JAŸ-Z and The Roots set to headline Roots Picnic 2026 in Philadelphia

Listen up, Philly! JAŸ-Z is coming to the City of Brotherly Love this spring.

Organizers shared that the Grammy-award-winning rapper, record executive, producer, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur, along with Grammy-award-winning multi-platinum hip-hop luminaries The Roots, will headline the Saturday, May 30 date of the 2026 installment of the Roots Picnic.

This announcement comes days after organizers shared that this year’s popular event will move from the Mann Center to the Belmont Plateau.

This venue switch follows last year’s rocky start, when festivalgoers faced frustratingly long lines and entry headaches on day one.

Many people took to social media, claiming they waited hours to get inside and saying there was a lack of communication from organizers. The following day, organizers apologized and addressed concerns.

This year, organizers stated, “we heard you, new venue, better experience,” and outlined planned improvements based on attendee feedback.

Organizers said there will be an upgraded Roots Picnic app and SMS service that will allow better communication, an added second entrance to reduce lines and speed up entry, more Roots Picnic ambassadors inside and outside the festival and improved premium experiences for general admission and VIP ticket holders.

“Moving the Roots Picnic to Belmont Plateau and bringing JAŸ-Z and The Roots together to perform are both bucket-list moments for us,” Manager of The Roots and President of Live Nation Urban Shawn Gee said. “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.”

JAŸ-Z has close ties to Philadelphia. In the early 2000s, his record label Roc-A-Fella Records featured several Philadelphia artists, including Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk and Young Chris who were part of the hip-hop group State Property. Freeway’s 2002 single “What We Do,” which features JAŸ-Z and Beanie Sigel, is considered by many to be a Philadelphia anthem.

The rapper’s “Unplugged” album from 2001 also featured the Roots as his backing band.

JAŸ-Z also founded the Made in America Festival, a two-day music festival that was held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway every Labor Day between 2012 and 2022 except for 2020 in which it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roots Picnic will be held on May 30 and May 31, 2026. For more information, visit rootspicnic.com to get your pre-sale tickets.

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