NOLAxNOLA 2026
New Orleans' live music scene will take center stage this fall as NOLAxNOLA returns for its sixth year. The annual concert series will take place from September 24 through October 4, bringing 11 days of performances to music venues across the city.
NOLAxNOLA, which stands for NOLA by NOLA, celebrates the musicians, venues, and culture that make up New Orleans' music scene. The event takes place across dozens of venues and features both local and national artists representing a wide range of genres. Rather than taking place at one festival ground, NOLAxNOLA gives music fans the chance to experience performances throughout different parts of the city.
The concert series first began in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, many of New Orleans' major festivals had been canceled, leaving musicians and venues without the usual crowds and opportunities that come with the city's festival season.
NOLAxNOLA founder Sig Greenbaum created the series as a way to bring people back into local venues and support the city's music industry. What began as a response to the challenges of the pandemic has since become an annual celebration of New Orleans music and the people and businesses behind it.
Over the years, NOLAxNOLA has expanded to include hundreds of performances across more than 50 music venues. Previous editions have also included NOLAxNoCover, which offers free performances throughout the city, as well as NOLAxNOLA Talks, a series of conversations focused on New Orleans music, culture, and the industry behind it.
What to See at NOLAxNOLA 2026
With more than 300 shows across over 50 venues, NOLAxNOLA 2026 will bring together a mix of New Orleans artists, special collaborations, and tribute performances.
Among this year's featured shows are two matinee performances featuring Irma Thomas and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The lineup will also include Erica Falls celebrating the music of Marvin Gaye and River Eckert's "Generations of Groove."
Other performances will bring different parts of the New Orleans music scene together. The Rumble will play P-Funk alongside DJ Soul Sister, while the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will join Tank and the Bangas for another featured show. Cyril Neville will also take the stage for "Cyril Neville Does the Dead."
Together, the featured performances offer a look at the range of music NOLAxNOLA brings to venues across the city from jazz and funk to orchestral collaborations and tributes.
NOLAxNOLA 2026 will run from September 24 through October 4 at venues throughout New Orleans. A complete and updated schedule of performances is available through the official NOLAxNOLA website.
