National Black Events Guide (Test) | BAR

A curated guide to Black cultural, professional and sports events attracting national audiences

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Curation: Travel-worthy Black cultural, professional and sports events with national audiences

Last updated July 22, 2026

	Event	City / State
	April 10-11(past event) Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	Memphis, TN
	May 29-31(past event) Newport Beach Jazz Festival★ BAR Pick Newport Beach Jazz Festival brings jazz fans to coastal Orange County for a destination weekend of live music, relaxed waterfront atmosphere, and festival-style performances. The event pairs nationally appealing jazz programming with Newport Beach’s resort setting.	Newport Beach, CA
	June 2-5(past event) National Association of Black Accountants Convention The National Association of Black Accountants draws over 2,000 members and 70-plus corporate partners to its Convention & Expo, the country’s premier gathering and recruiting event for Black finance, accounting, and business professionals.	Las Vegas, NV
	June 4-7(past event) Chicago Blues Festival Founded in 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world, drawing crowds to Millennium Park each June to honor Chicago’s foundational role in the music’s history.	Chicago, IL
	June 5-7(past event) Capital Jazz Fest Held every June during Black Music Month since 1993, Capital Jazz Fest brings more than 30 contemporary jazz, R&B, and soul acts to Merriweather Post Pavilion across three days, one of the longest-running Black music festivals in the DMV.	Columbia, MD
	June 9(past event) Real Men Cook Founded in Chicago in 1990 by Yvette and Kofi Moyo, Real Men Cook is the country’s largest and longest-running Father’s Day celebration, with Black men cooking for and serving their communities across multiple cities.	Chicago, IL
	Opens June 18(past event) Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Gwinnett County, GA
	June 18-20(past event) San Francisco Black Film Festival Founded in 1998 by arts impresario Ave Montague, the San Francisco Black Film Festival has screened more than 10,000 films celebrating the cinematic legacy of African Americans and the global Black diaspora.	San Francisco, CA

	June 19-21(past event) Baltimore African American Festival★ BAR Pick One of the country’s longest-running African American festivals, AFRAM has anchored Baltimore’s summer cultural calendar with music and community programming for decades.	Baltimore, MD
	June 20(past event) Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	Fort Worth, TX
	July 2-5(past event) Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Gwinnett County, GA
	July 3-5(past event) Essence Festival of Culture★ BAR Pick The 2026 Essence Festival of Culture brings a “Ladies First” lineup to New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, headlined by Cardi B, Kehlani, Patti LaBelle, and Brandy.	New Orleans, LA
	July 6-12 Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Grand Boule★ BAR Pick Zeta Phi Beta’s 2026 Grand Boule unites thousands of members in Nashville under the theme “The Extraordinary Power of S.H.E.,” with programming spanning leadership, health equity, and economic empowerment.	Nashville, TN
	July 8-12 Taste of Chicago★ BAR Pick Taste of Chicago is one of the world’s largest free food festivals, bringing the city’s chefs and vendors to Grant Park each summer.	Chicago, IL
	July 9-19 Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration★ BAR Pick One of the nation’s largest African American cultural expositions, this multi-day Indianapolis event blends business, entertainment, and community programming.	Indianapolis, IN
	July 10-12 Africa World Festival★ BAR Pick Now in its fifth decade, Detroit’s African World Festival gathers more than 20,000 people on Hart Plaza each summer for one of the nation’s largest celebrations of the African diaspora, presented by the Charles H. Wright Museum.	Detroit, MI

	July 11-12 Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	Castro Valley, CA
	July 12-18 Reggae Sumfest★ BAR Pick Established in 1993 in Montego Bay, Reggae Sumfest is Jamaica and the Caribbean’s largest music festival, drawing tens of thousands of fans for a week that has hosted reggae and dancehall’s biggest names.	Montego Bay, Jamaica
	July 14-16 Black Tech Week★ BAR Pick Black Tech Week brings founders, investors, technologists, and creative professionals together in Cincinnati for conversations, networking, and programs focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity in the Black tech ecosystem.	Cincinnati, OH
	July 15-18 Black Data Processing Association Convention Founded in 1975 to expand Black representation in technology, BDPA gathers IT professionals and students in Indianapolis, where its national student coding competition reaches its championship rounds alongside sessions on AI and emerging tech.	Indianapolis, IN
	July 16-19 National Dental Association Annual Convention National Dental Association Annual Convention is a professional or membership gathering with meetings, networking, and related programming.	Richmond, VA
	July 17 Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Houston, TX
	July 18-19 Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	City of Industry, CA
	July 18-22 NAACP Annual Convention★ BAR Pick The 117th NAACP National Convention returns to Chicago’s McCormick Place, continuing the century-old flagship gathering of the nation’s oldest civil rights organization.	Chicago, IL

