Faqs
MATI FAQ
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Musical performances start daily at 5 p.m. and run into the evening, as late as 1 a.m. The free community block party on Washington Avenue runs from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The MATI Conference takes place at .ZACK during the day, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
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On Friday and Saturday, music goes until 11 p.m. on the block party stages and at The Big Top. Late night sets go until 1 a.m. at Sovereign and Sophie's. On Sunday (Fabulous Fox Theatre only), music is expected to go until 10:30 p.m.
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Friday. Saturday. Sunday (July 17-19). Your MATI weekend pass includes access to all performances across all MATI stages, including The Fabulous Fox, The Big Top, The Sovereign, Jazz St Louis and Sophie's Artist Lounge. Plus, you can attend MATI Conference sessions and enjoy all the MATI block party fun happening up and down Washington Avenue.
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MATI weekend passes are $129 (Tier 3 pricing). A limited number of MATI Friday and Saturday single-day passes are on sale for $60 (Tier 3 pricing). MATI Sunday single-day passes start at $45 and price is dependent on seat selection at The Fabulous Fox.
MATI Delux weekend passes are $299.
Attending the MATI community block party (5 p.m. - 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday) is free.
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Sunday's festival finale shows (Wyclef Jean, PJ Morton and Keyon Harrold feat. Andra Day and more) are at The Fabulous Fox and are included in your MATI weekend pass. You'll select your Fox seat at checkout.
Thursday's kickoff concert at The Fabulous Fox with Jon Batiste is not included in the MATI pass. A separate ticket is required.
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In partnering with The Fabulous Fox Theater for MATI weekend, an idea arose to also host a Thursday night kickoff concert. Jon Batiste wanted to be a part of MATI, so adding him as the Thursday night concert was the perfect fit. Making it a separate ticket allows MATI to present someone of Batiste’s caliber as a part of the festival while also keeping the cost of a general MATI weekend festival pass low.
Purchase your Jon Batiste ticket
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Yes! A limited number of single day passes are available. Passes for Friday or Saturday are $60. The cost of Sunday's pass depends on your seat choice at The Fabulous Fox. Tickets are also available for Thursday's kickoff concert with Jon Batiste at The Fabulous Fox, starting at $65.
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MATI 2026 has a Delux Weekend Pass - in partnership with Delux Magazine.
The Delux Weekend Pass includes:
One (1) MATI Delux Weekend Pass
Access for one (1) to the MATI x Delux present: Mannie Fresh private party at The Key on Friday, July 17
Automatic seat upgrade at The Fabulous Fox on Sunday, July 19
One (1) parking pass for The Fabulous Fox on Sunday, July 19
A portion of your ticket goes to support Delux Cares
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Yes, the following events are not included in your MATI pass and require a separate / special ticket:
Thursday, July 16 - MATI presents: Jon Batiste at The Fabulous Fox
Friday, July 17 - MATI x Delux present: Mannie Fresh at The Key
Sunday, July 19 - MATI presents: Brothers Lazaroff Album Release Brunch at Jazz St. Louis
Learn more
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MetroTix will issue MATI digital passes a few weeks before the festival. Attendees should see them in their email inboxes prior to July 1, 2026.
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NFC tickets are digital tickets that live in your Apple or Google Wallet and can be tapped to the ticket scanner instead of scanning a QR code. When you receive your MATI mobile pass email, download the passes to your Apple or Google Wallet.
When you arrive at MATI, you will see a “Hold Near Reader” message letting you know your pass is ready to tap. If you have an Android phone, be sure to go to your phone settings and turn NFC service on before arriving to the festival. If you have an Apple phone this setting will automatically be turned on.
When you tap your phone against the scanner, the scanner will flash green to indicate your pass was successfully scanned and you may enter.
Note: if you purchased multiple passes, we highly recommend transferring extra passes to your guests prior to the festival. Passes will be rescanned (and rescanned) at each main stage, as you move between The Fabulous Fox, The Sovereign, The Big Top, Jazz St Louis and Sophie's Artist Lounge.
Learn more here -
If you don't have access to a smart phone, printed passes (that can be scanned by NFC readers) can be provided for you at either MATI box office location.
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Passes can be transferred online only though your MetroTix account. Once you are logged into your online account, select ‘Transfer’ or the ‘Transfer Tickets’ icon.
Learn more here:
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No, passes are digital and connected to your phone. Once your pass is scanned at a MATI main stage, it can no longer be transferred to someone else.
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For questions regarding your passes please contact MetroTix.
314-534-1111 or 800-293-5949 (Daily 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST)
OR
https://www.metrotix.com/contact-info/
OR, weekend of, visit either of the MATI Box Offices starting at 4 p.m. - located at the Fabulous Fox Theatre and the Walls Off Washington Market (3333 Washington). There will also be a box office open at .ZACK at 10 a.m. (Friday and Saturday only) to accommodate conference attendees.
