Mayor Brandon Scott on Thursday announced the 2026 dates for Baltimore’s major festivals and cultural events, including a third day of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the AFRAM festival.
“Festivals in Baltimore are like the Holy Grail of Baltimore,” he said at a City Hall press conference. “If you want to see Baltimoreans get mad, try to not have one of their festivals, as I learned during COVID when we didn’t have Artscape.”
Scott said all of the “largest and most beloved cultural events” in the city will take place in essentially the same locations where they were last year and announcements about headliners will be made closer to the events. The biggest change from this year, he said, is the extra day for AFRAM.
The lineup includes:
Dec. 31, 2025 to Jan. 1, 2026: New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Inner Harbor, with vendors, ice skating and family-friendly programming starting at 6 p.m., live entertainment along the harbor promenade, and a fireworks display at midnight. Fireworks barges will be positioned between Point Park and the Domino Sugar plant and in the Inner Harbor Channel to ensure optimal views for crowds on both the north side of Baltimore’s harbor and around Federal Hill.
Jan. 19, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.: The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment and Charm TV are partnering with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to present “Symphony in the City,” honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The program includes performances by the BSO, led by Music Director Jonathon Heyward, and the Morgan State University Choir, under the direction of Eric Conway.
Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day): Black History Month Parade, marking the 100th anniversary of Black History Month celebrations nationwide. Applications details are available at https://www.baltimorecity.gov/bhm2026.
May 23 and 24, 2026 (Memorial Day weekend): The Artscape festival, located in and around War Memorial Plaza and the area where the Baltimore Farmers’ Market is held.
June 19, 20 and 21, 2026: The AFRAM festival in Druid Hill Park, celebrating its 50th anniversary and aligning with the Juneteenth holiday weekend.
June 26 to July 4, 2026: The SAIL250 Maryland and Air Show Baltimore extravaganza of maritime and aerial events marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, at locations in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
July 11 and 12, 2026: The Baltimore Caribbean Carnival in Druid Hill Park.
Sept. 12 and 13, 2026: The Baltimore Book Festival in Waverly.
Sept. 19, 2026: Charm City Live at War Memorial Plaza.
One reason Scott announces the dates for Baltimore’s major events far ahead of time is to let organizers of smaller events in the city know when they are so they can coordinate their schedules and not pick dates that compete with the big events that need extra city services.
To support organizers planning ahead for these major events, officials say, the city will launch its updated public-facing special events calendar on Jan. 1, 2026. The new system introduces designated “Non-Permit Dates” – dates when the city won’t issue permits for certain events because city services will be devoted to the major events – as a way of helping community organizers align their events with city service availability.
“Baltimore is home to the best festivals and events in the entire country, and this year will be even bigger and better,” Scott said. “I want to thank our partners, both from our city agencies and the community, who work with us to make these events a success. I hope to see all of Baltimore joining us all year long to uplift local artists, enjoy great music, and come together to celebrate everything that makes us Charm City.”