	July 19-21 Association of African American Museums Conference The Association of African American Museums holds its annual conference, the field’s premier gathering for the curators, directors, and scholars who steward Black history collections, drawing hundreds of museum professionals for sessions and site visits.	Philadelphia, PA
	July 22-24 International Hotel Ownership & Investment Summit Founded in 2001 by Andy Ingraham, the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers hosts its International African American Hotel Ownership & Investment Summit in Miami to expand Black ownership across the hospitality industry.	Miami, FL
	July 23-25 Cincinnati Music Festival Tracing its roots to the 1962 Ohio Valley Jazz Festival, the Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G is one of the longest-running R&B and soul events in the country, drawing 50,000-plus fans to Paycor Stadium each July.	Cincinnati, OH PayCor Stadium hosts one of the nation’s largest black music festivals; past performers include the biggest names in Soul Music.
	July 24-25 Chicago Gospel Music Festival★ BAR Pick Chicago’s free Gospel Music Festival brings decades of gospel tradition to Millennium Park, one of the city’s signature summer cultural events.	Chicago, IL
	July 25-31 National Bar Association Annual Convention★ BAR Pick The NBA’s 101st Annual Convention marks a full century of Black legal excellence, gathering judges, lawyers, and advocates in Nashville under the theme “The Rhythm of Excellence.”	Nashville, TN
	July 25-29 National Medical Association Annual Convention★ BAR Pick NMA’s Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly is the nation’s largest gathering of Black physicians, convening in San Juan for its 124th year of medical scholarship and health equity advocacy.	Puerto Rico
	July 26-30 National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Conference Founded in 1974, the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice brings corrections, courts, and law-enforcement professionals together for its Annual Conference and Training Institute, focused on equal justice for Black communities.	Tampa, FL
	July 27 – August 1 National Black Theatre Bi-Annual Festival Founded in 1989 by Larry Leon Hamlin with Maya Angelou as its first chair, this biennial Winston-Salem festival draws nearly 60,000 people for six days and over 100 performances of Black theater.	Winston-Salem, NC

	July 28 – August 2 National Black Nurses Convention Founded in 1971 and now representing over 300,000 nurses, NBNA brings more than 1,200 nurses to its annual Institute and Conference for clinical training focused on the conditions that disproportionately affect Black communities.	St. Louis, MO
	July 29 National Urban League Conference★ BAR Pick The National Urban League Conference marks the 50th edition of its State of Black America report, convening thousands in Nashville to confront economic and civil rights challenges nationwide.	Nashville, TN
	July 30 – August 3 Caribana Weekend★ BAR Pick North America’s largest Caribbean festival, Caribana fills Toronto’s streets with mas bands, steel pan, and soca ahead of its signature Grand Parade.	Toronto, Canada
	July 30 – August 3 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Grand Conclave★ BAR Pick The 85th Grand Conclave brings over 10,000 members to Cincinnati’s First Financial Center for the fraternity’s biennial international convention – the region’s largest event in three years.	Cincinnati, OH
	August 1-2 Umoja Family Festival With roots stretching back more than eight decades, Seattle’s Umoja Fest celebrates African diaspora culture in the Central District each August, anchored by the Africatown Heritage Parade.	Seattle, WA
	August 1-2 Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	Atlanta, GA
	August 1-2 Satchmo Summerfest Launched in 2001 on what would have been Louis Armstrong’s 100th birthday, Satchmo SummerFest is a free French Quarter celebration of the New Orleans jazz icon, with brass bands, local cuisine, and a scholarly lecture series.	New Orleans, LA
	August 6 Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Dallas, TX

	August 7-15 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival★ BAR Pick Now in its 24th year, MVAAFF is an Oscar-qualifying festival celebrating Black storytelling on the island’s Performing Arts Center stage.	Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs, MA
	August 8-9 Long Beach Jazz Festival★ BAR Pick Now in its 36th year, Long Beach Jazz Festival is a three-generation, family-produced festival blending jazz, Latin, and R&B along the Southern California waterfront.	Long Beach, CA
	August 12-14 National Sales Network Convention National Sales Network Convention is a professional or membership gathering with meetings, networking, and related programming.	Washington, DC
	August 12-16 National Association of Black Journalists Convention National Association of Black Journalists Convention is a professional or membership gathering with meetings, networking, and related programming.	Atlanta, GA
	August 15 Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	Fort Worth, TX
	August 21-22 Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival Produced by Norfolk Festevents, the Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival is the region’s longest-running outdoor jazz festival, staging two days of performances each summer at Town Point Park on the downtown waterfront.	Norfolk, VA
	August 22-23 Africana Virginia Beach Funkfest Africana is a Virginia Beach oceanfront festival of African and African American culture at the 24th Street Park and boardwalk, pairing the long-running FunkFest music series with dance, specialty vendors, and programming that supports African community causes.	Virginia Beach, VA
	August 22-23 Sundiata Festival Founded in 1980 and named for the Mali Empire’s legendary king, Festival Sundiata is the longest-running African American festival in the Pacific Northwest, presenting its Black Arts Fest free each year at Seattle Center.	Seattle, WA

