The JAMBALOO Festival is set to return for its second year, running from February 7 to February 15, 2026, across a significantly expanded footprint in Dallas and Fort Worth. This year’s festival will feature 14 venues and nearly 30 free performances, along with the introduction of new late-night events and enhanced community programming.
Notable performers already confirmed include Tripping Daisy, Low Cut Connie, and Catie Adams, with the complete lineup expected to be revealed in January. The festival builds on JAMBALOO’s commitment to providing free and accessible live music and aims to further establish itself as a vital cultural platform in North Texas.
With substantial growth anticipated, the festival reflects a deeper commitment to fostering creative infrastructure, mental health support, arts education, and the independent music scene in the region. Joe Morrison, co-founder of JAMBALOO and an attorney at Mullen and Mullen Injury Law, emphasized the festival’s dual focus on celebration and community support, stating, “Last year’s debut showed us how hungry the community was for a festival like JAMBALOO, and how many areas still need support behind the scenes.”
Innovative Programming and Community Focus
A highlight of the 2026 festival will be the return of The JAMBALOO Symposium, scheduled to begin on February 7 at Tulips in Fort Worth. This event will feature discussions on current music trends, the challenges facing independent venues, and strategies for enhancing the music ecosystem in the DFW area. The evening will conclude with a special performance by Cole Cuchna, host of the Dissect podcast, who will analyze select Radiohead songs, followed by a live set from the Austin-based tribute band Paranoid Androids. The Symposium will be recorded and live-streamed for broader access.
This year also marks the debut of JAMBALOO After Hours, a series of late-night events dedicated to vinyl culture and DJ performances. This programming includes three nights at LadyLove Lounge, a takeover by Josey Records featuring Mark Farina and his Mushroom Jazz Experience, and a Valentine’s Night event with Kenny Dope at Deep Ellum Art Co.
A significant aspect of the 2026 festival is its ongoing partnership with Amplified Minds, a North Texas nonprofit that has provided mental health support to over 4,000 individuals in the creative community over the past decade. In response to the growing demand for accessible mental health care, Amplified Minds will host a dedicated panel featuring musicians and mental health leaders, along with year-round workshops and community programs designed to support artists and gig workers.
Celebrating Future Talent
The festival will conclude with a special event titled BOOKER T. LIVE x JAMBALOO at the Granada Theater on February 15. This collaboration with Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts will showcase performances by current students and alumni, celebrating the legacy of influential artists such as Norah Jones and Erykah Badu. This showcase not only marks the end of the weeklong festival but also highlights the importance of nurturing the next generation of talent in the North Texas music scene.
RSVPs for the festival will open on January 14, 2026, at noon CST via JAMBALOO.live. A full schedule, lineup updates, and details on securing attendance will be available then.
JAMBALOO began as a festival in 2025 and has since evolved into a year-round initiative dedicated to supporting the North Texas music ecosystem. In its inaugural year, JAMBALOO introduced the $20,000 Venue Prize to assist independent venues and the $20,000 JAMBALOO Music Prize, which has quickly become one of the largest local album awards in the country. Submissions for the 2026 Music Prize will remain open until January 4 at jambaloo.live/music-prize.
The 2026 festival is produced with support from Mullen and Mullen Injury Law, Amplified Minds, the Dallas Music Office, the Fort Worth Music Office, KXT, WFAA, Do214, Josey Records, Prekindle, Luminous Sound, and various regional cultural partners. As JAMBALOO continues to grow, the festival is poised to make an even greater impact on the local music landscape.
