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JAŸ-Z is making a grand comeback to the festival circuit this summer in honor of his 30th anniversary.
On Tuesday, March 17, The Roots and Live Nation Urban announced that the Roc Nation founder and The Roots will team up to headline the 2026 Roots Picnic. Hov and the Philly-based rap band will close out night one alongside more talented acts, which will be announced in the coming weeks. The two-day festival is happening May 30 and May 31 at the historic Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia. It's the first time in its 18-year history that the festival will be held at the venue inside West Fairmount Park.
"Moving the Roots Picnic to Belmont Plateau and bringing JAŸ-Z and The Roots together to perform are both bucket-list moments for us,” Shawn Gee, manager of The Roots and president of Live Nation Urban, said in a statement to iHeartRadio. “After meeting with Mayor Cherelle Parker and hearing her vision for Philadelphia 250, she truly inspired us to dream even bigger, and we’re grateful to her, Commissioner Susan Slawson, Jazelle Jones and everyone who helped make it happen. We can’t wait to see everyone in May at the Plat.”
This will be JAŸ-Z's first headlining performance since he and his wife, Beyoncé, wrapped up their "On The Run II Tour" in 2018. It will also be the first festival Hov has headlined since he hit the stage at his Made In America Festival in 2017. Fans have been wondering if JAŸ-Z will be performing to ring in the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Although this isn't being promoted as an anniversary show, we're sure he'll want to perform at least one or two songs from the album.
Presale tickets for Roots Picnic 2026 are on sale now, while general on-sale tickets begin tomorrow at 10 a.m.