	September 4-6 Chicago Jazz Festival★ BAR Pick One of the longest-running free jazz festivals in the country, Chicago Jazz Festival anchors the city’s Labor Day weekend at Millennium Park.	Chicago, IL
	September 5-6 John Coltrane Jazz & Blues Festival Held in High Point, NC, where John Coltrane spent his boyhood, this festival launched in 2011 to honor the saxophonist’s legacy, with proceeds funding music education for area youth.	Greensboro, NC
	September 7 West Indian American Parade Rooted in Harlem in the 1920s and settled on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway since 1967, the West Indian American Day Carnival is North America’s largest Caribbean celebration, drawing millions each Labor Day.	Brooklyn, NY
	September 11-13 National Women Of Color Empowerment Conference National Women Of Color Empowerment Conference is a professional or membership gathering with meetings, networking, and related programming.	Fort Lauderdale, FL
	September 18 Bill Pickett Rodeo Championship Bill Pickett Rodeo Championship highlights Black rodeo culture with competition, entertainment, and community programming.	Washington, DC
	September 23-25 National Black MBA Association Conference★ BAR Pick NBMBAA’s 48th Annual Conference and Career Expo returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center, pairing professional development with the nation’s largest diversity career fair.	Los Angeles, CA
	September 25-27 Monterey Jazz Festival★ BAR Pick The 69th Monterey Jazz Festival returns to the Monterey County Fairgrounds, one of the world’s longest continuously running jazz festivals.	Monterey, CA
	October 8-11 Silicon Valley African Film Festival Founded in 2010 by Nigerian filmmaker Chike Nwoffiah, the Silicon Valley African Film Festival screens more than 90 films from 30-plus countries each October in San Jose, reframing Africa through African storytellers.	San Jose, CA

	October 10 Bronner Brothers International Award Show For more than 75 years, the Bronner Bros. International Beauty Show has been the country’s largest trade show for the multicultural beauty industry, drawing stylists and barbers to Atlanta for competitions, education, and product showcases.	Atlanta, GA
	October 15-18 Black Travel Summit★ BAR Pick Black Travel Summit convenes travelers, creators, entrepreneurs, and tourism professionals for networking, education, and conversations about Black travel experiences and the future of the travel industry. The gathering connects community, business, storytelling, and destination discovery.	Milwaukee, WI
	October 17 Taste of Soul Festival★ BAR Pick Taste of Soul draws hundreds of thousands to Crenshaw Boulevard for LA’s largest African American street festival, blending food, music, and community vendors.	Los Angeles, CA
	October 17 Hatitude Cultural Flair Part of Eatonville’s ZORA! Festival honoring Zora Neale Hurston, the HATitude Cultural Flair brunch celebrates Black women’s hat tradition and fashion while raising funds for the festival’s year-round K-12 academic programs.	Orlando, FL
	October 21-23 Black Men XCEL★ BAR Pick Formerly Black Men XCEL, this Black Enterprise summit was created to give Black men in business the same dedicated space for recognition and growth as the Women of Power Summit.	Orlando, FL
	November 7-13 Afro Wine Week★ BAR Pick Afro Wine Week celebrates African and diaspora wine culture in Cape Town through tastings, industry exchange, and experiences connecting wine lovers, producers, and hospitality professionals. The event highlights Black participation and creativity across the wine world.	Cape Town, South Africa
	December 26 – January 1, 2027 Kwanzaa Celebrations Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African heritage observed December 26 through January 1, built around the Nguzo Saba, its seven guiding principles from unity to faith.	Across America
	January 19, 2027 Martin Luther King Day of Service Established by the King Holiday and Service Act of 1994, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, mobilizing Americans to volunteer in their communities in the spirit of Dr. King.	Various

	January 29 – February 1, 2027 Zora Neale Hurston Festival First held in 1990 in historic Eatonville, one of America’s first self-governing Black towns, the ZORA! Festival honors author Zora Neale Hurston with concerts, exhibitions, and an academic conference on the Black experience.	Eatonville, FL
	February 2027 Black Joy Parade★ BAR Pick Black Joy Parade brings Oakland together for a vibrant celebration of Black culture, creativity, community, and collective joy. The annual gathering features a public parade and festival atmosphere centered on local expression, connection, and pride.	Oakland, CA
	March 7-10, 2027 Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit★ BAR Pick Marking its 20th anniversary in 2026, Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit has drawn over 1,500 executive women of color annually since founder Barbara Graves launched it in 2006.	Las Vegas, NV
	July 3-4, 2027 Fillmore Jazz Festival★ BAR Pick San Francisco’s Fillmore Jazz Festival celebrates the historic Fillmore District’s jazz legacy with live music and vendors along Fillmore Street.	San Francisco, CA
	(2027 date not yet announced) BET Experience Launched in 2013 as the live counterpart to the BET Awards, the BET Experience takes over L.A. Live each summer with arena concerts, celebrity panels, and fan activations celebrating Black music and entertainment.	Los Angeles, CA
	(2027 date not yet announced) National Forum for Black Public Administrators Founded in 1983, the National Forum for Black Public Administrators develops Black leadership in government; its annual FORUM convenes public-sector professionals for training, mentorship, and networking.	Philadelphia, PA
	(2027 date not yet announced) National Society of Black Engineers Convention★ BAR Pick NSBE’s Annual Convention is the largest gathering of Black engineering students and professionals in the country, held this year at the Baltimore Convention Center.	Baltimore, MD
	July 7-11 Alpha Phi Alpha Constitutional Convention★ BAR Pick Alpha Phi Alpha’s General Convention, the oldest Black intercollegiate fraternity’s flagship gathering, next convenes in Orlando in 2027.	Orlando, FL

