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Summers are for day parties and long nights out, family reunions and block parties, singing, dancing, and vibing with your favorite people.
The Roots Picnic is all of that — rolled into one.
Curated and hosted by the legendary Roots crew, the annual music and culture festival boasts a dream lineup of acts, headlined by Jay-Z and Erykah Badu for 2026.
Kehlani, Brandy and T.I. also top the stacked bill of over 20 R&B and hip-hop superstars, with more announcements to come.
The massive outdoor fest takes place at a new location — Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park — on May 30 and 31, 2026, rain or shine.
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
If the Roots Picnic has 100,000 fans, I’m one of them. If the event has one fan, it’s me. If the Roots Picnic has no fans — something went wrong.
With four festivals under my belt, I’ve seen many, many highs (and a smidgeon of lows), so here’s what I’m most looking forward to at this year’s Roots Picnic:
As soon as the festival’s announcement drops each year, fans get to speculating who is going to headline. But only in our wildest dreams did we expect night one’s headliner to be one of the greatest rappers of all time, Jay-Z.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, the legend reunites with The Roots crew for the first time in 25 years. (The hip-hop icons last teamed up on Jay-Z’s 2001 MTV Unplugged.) As far as we know, the only other place Hov plans to celebrate the milestone anniversary is his native New York.
If that wasn’t enough, the band reunites with another one of its most iconic collaborators for night two of the festival: Erykah Badu. The Queen of Neo Soul is behind so many silky smooth classics, like On & On, Bag Lady and The Roots’ Grammy Award-winning hit, You Got Me.
For 2026, the annual Philly tradition turns the nostalgia up to the max at a new Fairmount Park location: Belmont Plateau.
For many years, Belmont Plateau — known by locals as the Plat or the Plateau — was the hangout spot, inspiring Will Smith’s iconic line in Summatime: “A place called the Plateau is where everybody go.”
Located just over the hill from the festival’s longtime home at the Highmark Mann, the Plateau is one of Philly’s most scenic natural overlooks, boasting striking panoramic views of the city skyline.
The new venue wasn’t chosen for purely nostalgic reasons. After experiencing some challenges last year due to the weather, the team plans to improve the guest experience based on feedback with this move.
Festivalgoers can expect better communication of event updates with an improved mobile app and text message alert system, two entrances, an increase in customer service ambassadors across the grounds, and a reimagined VIP experience.
If you’re familiar with Philly’s musical lore, you know that many of the greats — The Roots, obviously, but also Jill Scott, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass and more — hail from the City of Brotherly Love.
I’m excited to see the next generation of Philly musicians, including West Philly rapper Amir Ali and West Philly vocalist Beano French (who always gives a great performance), elevated to one of the city’s biggest stages.
Plus, Philly legend DJ Jazzy Jeff — who got his start performing at the Plateau alongside Will Smith — is set to take the stage, too.
Last year, the Roots Picnic debuted a food fest highlighting some of the city’s favorite eateries, with a focus on Black-owned small businesses.
This year, the fest invites you to roll out your actual picnic blanket again and chow down with a curated lineup of local restaurants slinging their signature dishes.
And hungry fest-goers with dietary requirements won’t go hungry, as guests can also expect vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
— Photo by Beaumonde Originals
The Roots Picnic takes its reputation as a family reunion/block party/day party crossover event very seriously, bringing in the big guns to set the vibe.
Some of the best DJs in hip-hop and R&B are behind the turntables all weekend long. It doesn’t matter if you’re bopping, two-stepping or dropping it low as long as you are on your feet, busting a move on the dance floor. This year’s DJ lineup includes Doechii’s tour DJ Miss Milan, New York legend Funk Flex and Philly’s own DJ Diamond Kuts.
So much! The festival features over 20 performers across its two stages. Personally, I’m super dialed into the lineup of R&B artists from certified legends like Brandy to next-gen stars like Sasha Keable, Kehlani and kwn (which is interesting for other reasons, if you know you know).
The festival also celebrates some big anniversaries this year, with tributes honoring the 50th anniversary of go-go music and the 30th anniversary of the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack.
Plus, there are always fun brand experiences, photo ops and giveaways to check out, plus a curated vendor village and the merch shop.
One-day and two-day tickets are on sale now at the official site, with general admission, general admission-plus and VIP options available.
Looking for a comfy place to rest up after the last performance of the evening? We’ve got you covered with nearby hotel options along City Avenue, like Homewood Suites by Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue and Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue, and in University City, like Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel and The Inn at Penn, A Hilton Hotel.
Make your Roots Picnic weekend extra special while getting a great deal that lets you explore more of Philly. Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and admission to some of the region’s most popular attractions.
The Roots Picnic is just one of many, many awesome concerts and music fests in Greater Philadelphia this year.
Check out our guide to dozens of can’t-miss shows taking place in Philadelphia and the Countryside in 2026.
It’s Philly’s biggest year yet!
Make the most of it by booking the Visit Philly Overnight Package, which comes with free hotel parking and complimentary tickets to some of the most popular attractions in each of Greater Philadelphia’s five counties including Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Longwood Gardens in Chester County, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Delaware County and Elmwood Park Zoo in Montgomery County.
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