PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Roots Picnic is back this year, but at a different venue. Instead of its longtime home at the Mann Center, organizers said the event is moving to the Belmont Plateau.
The festival will take place on May 30 and 31. Organizers announced Tuesday that Jay-Z will headline the first night.
Last year’s festival at the Mann was a rough one for attendees, marred by rain, show delays and long lines.
Organizers said they listened to fan feedback, and they’re taking a new step forward in 2026. It starts with the relocation to the Belmont Plateau.
Organizers said there will be two entrances to limit lines, and an app and text service to improve communication with attendees.
The Roots Picnic will be another major event this year for the city as it celebrates America’s 250th birthday.
Jay-Z’s own Philadelphia festival, Made in America, was canceled for the last three years in a row. The two-day Labor Day event on the Parkway started in 2012. Details about a 2026 festival have not been announced.