	(Date not yet announced) Taste of Louisiana Festival The Taste of Louisiana Festival transforms Sugar Land’s Town Square Plaza outside Houston into a Louisiana street festival, bringing Cajun and Creole food, music, and culture to the Gulf Coast’s Louisiana transplant community.	Houston, TX
	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	New York, NY
	(Date not yet announced) African American Street Festival African American Street Festival celebrates Black culture, heritage, arts, and community traditions.	Nashville, TN
	(Date not yet announced) Hollywood Black Film Festival Founded in 1998 by Tanya Kersey and known as the ‘Black Sundance,’ the Hollywood Black Film Festival returned in 2025 after a six-year hiatus, spotlighting Black filmmakers over five days in Hollywood.	Hollywood, CA
	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Philadelphia, PA
	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Philadelphia, PA
	(Date not yet announced) BE Smart Hackathon Running since 2015, Black Enterprise’s BE Smart Hackathon brings 200 students from HBCUs together to build technology solutions over a weekend, doubling as a recruitment pipeline connecting emerging Black tech talent to major corporations.	Location TBA
	(Date not yet announced) ADCOLOR Awards★ BAR Pick Marking its 20th anniversary, ADCOLOR is the creative industries’ largest diversity conference, founded in 2005 by advertising veteran Tiffany R. Warren.	Location TBA

	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Brooklyn, NY
	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Brooklyn, NY
	(Date not yet announced) Western Region 2026 Urban Winterfest Presented by the National Brotherhood of Skiers, founded in 1975, Urban Winterfest brings Black skiers and snowboarders to Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly resort each January; the 2026 edition marks the group’s 50th anniversary.	South Lake Tahoe, CA
	(Date not yet announced) Healdsburg Jazz Winter Festival Presented by the nonprofit Healdsburg Jazz, founded in 1999, the Winter Festival brings rising and renowned jazz artists to intimate venues across Sonoma County wine country over four days each winter.	Healdsburg, CA
	TBD Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	Fort Worth, TX
	(Date not yet announced) AfrobeatsFEST 757 Presented by the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance and Norfolk State University, AfrobeatsFEST 757 brings Afrobeats artists and dancers to Hampton Roads, spotlighting the African diaspora’s fastest-growing sound.	Norfolk, VA
	(Date not yet announced) Gullah Celebration Held every February since 1996, the Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration is a month-long tribute to Gullah Geechee heritage, with art, storytelling, and Lowcountry culinary traditions across the island.	Hilton Head, SC
	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Greenville, SC

	(Date not yet announced) Pan African Film & Arts Festival★ BAR Pick Now one of the longest-running Black film festivals in the country, PAFF screens features, documentaries, and shorts from across the African diaspora in Los Angeles.	Culver City & Los Angeles, CA
	February 13-15(past event) NBA 2026 All-Star Experiences★ BAR Pick NBA All-Star Weekend lands at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, bringing the league’s marquee midseason showcase to Los Angeles.	Inglewood, CA
	4th Saturday of February International Pretty Brown Girl Day Founded in 2012 by Sheri and Corey Crawley, International Pretty Brown Girl Day is celebrated the fourth Saturday of February to build self-esteem in Black and brown girls, anchoring a movement of 85-plus self-esteem clubs nationwide.	Detroit and various cities
	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Miami, FL
	February 28 – March 7(past event) National Brotherhood of Snowsports Summit 2026★ BAR Pick NBS’s annual Summit unites the country’s Black ski and snowboard clubs for a week of racing, socializing, and building the sport’s Black community.	Keystone, CO
	March 12-15(past event) Black-Out Weekend Ski Event★ BAR Pick Black-Out Weekend brings Black skiers and snowboarders together at Lake Tahoe for a weekend built around winter sports and community.	South Lake Tahoe, CA
	(Date not yet announced) Jazz In The Gardens Festival Started in 2006 by founding mayor Shirley Gibson, Jazz in the Gardens has grown from a parking-lot event into a two-day, 60,000-person celebration each March in Miami Gardens, Florida’s largest majority-Black city.	Miami Gardens, FL
	(Date not yet announced) Berks Jazz Festival Berks Jazz Festival is a music and culture event with performances and related festival programming.	Reading, PA

