Artscape is turning the city up this year with a lineup blending legendary talent, hometown energy, and rising creatives across multiple genres.
The festival recently unveiled its 2026 main stage performers, with hip-hop icons The Roots headlining Saturday, May 23, while R&B legend Stephanie Mills is set to close out Sunday, May 24.
Known as one of the largest free arts festivals in the country, Artscape continues bringing together music, culture, visual art, dance, food, and community throughout Baltimore. This year’s lineup reflects a strong mix of established stars and emerging voices making waves in their respective spaces.
Saturday’s lineup features performances from The Roots alongside artists including Kindred The Family Soul, Brandon Woody, Frenchie Davis, Fulton Lee, and DJ Keebee. The legendary group, known for blending live instrumentation with hip-hop and soul, continues to influence generations of artists decades into their career.
Meanwhile, Sunday shifts into an R&B and soul-filled experience led by Stephanie Mills, whose timeless vocals and classic hits helped shape an era of Black music culture. Fans online immediately celebrated her addition to the festival, calling it a “full-circle moment” for the city’s older and younger generations alike.
The Sunday lineup also includes Black Assets, JXHN TYLXR, DJ Ty Alexander, April Watts, and Baltimore native Jess Carp, who recently announced her own return home for the festival.
Jess Carp’s inclusion on the lineup marks another major moment for the Atlanta-based producer, artist, and DJ, who has worked with names like Nicki Minaj, Kevin Gates, Rich Homie Quan, and Blac Youngsta while continuing to build her own brand.
Social media reactions to the lineup have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising Artscape for honoring both legendary acts and local talent instead of relying solely on mainstream chart names.
Beyond the performances, Artscape remains an important cultural staple for Baltimore — creating opportunities for independent creatives, vendors, musicians, and community organizations to connect directly with audiences in a large-scale public setting.
As anticipation builds, many attendees are already calling this one of the festival’s strongest lineups in recent years.
And with icons like The Roots and Stephanie Mills sharing the same festival space as emerging artists and hometown creatives, Artscape 2026 feels less like just another event — and more like a celebration of culture across generations.
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