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Yes! MATI’s outdoor community block party is free and bigger than ever in 2026. MATI is activating Grand Center Arts District with live music (including DJ Spinderella and Natasha Diggs), a performance art stage, a roller skating rink, pop-up fashion shows, mural and art exhibits, local vendors, tastes of St. Louis’ favorite culinary dishes and more.
Some special events are free - including The Soul of St Louis on Saturday, July 18 at The Grandel Theater; and Barrio: A Latin Music Experience on Saturday, July 18 at The Key
The MATI Conference is also free to attend (RSVP required).
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MATI is family friendly. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. On Friday and Saturday (July 17-18), children under 12 years old are free. Children are not free on Sunday due to assigned seating at The Fabulous Fox.
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Yes! Friday and Saturday (July 17-18). MATI’s annual thought leadership conference returns, providing free panels, keynote discussions and networking opportunities targeted at artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Attending the Conference is free but requires a RSVP. See additional details at
MATIstl.org/conference
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RSVP to MATI Conference panels, networking lunches and keynotes via MetroTix (RSVPs are free, but there is a small processing charge). Learn more at
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With the new indoor main stages format (The Fabulous Fox Stage replacing the Field Stage), weekend pass sales are capped at a lower capacity for 2026. We encourage fans to purchase their MATI passes early and in advance. MATI's outdoor community block party will be big, free and open to everyone.
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The summer is hot, but we'll stay cool, rocking out in air conditioned and shaded MATI main stages - The Fabulous Fox, The Big Top, Sovereign, Jazz St Louis and Sophie's Artist Lounge. The free community block party also kicks off later, at 5 p.m. daily, as the sun is setting.
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Washington Avenue and surrounding streets will be full of vendors, food trucks, pop-up performances and sponsor activations. MATI will have a performing arts stage at Washington and Leonard; a roller skating rink; live fashion shows by GENT; circus performances by Circus Harmony; and poetry readings by Poetry in Motion. The festival block party will also have a variety of family-friendly activities, including Paint Littles and Canvas for Kids.
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Yes! In partnership with Frizz Fest - Frizzy By Nature’s Blooming Business Market will line Washington Avenue with local small businesses and artisans, featuring handcrafted jewelry, stunning art, unique fashion, beauty essentials, community resources, delicious food, and so much more. Guests will enjoy a dynamic and lively shopping experience, running Friday and Saturday (July 17-18).
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No, the festival will take place rain or shine, so please plan accordingly. While the free community block party takes place outdoors, all of the main stages are indoors / under shelter.
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Yes, you may leave the festival grounds and re-enter at a later time on the same day. The block party is free. MATI passes will be scanned at main stage entry points.
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Yes, there are food trucks and on-site food and beverage providers.
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Yes, all major credit cards are accepted.
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Parking garages, parking lots and street parking is available throughout Midtown. Grand Center and SLU's parking garages will be accessible. We also encourage attendees to utilize Metro Transit and ride sharing.
MATI Delux Weekend pass holders receive a parking pass for The Fabulous Fox on Sunday, July 19
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Read about the impact and benefits of your MATI Members patronage at
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Security and safety are of the utmost importance. We work hand-in-hand with relevant city law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies to help in the safety of our event. Because of those very same concerns, we are unable to publicly comment on any specific actions that are taken.
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MATI is a fully accessible event, and we are dedicated to continually improving our efforts to ensure you have access to all the festival amenities. We welcome and encourage all feedback and suggestions from our patrons. For any accessibility-related questions please email us at info@matistl.org. We will do our best to help you have an awesome experience.
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Yes, but lawn chairs are not allowed inside indoor venues (The Sovereign, Jazz St Louis, Sophie's Artist Lounge)
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No, coolers of any kind are not allowed on the festival grounds.
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No outside food or beverages of any kind can be brought into the festival. That said, an empty, reusable clear, water bottle, hydration packs, and camel backs may be brought in and refilled at the many hydration stations throughout the festival grounds.
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CLEAR plastic/vinyl tote bags no larger than 12” x 6” x 12” and/or small clutch bags, purses or fanny packs (4.5”x 6.5”) will be permitted. The small clutch bags, purses or fanny packs do not need to be clear. No full-sized backpacks may be brought into the festival.
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Yes, but only non-aerosol sunscreen containers, 3.4 ounces or less.
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Only certified service animals are allowed onto the festival grounds. Guests will be asked to present their service animal's paperwork before admittance to festival grounds.
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Small personal point-and-shoot cameras are allowed, but professional DSLR cameras are not permitted in main stage areas. Video cameras are strictly prohibited (unless you are working press with a festival-issued credential). Video recording any performance on any device is also prohibited.
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Vendor applications are closed for 2026. Please keep an eye on MATI social channels and website for future opportunities.
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MATI's call for volunteers is closed for 2026. Please keep an eye on MATI social channels and website for future opportunities.
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Please email Beth Hoops at beth@midcoast.media for all press requests. A credential request form is located on the Newsroom at
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Streets - with Washington Avenue as the primary festival footprint - will close at 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 16th and reopen on Monday, July 20th at 7:00 a.m.
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Please visit our contact page for any questions not addressed on this website.