	March 24-28(past event) National Association of Black Social Workers Conference Formed in 1968 out of the Civil Rights movement, the National Association of Black Social Workers convenes its annual conference with CEU workshops, healing circles, and programming grounded in service to the Black family and community.	Detroit, MI
	(Date not yet announced) Charlotte Jazz Festival Launched by Blumenthal Arts in 2016, the Charlotte Jazz Festival spreads jazz across the city with ticketed headliners, free neighborhood concerts, and New Orleans-style second-line parades.	Charlotte, NC
	TBD Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	Atlanta, GA
	TBD San Francisco International Film Festival San Francisco International Film Festival presents film screenings, filmmaker programs, and arts-focused events.	San Francisco, CA
	(Date not yet announced) New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival★ BAR Pick Jazz Fest brings decades of New Orleans musical tradition to the Fair Grounds Race Course, spanning jazz, blues, gospel, and Cajun music across multiple stages.	New Orleans, LA
	(Date not yet announced) St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival★ BAR Pick St. Lucia’s signature cultural event pairs world-class jazz performances with the island’s food, art, and heritage.	St. Lucia
	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Birmingham, AL
	Month of May Beale Street Music Festival The flagship of Memphis in May, the Beale Street Music Festival returns to Tom Lee Park in 2026 after a two-year pause, staging rock, blues, soul, and hip-hop acts on the banks of the Mississippi.	Memphis, TN

	(Date not yet announced) Barbados Gospelfest Established in 1993, Barbados Gospelfest is the Caribbean’s premier Christian music and arts festival, drawing gospel headliners like Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin to the island for a week of worship and concerts.	Barbados
	(Date not yet announced) Sweet Auburn Springfest Celebrating 40 years in 2026, Sweet Auburn Springfest is the Southeast’s largest free outdoor festival, drawing tens of thousands to Atlanta’s historic Auburn Avenue for music, food, and community across ten stages.	Atlanta, GA
	TBD Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Founded in 1984 by Lu Vason and named for the Black cowboy who pioneered steer-wrestling, the Bill Pickett Invitational is the country’s premier touring Black rodeo, celebrating Black cowboy culture across a multi-city season.	Fort Worth, TX
	(Date not yet announced) Umoja Festival Portsmouth Now in its fourth decade, Portsmouth’s Umoja Festival is one of the oldest African American cultural festivals in the country, filling the downtown Virginia waterfront with jazz, gospel, reggae, and R&B each May.	Portsmouth, VA
	(Date not yet announced) Original Gullah Festival Celebration Founded in 1986 by Rosalie Pazant and family to revive Beaufort’s Decoration Day traditions, the Original Gullah Festival draws over 40,000 people to the South Carolina waterfront for a celebration of Gullah Geechee art, food, and music.	Beaufort, SC
	(Date not yet announced) DanceAfrica Created in 1977 by Chuck Davis, DanceAfrica is America’s largest festival of African dance and BAM’s longest-running program, filling Brooklyn each Memorial Day weekend with performances and a 200-vendor outdoor bazaar.	Brooklyn, NY
	(Date not yet announced) Cancun Jumpoff Held every Memorial Day weekend for over a decade, the Cancun Jumpoff draws roughly 12,000 travelers to Mexico for the largest urban music and party weekend outside the U.S., spanning five days and 17-plus events.	Cancun, Mexico
	(Date not yet announced) Bayou Bon Vivant Bayou Bon Vivant transforms Norfolk’s Town Point Park into a weekend of Louisiana culture, serving crawfish, gumbo, and beignets alongside New Orleans musicians and a Cajun crafters’ market on the downtown waterfront.	Norfolk, VA

	(Date not yet announced) Atlanta Jazz Festival★ BAR Pick One of the largest free jazz festivals in the country, Atlanta Jazz Festival fills Piedmont Park with national headliners over Memorial Day weekend.	Atlanta, GA
	TBD Brooklyn Film Festival Brooklyn Film Festival presents film screenings, filmmaker programs, and arts-focused events.	Brooklyn, NY
	TBD Universoul Circus Universoul Circus is a music + culture event with public-facing programming and community activity.	Atlanta, GA
	(Date not yet announced) American Black Film Festival★ BAR Pick Celebrating its 30th anniversary under the theme “Homecoming,” ABFF remains the premier platform for Black film, from screenings to master classes, in Miami Beach.	Miami Beach, FL
	Juneteenth Juneteenth Celebrations Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops reached Galveston to enforce emancipation two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Made a federal holiday in 2021, it is now celebrated nationwide with parades, cookouts, and cultural programming.	Various Cities
	(Date not yet announced) Congressional Black Caucus Scholarship Classic The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Scholarship Classic pairs a golf tournament with networking to fund scholarships for more than 500 students nationwide who show leadership, community service, and academic promise.	Leesburg, VA
	(Date not yet announced) Baltimore Natural Hair Care Expo Founded in 2001 by master loctician Malaika Tamu-Cooper, Baltimore’s Natural Hair Care Expo is one of the longest-running events of the natural hair movement, now past its 24th year of workshops, demonstrations, and Black beauty-business vendors.	Baltimore, MD
	Nov. 28, 2026, 1:00 PM Bayou Classic Held annually in New Orleans, the Bayou Classic brings Grambling State and Southern together for a storied HBCU rivalry weekend. The experience extends beyond the game with marching bands, parade energy, alumni events, and Superdome-scale school pride.	New Orleans, LA

