NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF CRESCENT CITY BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL
Annual extravaganza returns October 9-11 with performances by Samantha Fish, Booker T. Jones, Little Freddie King, and many more!
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation returns with the highly anticipated 20th anniversary celebration of the CRESCENT CITY BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL. It will be held in New Orleans’ Lafayette Square Park (602 St. Charles Ave.) on October 9-11, 2026.
THREE DAYS OF MUSIC, FOOD, ART AND MORE
Since its inception in 2006, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival has presented a vivid display of one of America’s most cherished genres and its profound influence on New Orleans music, arts, and culture. For three days, fest-goers are invited to revel in soulful sounds from top blues musicians across the Gulf region. Attendees an also enjoy succulent and savory barbecue along with countless dishes representing Southern cuisine, and handmade works of art crafted by local artisans. Admission is free and open to the public. VIP Experience tickets available for purchase.
For more information, visit www.crescentcitybluesfest.com. Spanning Lafayette Square Park, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival offers two stages of music. The times are from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Friday, October 9th, and from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm on Saturday, October 10th, and Sunday, October 11th. Joining this year’s 20th anniversary celebration are Booker T. Jones, Samantha Fish, Little Freddie King, The Zac Schulz Gang, Johnny Sansone, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience featuring Marcella Simien, Erica Falls & Vintage Soul, Mia Borders, Kenny Brown, and more to be announced.
MEDIA
Media outlets and journalists interested in covering the 2026 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival may fill out the media request form here.
VIP EXPERIENCE
While admission is free and open to the public, fest-goers can enhance their festival experience by purchasing a VIP ticket. Perks include seated viewing areas at both stages, a VIP tent with complimentary drinks, an indoor hospitality lounge with seating, restrooms, and complimentary bites and drinks, and swag bags with festival sponsor favors.
Proceeds from VIP ticket sales directly support the Foundation’s year-round music education, economic enrichment, and business development programs. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.crescentcitybluesfest.com.
GUITAR AUCTION
Fest-goers have the opportunity to take home a commemorative guitar by participating in the 2026 Painted Axe Guitar Silent Auction, hand-painted by founder and artist Michael Gauf. Proceeds from the auction directly support the Foundation’s flagship music education program, the Don “Moose” Jamison Heritage School of Music, which serves nearly 300 students annually. The silent auction is scheduled to open in October 2026.
The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is a free presentation of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Live on-air and video streaming of the festival from Lafayette Square Park is made possible by its sole broadcast partner, Jazz & Heritage Foundation radio station WWOZ 90.7 FM. Listen on air at www.wwoz.org and view the video stream on the Foundation’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation gratefully acknowledges the 2026 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival sponsors for their generosity and support of live music in New Orleans: WWOZ 90.7 FM, Cathead Distillery, Urban South Brewery, National Endowment for the Arts, Goldfarb Financial, The Big Easy Cruise, Chillzone, Louisiana Lottery, 89.9 WWNO, and the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development.
MEDIA CONTACT
Mariah C. Forde, Assistant Director of Marketing mariah@jazzandheritage.org
504-438-7516 ###
ABOUT THE 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, Tremé Creole Gumbo, Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco 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.
