axe founder Michael Gauf, this custom-designed Gretsch Electromatic Jet celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival and will be autographed by every 2026 performing artist. Proceeds from the auction directly benefit the community and educational programs of the Foundation, including its flagship music education program, the Don “Moose” Jamison Heritage School of Music. Bidding opens on Monday, September 28th, and closes Sunday, October 11th, at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit www.crescentcitybluesfest.com.
SPONSORS
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is grateful for sponsorship support provided by Jazz & Heritage Community Radio WWOZ 90.7FM, Cathead Vodka, Urban South Brewery, National Endowment for the Arts, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Goldfarb Financial, Louisiana Lottery, ChillZone, Big Easy Cruise, and WWNO 89.9. Additional support comes from Realcycle, Element, and Bikeeasy.
For press/media related inquiries, contact Mariah Forde by emailing mariah@jazzandheritage.org or calling 504-438-7516.
Hi-res archival photos of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival can be found here.
LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, October 9th
St. Charles Avenue Stage
5:30 pm to 6:45 pm: Johnny Sansone
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm: Ruthie Foster
Saturday, October 10th
Camp Street Stage
11:00 am to 12:00 pm: Washboard Chaz Blues Trio
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm: Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
3:15 pm to 4:30 pm: Linda Gail Lewis
5:45 pm to 7:00 pm: Cedric Burnside
St. Charles Avenue Stage
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm: All-Star Tribute to Scott Aiges
2:00 pm to 3:15 pm: Erica Falls & Vintage Soul
4:30 pm to 5:45 pm: The Zac Schulze Gang
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm: Samantha Fish
Sunday, October 11th
Camp Street Stage
11:00 am to 12:00 pm: Dexter Allen
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm: Kenny Brown
3:15 pm to 4:30 pm: Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience featuring Marcella Simien
5:45 pm to 7:00 pm: Little Freddie King
St. Charles Avenue Stage
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm: Marc Stone
2:00 pm to 3:15 pm: Mia Borders
4:30 pm to 5:45 pm: George Porter Jr. & the Runnin’ Partners
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm: Booker T. Jones
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FOUNDATION
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation uses proceeds generated by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell and additional funds for year-round programs in education, economic development, and cultural enrichment, including initiatives like the Don “Moose” Jamison Heritage School of Music, Congo Square Lecture Series, Class Got Brass, youth workshops, grants, music industry workshops, and festivals such as the Crescent City Blues & BBQ and Congo Square Rhythms. These free programs aim to support Louisiana’s cultural community and are complemented by assets such as the Jazz & Heritage radio station WWOZ 90.7 FM, the Jazz & Heritage Archive, and the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center. For more information, visit www.jazzandheritage.org.