	Sept. 6, 2026 Orange Blossom Classic The Orange Blossom Classic opens the HBCU football season in Miami Gardens with a Labor Day weekend matchup, community events, and scholarship-focused programming. It combines game-day tradition, band energy, alumni pride, and South Florida destination appeal.	Miami Gardens, FL
	Nov. 21, 2026, 3:30 PM Florida Blue Florida Classic The Florida Blue Florida Classic brings Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman to Orlando for one of the country’s largest Black college football games. The weekend is built around rivalry tradition, alumni reunions, Battle of the Bands energy, and Central Florida destination appeal.	Orlando, FL
	Oct. 31, 2026, 2:30 PM Magic City Classic The Magic City Classic brings Alabama State and Alabama A&M to Birmingham for one of the nation’s largest HBCU events. The week surrounds the rivalry game with massive alumni energy, parade culture, tailgating, marching bands, and citywide celebration.	Birmingham, AL
	Oct. 3, 2026, 6:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM ET Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic The Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic renews one of HBCU football’s longest-running rivalries, bringing two historic private HBCUs together for a destination weekend in Montgomery. The event centers alumni pride, school tradition, and classic-game atmosphere.	Montgomery, AL
	Nov. 26, 2026, 2:00 PM Turkey Day Classic Hosted by Alabama State in Montgomery, the Turkey Day Classic is one of the oldest HBCU football traditions. The Thanksgiving Day matchup with Tuskegee anchors a holiday gathering built around alumni pride, family reunions, and Black college football history.	Montgomery, AL
	(Date not yet announced) Clark Atlanta Homecoming Clark Atlanta Homecoming brings Panthers alumni, students, and supporters back to Atlanta for an annual week of campus pride, reunion energy, and game-day celebration. It is a destination-worthy HBCU return built around school spirit, alumni connection, and Atlanta’s campus-community atmosphere.	Atlanta, GA
	(Date not yet announced) Florida A&M Homecoming Florida A&M Homecoming brings Rattlers alumni and fans back to Tallahassee for one of the country’s best-known HBCU homecoming traditions. The annual weekend blends campus pride, marching-band energy, alumni reunions, tailgating, and Florida A&M’s signature game-day culture.	Tallahassee, FL
	Oct. 11-18, 2026 Howard University Homecoming Howard University Homecoming turns Washington, DC into a Bison reunion week, pairing campus tradition with alumni gatherings, student events, music, culture, and game-day energy. It is one of the country’s most recognizable HBCU homecoming experiences.	Washington, DC

	(Date not yet announced) Jackson State University Homecoming Jackson State University Homecoming brings Tiger Nation back to Jackson for an annual celebration of school pride, alumni reunion, tailgating, and HBCU football culture. The weekend is anchored by Jackson State’s campus energy and its nationally recognized marching-band tradition.	Jackson, MS
	Oct. 10, 2026 Morehouse/SpelHouse Homecoming Morehouse/SpelHouse Homecoming brings Atlanta alumni culture together around Morehouse and Spelman’s shared homecoming season. The week blends campus events, reunion gatherings, tailgates, and HBCU game-day energy into one of Atlanta’s signature college weekends.	Atlanta, GA
	Oct. 25-Nov. 1, 2026 North Carolina A&T Homecoming (GHOE) North Carolina A&T Homecoming, widely known as GHOE, brings Aggie alumni, students, and visitors to Greensboro for a high-energy week of campus tradition, concerts, reunions, tailgates, and football. It is one of the most visible HBCU homecomings in the country.	Greensboro, NC
	(Date not yet announced) Texas Southern Homecoming Texas Southern Homecoming gathers Tiger alumni, students, and Houston’s HBCU community for an annual week of campus celebration, cultural programming, tailgating, and football tradition. The event’s destination appeal comes from its blend of school pride and Houston energy.	Houston, TX
	(Date not yet announced) Norfolk State Homecoming Norfolk State Homecoming brings Spartan alumni and supporters back to Norfolk for an annual celebration of campus pride, reunion gatherings, tailgates, and game-day culture. The weekend gives visitors a Black college homecoming experience with Hampton Roads energy.	Norfolk, VA
	(Date not yet announced) Tuskegee Homecoming Tuskegee Homecoming is a landmark annual return to the historic Tuskegee campus, bringing Golden Tigers alumni, students, and friends together for reunion events, tailgates, marching-band energy, and HBCU football tradition.	Tuskegee, AL
	Oct. 18-25, 2026 Hampton University Homecoming Hampton University Homecoming brings Pirates back to Hampton for a full week of campus pride, alumni reunion, student events, tailgating, and football tradition. The celebration pairs HBCU homecoming energy with Hampton’s historic campus and coastal Virginia setting.	Hampton, VA
	(Date not yet announced) Prairie View A&M Homecoming Prairie View A&M Homecoming gathers Panther alumni, students, and supporters for an annual return to The Hill. The weekend blends campus traditions, reunion energy, tailgates, and game-day celebration into a major Texas HBCU gathering.	Prairie View, TX

