PHILADELPHIA — Organizers announced March 20, 2026, that Jay-Z and Erykah Badu will headline the 2026 Roots Picnic at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia. The festival will take place May 30-31, 2026.

Jay-Z will headline the opening night of the festival on May 30, 2026. Erykah Badu is scheduled to perform on May 31, 2026, the second and final day of the festival.

The 2026 Roots Picnic will take place at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia. Before 2026, the festival was held at the Mann Center in Philadelphia.

The festival lineup features the artists Kehlani, Brandy, T.I., Mariah the Scientist, De La Soul, Corinne Bailey Rae, DESTIN CONRAD, KWN, Bilal, and Sasha Keable.

The festival will feature a J. Period live mixtape set with Wale and Roots co-founder Black Thought as part of special programming. DJ Jazzy Jeff's Magnificent Block Party will be part of the festival's special programming. The festival's special programming will include a Jermaine Dupri & Friends showcase.

The festival will include a tribute to the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack curated by Adam Blackstone and featuring Yolanda Adams, Ledisi, Tamar Braxton, and Andra Day. The festival will feature a 50th anniversary celebration of Go-Go music presented by Baller Alert and Front Porch and hosted by Noochie and Kenny Burns.

Between sets, DJs including Funk Flex, DJ Diamond Kuts, DJ Cash Money, DJ Doc B, and DJ Miss Milan will perform throughout the festival weekend.