French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) announced last week that Grammy Award-winning New Orleans native PJ Morton will headline the 2026 French Quarter Festival. Morton leads an expansive lineup of Louisiana talent including Bobby Rush and the Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars who are set to perform April 16 through 19.
Morton has not performed at French Quarter Festival since 2014, making his 2026 headlining appearance a highly anticipated homecoming. Since his last performance at the festival, Morton has earned multiple Grammy Awards and international acclaim while continuing to champion the rich musical traditions of his hometown.
“New Orleans raised me musically, spiritually and creatively,” said PJ Morton, a Grammy Award-winning artist. “I haven’t performed at French Quarter Festival since 2014, so returning to headline feels full circle. No matter where I go in the world, this city is home, and there’s nothing like bringing our music back to the community in a space that’s free and open to everyone.”
This year, the network of support behind French Quarter Festival is growing. FQFI announced that Airbnb has joined as a Music Performance Sponsor, supporting the more than 1700 Louisiana artists who will take the stage during the four-day celebration. Their sponsorship of French Quarter Festival builds on a larger citywide commitment, helping ensure that live music stays free and accessible to residents and visitors alike.
“New Orleans has a soul you can’t find anywhere else, and musicians are the heart of it,” said Nia Brown, Public Policy Manager at Airbnb. “We’re proud to support a festival that keeps this culture accessible and rooted in the community. Investing in live music is one way we can help support what makes this city so special.”
Airbnb joins a strong network of partners who help sustain the festival’s performance program. Cornerstone investments from longtime partners such as the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), American Federation of Musicians Local 174-496, the Helis Foundation, and the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation (NOTCF) play a critical role in ensuring musicians are compensated while performances remain free to the public.
Returning sponsor Mike’s Amazing will also support the festival’s music mission through its Mike’s Amazing Airstream Café in the Jax Brewery Lot. A curated Cuban-Creole menu will be served throughout the weekend, and 100 percent of proceeds from all Airstream sales will be donated to FQFI to support programming.
“Producing a free, four-day festival of this scale requires both community and corporate partnership,” said Emily Madero, President and CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. “From national brands to long-standing arts funders and local supporters, these investments ensure we can continue our mission of keeping the festival open to everyone.”
French Quarter Festival returns April 16-19, 2026. More than 1,700 local musicians are expected to perform during this year’s festival, reinforcing FQFI’s ongoing commitment to providing paid performance opportunities and sustaining New Orleans’ cultural economy. As traditional funding sources shift and production costs rise, FQFI invites community-minded individuals and organizations to participate through performance sponsorships or contributions of any amount.
Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville, Big Freedia, Cupid & The Dance Party Express Band, Dawn Richard, Hasizzle with TBC Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers, Charmaine Neville, Flabby Giz and The Wild Tchoupitoulas, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Sweet Crude, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Its Sons Partis Band, Deezle, Amanda Shaw, Preservation Brass, Kyle Roussel’s Church of New Orleans, Wendell Brunious, James Andrews, Erica Falls & Vintage Soul, The Soul Rebels, Jelly Joseph, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, George Porter Jr. & Running Pardners, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagles, Yusa & Mahmoud Chouki, Rebirth Brass Band, Bobby Rush, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Wanda Rouzan & A Taste of New Orleans and DJ RQ Away have been announced with others to be added.
The 2026 festival also features the work of official poster artist Anne Lipscomb, whose commemorative designs are currently available for presale online. Additional artist announcements and full culinary menus will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit frenchquarterfest.org.