	Aug. 29, 2026 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off The MEAC/SWAC Challenge launches the HBCU football season in Atlanta with a neutral-site matchup between programs from two historic Black college conferences. The weekend pairs game-day excitement with alumni travel, fan-zone energy, marching-band culture, and kickoff-weekend destination appeal.	Atlanta, GA
	Dec. 12, 2026 Cricket Celebration Bowl The Celebration Bowl brings the MEAC and SWAC champions to Atlanta for HBCU football’s national championship stage. Championship-weekend events, stadium energy, alumni pride, and marching-band culture make it a destination gathering for Black college football fans.	Atlanta, GA
	Feb. 27, 2027 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl The HBCU Legacy Bowl showcases top draft-eligible HBCU football players while surrounding the game with career, culture, and community programming. The event gives Atlanta a postseason Black college football showcase with alumni, scouts, families, and fans.	Atlanta, GA
	(Date not yet announced) CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament The CIAA Basketball Tournament is a major HBCU conference tournament built around men’s and women’s championship play, alumni travel, fan celebrations, and citywide culture. Its appeal extends beyond the arena through reunions, social events, and a long-running Black college basketball tradition.	Baltimore / host city TBD, MD
	Nov. 5-7, 2026 HBCU First LOOK Film Festival HBCU First LOOK Film Festival brings HBCU storytellers, student filmmakers, alumni, and creative-industry professionals to Howard University for screenings, panels, and career-focused programming. It broadens HBCU destination culture beyond athletics with a film-and-media experience.	Washington, DC
	July 26-31 NAREB National Convention NAREB National Convention brings Black real-estate professionals, housing advocates, developers, and community leaders together for education, networking, and economic-development conversations. The Las Vegas gathering connects professional growth with a national focus on homeownership, housing opportunity, and community wealth.	Las Vegas, NV
	October 14-18 NOMA Annual Conference: The Leading Edge NOMA Annual Conference: The Leading Edge convenes architects, designers, students, and built-environment professionals for professional development, design exchange, and industry connection. The South Florida conference centers Black leadership and innovation across architecture, planning, and the places communities build.	Aventura, FL
	July 25-28 COMTO National Meeting & Training Conference COMTO National Meeting & Training Conference gathers transportation, infrastructure, and mobility professionals for training, leadership development, and national networking. The Washington, DC meeting highlights Black professionals and partners shaping how people and communities move.	Washington, DC
	July 24-28 NOBLE Annual Training Conference NOBLE Annual Training Conference brings public-safety leaders, civic-service professionals, and community partners together for training, leadership development, and national dialogue. The Dallas conference emphasizes professional excellence, equitable service, and stronger relationships between institutions and communities.	Dallas, TX
	October 7-9 NAHSE National Educational Conference NAHSE National Educational Conference convenes Black healthcare executives, administrators, emerging leaders, and industry partners for education, networking, and leadership development. The Los Angeles conference focuses on advancing professional excellence and representation across healthcare management.	Los Angeles, CA
	(2026 date not yet announced) AACUC Annual Conference AACUC Annual Conference brings credit-union leaders, finance professionals, and community-development advocates together for education, networking, and industry collaboration. The gathering centers leadership, financial inclusion, and the role of credit unions in building stronger communities.	Alpharetta, GA
	October 3 Truth and Service Classic Truth and Service Classic brings Howard and Hampton alumni, students, and fans to Washington, DC for a named HBCU rivalry game with classic-weekend energy. Set at Audi Field, the event pairs football tradition, alumni pride, marching-band culture, and destination appeal around the Battle of the Real HU.	Washington, DC
	November 2-6 AfroTech Conference AfroTech Conference is a major Black technology and business gathering built around founders, engineers, creators, recruiters, investors, and culture-shaping conversations. The conference draws a national audience for networking, career opportunities, startup energy, and destination-city programming.	Houston, TX
	April 27 – May 1 Black Is Tech Conference & Week Black Is Tech Conference & Week brings Black technologists, founders, students, recruiters, and creative professionals together in Houston for a multi-day technology experience. The week blends workshops, networking, recruiting, panels, and community events for the Black tech ecosystem.	Houston, TX
	(Date not yet announced) NAAAHR National Conference NAAAHR National Conference convenes Black human-resources leaders, business professionals, recruiters, and workplace-culture practitioners for professional development, networking, expo programming, and national leadership conversations. The Norfolk gathering adds a destination-conference option for Black professionals and organizations.	Norfolk, VA
	August 6-9 BlackStar Film Festival BlackStar Film Festival brings filmmakers, artists, and audiences together in Philadelphia for screenings, conversations, and programs centered on Black, Brown, and Indigenous storytelling. The festival creates a destination experience for independent cinema, creative exchange, and film culture.	Philadelphia, PA
	August 7-9 Invest Fest Invest Fest brings entrepreneurs, investors, creators, and professionals to Atlanta for a multi-day gathering focused on wealth-building, business growth, and financial education. The event blends practical learning, networking, and culture into a large destination experience for ambitious Black professionals and founders.	Atlanta, GA
