MATI Festival and Conference Announces 2026 Artist Lineup
The 6th annual music festival, July 17-19 in Grand Center Arts District features 100+ performances and presentations, including Wyclef Jean, Killer Mike, Zapp featuring Tuxedo, PJ Morton, Big Freedia, Destin Conrad, Moonchild, LA LOM and a special Thursday night kickoff concert at The Fabulous Fox with Jon Batiste.
MATI weekend ($109) and single day ($45+) passes on sale now. Jon Batiste MATI kickoff concert tickets on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
St. Louis, Mo. – March 24, 2026 – MATI (Music at the Intersection) Festival and Conference returns for its sixth year with a date move to July, new indoor-outdoor format, five main stages, an amped up free block party, and a continued focus on diverse, decades-spanning, St. Louis roots-inspired programming.
Headliners include singer, guitarist and former Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean; 4x Grammy winning rapper Killer Mike; legendary funk band Zapp featuring modern funk duo Tuxedo; 6x Grammy winning soul singer-songwriter PJ Morton; New Orleans bounce rapper Big Freedia; rising R&B artist Destin Conrad; neo-soul band Moonchild; and Latin instrumental trio LA LOM. New for 2026, MATI will kick off on Thursday night with a special concert at The Fabulous Fox (separate ticket required) featuring 8x Grammy winning singer, songwriter and composer Jon Batiste.
The festival also brings back Ferguson-born trumpeter Keyon Harrold, a 5x festival alumnus, as MATI Artist-in-Residence. Additionally, 2x Grammy winning percussionist Chris Dave will perform as MATI Artist-at-Large (meaning he will perform throughout the festival on a variety of other artists’ sets).
MATI weekend features more than 100 national, regional and St. Louis-based performances and presentations. With five main stages, including The Fabulous Fox Theatre (new), The Sovereign, The Big Top, Jazz St. Louis, and Sophie’s Artist Lounge. MATI is taking full advantage of Grand Center Arts District’s world-class music and art infrastructure to deliver a fully walkable indoor-outdoor summer festival experience.
“Grand Center is a top arts district in the nation,” said Chris Hansen, Executive Director of Kranzberg Arts Foundation. “As MATI continues to grow and evolve, we’re thrilled to welcome The Fabulous Fox Theatre and Jazz St. Louis as official festival main stages. Utilizing the existing infrastructure of world-class venues allows us to deliver a high caliber, fully walkable indoor-outdoor festival experience at an affordable price. And for those without a festival pass, the District is still for you. We’re going even bigger with the free community block party this year. Washington Avenue is coming alive, with rides, roller skating, art, music and more. MATI has something for everyone.”
July 17-19 MATI weekend passes start at $109 (all fees included) and are on sale at www.MATIstl.org or directly at www.MetroTix.com (or by phone 314-534-1111). MATI single day passes are also available, starting at $50 for Friday, $50 for Saturday and $45+ for Sunday (Sunday’s festival performances take place at The Fabulous Fox and pass cost is dependent on seat choice).
Thursday July 16th’s kickoff concert, MATI Presents Jon Batiste at The Fabulous Fox, is a separate ticket. MATI Members and 2026 passholders will receive special pre-sale access on Thursday, March 26. General public on sale starts at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 27. Tickets start at $65 and are available at www.FabulousFox.com or directly at www.MetroTix.com.
Artist Lineup
With a special focus on “St. Louis Made,” MATI pays homage to the city’s imprint on the American songbook, as well as the relationship St. Louis has with its Mississippi River roots. The festival aims to celebrate musical heritage, from the West African coasts to the Caribbean islands, up through the Mississippi Delta. MATI honors the giants who shaped genre and sound - across blues, jazz, soul, R&B, hip-hop and rock n' roll - as it also calls up and gives platform to a new wave of artists.
A majority of the lineup has direct ties to the St. Louis area. Trumpeter (and MATI Artist-in-Residence) Keyon Harrold is from Ferguson. During his Friday set, Harrold will be joined by fellow St. Louis natives, rappers AJ McQueen (born and raised in Wellston) and Tef Poe (Florissant). Quentenas Charles Beason (aka DJ Charlie Chan), the turn-tableist and DJ for legendary hip-hop group Run-DMC, is from University City. Before touring internationally with Run The Jewels, Gabe Moskoff (Trackstar the DJ) got his professional start at Washington University.
Other artists hail from the Caribbean, Mississippi Delta and sister river cities, from which St. Louis shares music and cultural roots. Sunday headliner Wyclef Jean was born in Haiti and often infuses his music with Caribbean rhythm and drums. Jon Batiste, PJ Morton, Big Freedia and Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band all hail from New Orleans. Saturday’s “Take Me To the River” set features a soul music supergroup from Memphis, including “Queen of Memphis Soul” Carla Thomas, record producer Boo Mitchell and Hi Records’ famed studio band, The Hi Rhythm Section.
