The 2026 Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival
The Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival is coming up at the end of May, bringing historically local sounds to the city and celebrating the indigenous Cajun and Zydeco traditions of Southwest Louisiana.
Event Details
The festival will take place May 30 and May 31, with doors opening at 2 p.m. and performances taking place from 3 to 8:30 p.m. The George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center is hosting the event, and admission is free and open to the public.
RSVP is available online, and the event will even be live-streamed. Parking is located around the Tremé neighborhood and in the Historic Saint Augustine Catholic Church parking lot. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation asks that guests are mindful not to block neighborhood driveways. They also ask for no audio or video documentation of any of the performances.
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation is the organization behind the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, bringing other popular events to the city such as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
The event features two food options, with menus being released in the near future: Cochon King BBQ and Valerie's Snowballs.
Schedule
Saturday, May 30
(3 to 4 p.m.) Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse
(4:30 to 5:30 p.m.) Babineaux Sisters
(6 to 7 p.m.) Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie
(7:30 to 8:30 p.m.) Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
Sunday, May 31
(3 to 4 p.m.) The Revelers
(4:30 to 5:30 p.m.) Kelli Jones, Chris Segura, Blake Miller, & Elise Riley - A Feufollet Retrospective
(6 to 7 p.m.) Pine Leaf Boys
(7:30 to 8:30 p.m.) Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band
What is Zydeco?
Zydeco music originated from the Creole culture cultivated by French-speaking African Americans in Southwest Louisiana. It is also known as Black Creole dance music and incorporates R&B, soul, and blues elements.
Due to the diverse conglomeration of cultures in Louisiana, dating back as early its founding, zydeco synthesized the traditions of French, African American, and Creole music.
