A bid to establish a major music and culture festival over a Memorial Day weekend in 2026 has been granted by the Newport News City Council and amounts to $3.03 million.

City officials believe the event will enhance downtown revitalization and make the city known as a place where technology, culture, and business collide. International music, business, and technology leaders, giant-scale art installations, workshops, and hands-on technology displays are due to be part of the festival. Youth and community programming will be done prior to the actual Memorial Day weekend and subsequently after it.

According to Mayor Phillip Jones, the festival is one of the aspects of the competition that the city plans to join in the region to compete in terms of tourism dollars, with the city estimating over $3 million in terms of economic growth. 

“We are developing a future project in our city, and this is by strategically investing in economic development,” said Jones.

The city is collaborating with the Port Warwick Foundation to manage planning and Global Music Touring, which organizes large-scale festivals such as Cousinz Festival, to manage production.

The organizers claim that the festival is an attempt to unite leaders in commerce, culture, and technology, coupled with providing internationally focused musical artists, prominent thought leaders in the worlds of business and technology, and community leaders throughout the 757.

Other information and a citizen advisory commission will be released as the planning proceeds.