Additional national acts are tied to St. Louis by musical genre. The influence of St. Louis-born or raised artists - like Chuck Berry, Tina Turner and Miles Davis - have had a lasting impact on the sounds of today. PJ Morton frequently honors St. Louis soul legend Donny Hathaway through covers and musical style. Jon Batiste cites Miles Davis as a major musical influence, relating with his artistic evolution and ability to traverse musical genres.
Also celebrating Miles Davis, Keyon Harrold and Chris Dave will host a special “Miles Jam” tribute on Saturday of MATI, celebrating what would have been the East St. Louis jazz legend’s 100th birthday in 2026.
The full MATI artist lineup is as follows:
Thursday, July 16 (separate ticket required)
MATI presents Jon Batiste at The Fabulous Fox
Friday, July 17
Zapp featuring Tuxedo; Moonchild; Destin Conrad; Nubya Garcia; Keyon Harrold feat. Rapsody, AJ McQueen, Tef Poe & DJ Charlie Chan; MAVI; DJ Spinderella; Natasha Diggs; Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band; Mississippi Knights feat. Steve Ewing, Brian Owens, Chris Turnbaugh, Miles Vandiver, Adam Hamsbrough & Brian Kazmarsik; Da Fellowship feat. Lamar Harris x Scooter Brown; iLLPHONiCS; Kendrick Smith Quartet; TreHitz; Paint Louis Presents: R.O.T.N.; Enoch Raavi & The Indigenous Groove; Anansi Spins; DJ Tone; Dr. Philgood; G. Wiz; DJ Soundz; DJ Kut
Saturday, July 18
Killer Mike; Big Freedia; LA LOM; The Motet Play Jamiroquai; The James Hunter Six; Take Me To The River Memphis Allstars feat. Carla Thomas, Boo Mitchell & The Hi Rhythm Section; Trackstar the DJ & Friends Takeover feat. Prince Paul, J.Rocc, House Shoes, Buck Rodgers, DJ Crucial, DJ Agile One, DJ Sinamin, Radic Hi-Fi, BIKO and Soopaman DJ Speed; Miles Jam hosted by Keyon Harrold & Chris Dave; Blvck Spvde & Friends feat. Dee Jazz, Josiah Burton & St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Elaine Anderson; Jazz St. Louis Global Alliance feat. Janet Evra, Claire Maue, Dawn Weber, Aska Maret, Juan Quesada, Hector Molina & Andrew Bethany; Nightchaser Presents: Le Frique Cirque with The House of Tucci, Icesis Couture, JOJO, Mark Lewis & a Menagerie of Acts; Al Holliday & The East Side Rhythm Band; Manos PanAmerica; Pernikoff Brothers; DJ Sha’Vierre; DJ LadyJock; DJ Bounce; DJ Nasty Nino
Sunday, July 19
Wyclef Jean; PJ Morton; Keyon Harrold feat. very special guest Andra Day, Chris Dave, Peter Martin, Sir Eddie C & Aida Ade
The 2026 lineup was chosen by a programming committee made of St. Louis tastemakers, industry leaders, musicians and event professionals - along with guidance from Artist-in-Residence Keyon Harrold.
MATI Festival Passes and Pricing
Thursday July 16th’s kickoff concert, MATI Presents Jon Batiste at The Fabulous Fox, is a separate ticket and not included in the MATI weekend pass. MATI Members and 2026 passholders will receive special pre-sale access on Thursday, March 26. General public on sale starts at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 27. Tickets start at $65 and are available at www.FabulousFox.com or directly at www.MetroTix.com.
July 17-19 MATI weekend passes start at $109 (all fees included) and are on sale at www.MATIstl.org or directly at www.MetroTix.com (or by phone 314-534-1111). MATI’s weekend GA pass includes select orchestra or balcony seating at The Fabulous Fox on Sunday, July 19 for festival headliner performances. Fans get to choose their seats at The Fabulous Fox, meaning early purchasers get dibs on best available. At purchase, festivalgoers can choose to upgrade to premium orchestra seating.
MATI single day passes are also available, starting at $50 for Friday, $50 for Saturday and $45+ for Sunday (Sunday’s festival performances take place at The Fabulous Fox and pass cost is dependent on seat choice).
MATI is partnering with Delux Magazine and offering a limited number of MATI Delux weekend passes for $299 that include festival access + admittance to a Delux x MATI private party at The Key on Friday, July 17; an automatic seat upgrade (premium orchestra seating) and a parking pass for The Fabulous Fox on Sunday, July 19; and a donation to support Delux Cares.
All MATI weekend and single day festival passholders will have access to indoor restrooms, air conditioned spaces, expanded seating, and lounge areas. MATI passholders will be able to come and go freely from the free community block party to the ticketed performance areas, showing their pass at security checkpoints to gain access to the five main stages.