	October 3-4 CultureCon Festival CultureCon Festival gathers Black and Brown creative professionals, entrepreneurs, and culture-makers in New York for conversations, workshops, networking, and community experiences. The festival connects career development with media, design, storytelling, and contemporary culture.	New York, NY
	November 30 – December 6 AfriKin Art Fair AfriKin Art Fair presents contemporary art rooted in African and diaspora perspectives across painting, sculpture, mixed media, and installation. The North Miami fair brings artists, collectors, and cultural audiences together for a destination week of visual art and exchange.	North Miami, FL
	June 1 – October 2 Art and the Beautiful Game: Africa on the World Stage Art and the Beautiful Game: Africa on the World Stage is a visual-art exhibition exploring football, identity, and Africa’s place in global culture. Presented at Maison AfriKin in North Miami, the exhibition uses contemporary artistic perspectives to connect sport, memory, movement, and the world stage.	North Miami, FL
	July 17-19(past event) Harlem Fine Arts Show Summer Festival Harlem Fine Arts Show Summer Festival brings artists, galleries, collectors, and art lovers to the Hamptons for a weekend centered on fine art by artists of African descent. The festival pairs painting, sculpture, collecting, and conversation with a distinctive summer destination setting.	Water Mill / Hamptons, NY
	October 29-30 Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium brings experienced managers and emerging executives together at National Harbor for leadership development, peer exchange, and practical conversations about advancing teams and organizations. The two-day gathering supports Black professional growth at a pivotal stage between individual contribution and senior leadership.	National Harbor, MD
	January 20-24 37th Annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance The 37th Annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance brings dancers, choreographers, educators, companies, and audiences to Chicago for a multi-day celebration of Black dance. The program combines professional development, performances, movement practice, and community exchange across the dance field.	Chicago, IL
	September 22-24 NAAIA National Conference NAAIA National Conference convenes Black insurance professionals, executives, and emerging leaders in Charlotte for industry education, networking, and leadership development. The conference creates space for career growth, business connection, and conversations shaping the future of insurance.	Charlotte, NC
	December 2-6 NABSE Annual Conference NABSE Annual Conference brings educators, administrators, advocates, and education leaders to Orlando for professional learning, policy conversation, and national networking. The gathering centers leadership and strategies that support Black students, schools, and communities.	Orlando, FL
	December 9-12 NCBMP Annual Conference NCBMP Annual Conference gathers Black meeting planners, hospitality professionals, suppliers, and destination partners in Louisville for education, networking, and industry collaboration. The conference highlights career development and business opportunity across meetings, events, tourism, and hospitality.	Louisville, KY
	July 29 – August 1 ABPsi Annual International Convention ABPsi Annual International Convention brings psychologists, mental-health professionals, scholars, students, and community practitioners to Baltimore for learning, research exchange, and culturally grounded wellness conversations. The convention centers Black psychology, professional development, and community well-being.	Baltimore, MD
	October 14-15 National Bankers Association Annual Conference National Bankers Association Annual Conference brings banking executives, financial leaders, and community-development professionals to Washington, DC for industry dialogue, networking, and leadership exchange. The conference focuses on strengthening Black-owned and minority-serving financial institutions and the communities they support.	Washington, DC
	August 19-22 National Business League Conference National Business League Conference brings Black entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals, and economic-development leaders to Atlanta for education, networking, and enterprise growth. The multi-day gathering connects established companies and emerging founders around opportunity, innovation, and Black business leadership.	Atlanta, GA
	September 10-12 VISION Conference VISION Conference convenes Black financial advisors, wealth-management professionals, and industry leaders in Washington, DC for professional development, networking, and practice-building conversations. The conference supports representation, leadership, and stronger pathways within financial services.	Washington, DC
	November 12-14 National Black Pre-Law Conference & Law Fair National Black Pre-Law Conference & Law Fair brings aspiring law students, legal educators, attorneys, and admissions representatives together across Cambridge and Boston for workshops, mentoring, networking, and law-school exploration. The multi-venue program supports informed pathways into legal education and the profession.	Cambridge and Boston, MA
	July 31 – August 3 NPhA \| SNPhA Annual Convention NPhA \| SNPhA Annual Convention brings pharmacists, pharmacy students, educators, and health-sector leaders to Rockville for professional learning, networking, and leadership development. The convention connects established and emerging professionals around pharmacy practice, service, and representation.	Rockville, MD
	October 22-24 SBAS Annual Meeting SBAS Annual Meeting brings surgeons, medical leaders, researchers, trainees, and students to New Brunswick for scientific exchange, professional development, and academic collaboration. The gathering advances Black leadership and representation across surgery and medicine.	New Brunswick, NJ
	July 24-27 BTN 40 Conference BTN 40 Conference brings Black theatre artists, educators, scholars, producers, and students to Winston-Salem for professional exchange, workshops, performances, and community building. The conference celebrates Black theatre practice while connecting generations across the field.	Winston-Salem, NC

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