Blues Festivals Calendar 2026-2027

The world's largest gathering of blues musicians. 200+ acts from 40 countries compete on Beale Street. Founded by Blues Foundation. Winners get gigs at major festivals worldwide.

Not pure blues, but the Blues Tent is legendary. 500,000+ attend. Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Samantha Fish regulars. Started 1970. Gospel, blues, zydeco, brass bands.

Largest free blues festival in the world. Grant Park. 500,000 attend over 3 days. Started 1984. Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters tribute stages. Headliners + local Chicago legends.

Where Stevie Ray Vaughan got booed in 1982, then became a star. B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy played here. Lake Geneva. Founded 1967. Most prestigious in Europe.

Where Dylan went electric in 1965. Muddy Waters played 1960. Mississippi John Hurt was rediscovered here. Founded 1959. Fort Adams State Park. Sold out every year.

150,000 attend. 1,000+ musicians. B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa regulars. 15 stages. Founded 1976.

Mountain town at 8,750 ft elevation. Gary Clark Jr., Samantha Fish, Taj Mahal played here. 170+ craft beers. Founded 1994. Limited to 10,000 tickets.

Named after King Biscuit Time radio show — longest-running blues radio show in history. Started 1986. On the Mississippi River. B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray played here. Pure Delta.

450,000 attend over 2 weekends. Not pure blues but Gary Clark Jr., Taj Mahal, Samantha Fish always play. Zilker Park. Founded 2002. One of biggest US festivals.

Co-owned by Morgan Freeman. Juke joint in the Delta. Hosts Juke Joint Festival every April. Live blues 7 nights a week. Where Kingfish got his start. Pilgrimage site.