Free Community Block Party and Conference
With a continued focus on accessibility and inclusivity, MATI’s outdoor community block party - connecting its five main stages down Washington Avenue - will be 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, carnival rides, pop-up fashion shows, mural and art exhibits, local vendors, tastes of St. Louis’ favorite culinary dishes and incentives to visit Midtown’s many bars, restaurants and retailers.
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).
Additional MATI partners include Laz Jazz Fest, LatinX Arts Network, Delux Magazine, Paint Louis (Paint Littles), Cinema St. Louis, Audacy, Poetry In Motion, Free4All, River City Outdoors, The Walls Off Washington, Metro Theater, Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), Big Brothers and Big Sisters and more.
“MATI is a celebration of St. Louis and we’re thrilled to have so many great community organizations on our production team,” said Hansen. “Delux Magazine and LatinX Arts Network are taking over The Key with two completely different and unique nights of music and dance. Laz Jazz is programming the Jazz St. Louis stage all weekend. River City Outdoors is presenting our new roller skating rink with DJs curation by G.Wiz. Paint Louis is bringing Paint Littles back, giving families a hands-on experience with art and graffiti. We have carnival rides, poetry, theater, film, multidisciplinary performances. 15 venues and stages. The MATI experience keeps growing.”
Friday and Saturday (July 17-18) at .ZACK, MATI’s annual thought leadership conference returns, providing free panels, keynote discussions and networking opportunities targeted at artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. With programming partners Evntiv, The Recording Academy, Cinema St. Louis and Audacy, anticipated conference topics include:
The Pitch Room - how to sell your idea to investors and decision-makers
How to Make Money as a Creative Entrepreneur - money-making mindsets from the region’s top creative entrepreneurs
Content Creator Playbook - how creators turn podcasts, TikTok, and Instagram into real brands
Crash. Learn. Rise. - real talk on entrepreneurship, mistakes and bouncing back even bigger
Cinema St. Louis Presents: ACTION! - inside the people and projects driving the St. Louis film industry + a screening of the best shorts of the St. Louis International Film Festival
What is Style? - from the stage to the boardroom—dressing with purpose.
CAM presents: The Brown Bag Art Lunch - an intimate lunch with St. Louis’ most influential artists and makers
Arch Grants presents: The Founders Lunch - a lunch Series with St. Louis’ top founders sharing stories from start-op to mega growth
Additional MATI conference details, topics and speakers - as well as forms to RSVP for the networking lunches - will be shared at www.MATIstl.org.
Join The MATI Movement
At checkout, MATI pass buyers will be prompted to donate and join the MATI Movement. The MATI Members program asks attendees to become patrons, helping ensure that the festival - created and funded by St. Louis non-profit and civic organizations - grows and thrives for generations to come.
As part of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, MATI is about more than entertainment. The festival and conference is about accessibility, community and ensuring the arts remain central to St. Louis’ identity, tourism and growth. MATI Member contributions go to fund:
Access for all. Last year, MATI provided more than 3,000 free festival tickets to community members who may not have otherwise afforded to attend.
Supporting artists. MATI fuels the work of musicians, visual artists and thought leaders. The event also creates job opportunities within the arts and entertainment sector of St. Louis, from performance to production.
Building community. The festival and conference ensures a space where ideas, creativity and connections thrive, establishing St. Louis as a premier arts and entertainment destination while building civic pride.
Fans can join the MATI Movement at a variety of levels, making them not only a generous patron of the St. Louis arts, but also a MATI Member with insider access to festival weekend and year-round programming (including a special MATI Members Brunch at Jazz St. Louis on Sunday, July 19 featuring Brothers Lazaroff), special perks, and more. Learn more at www.MATIstl.org.
Since its inception in 2021, MATI has grown in size and ambition year-over-year, garnering rave reviews from attendees, as well as attention from The Recording Academy and national press outlets - including PEOPLE, The Source, Billboard, Essence, VIBE, Ebony, Live for Live Music, SPIN and Forbes.
MATI is presented by Kranzberg Arts Foundation in partnership with Steward Family Foundation and The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis.
About MATI:
MATI is a civic-led effort presented by Kranzberg Arts Foundation in partnership with Steward Family Foundation and The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis. First held in 2021, the festival tells the story of St. Louis’ musical, cultural and artistic heritage. It celebrates the city’s imprint on the American songbook, as well as the relationship St. Louis has with its Mississippi River roots. The festival aims to celebrate musical heritage, from the West African coasts to the Caribbean islands, up through the Mississippi Delta. Music at the Intersection honors the giants who shaped genre and sound - across blues, jazz, soul, R&B, hip-hop and rock n' roll - as it also calls up and gives platform to a new wave of artists.
For updates and additional information, visit Music at the Intersection at www.matistl.org or follow the festival on social media: Facebook (www.facebook.com/matistlouis), Twitter (www.x.com/matistl), Instagram (www.instagram.com/matistlouis) and TikTok (www.tiktok.com/@matistl).