NOLA Funk Fest 2026

Set times for all four stages, plus nighttime music across New Orleans

NOLA Funk Fest returns to Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park on October 16, 17 and 18, three days of funk, brass, Cajun and zydeco on the riverfront next to Audubon Aquarium. The full set times are below. New Orleans venues also program shows to coincide with the festival, and NOLA.Show tracks those listings alongside it.

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NOLA Funk Fest 2026 Dates & Times

When is NOLA Funk Fest 2026?

Will Call and the ticket booths open at 10:00 AM each day. Gates open at 11:00 AM, an hour before the first set.

View all NOLA Funk Fest nighttime shows ↓

Where is NOLA Funk Fest held?

Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park in downtown New Orleans, on the Mississippi River next to Audubon Aquarium. The grounds include the Audubon Aquarium Plaza.

How do I get tickets?

Single-day, multi-day and VIP tickets are sold through Eventbrite. Funky Uncle is the highest VIP tier and covers the ticketed Cajun Village sessions. Individual-day Funky Uncle tickets are sold out; three-day passes may still be available.

What about parking, bags and accessibility?

The festival runs its own help center covering parking, the bag check policy, prohibited items, ADA access, re-entry, and bringing children. That is the authoritative source for festival logistics: see the NOLA Funk Fest help center. Note that the festival is rain or shine and tickets are non-refundable.

Day-by-Day Schedule

All four stages, Friday through Sunday. Use the search box to find an artist across all three days. Times shown are New Orleans time.

Nighttime Shows

Why do nighttime shows matter?

The festival grounds are only part of the weekend. New Orleans venues program shows to coincide with NOLA Funk Fest: touring artists playing intimate club sets, local legends filling their regular rooms, and one-off collaborations you will not see again. Big theatres like the Orpheum, the Saenger and the Fillmore, local institutions like Tipitina's, Chickie Wah Wah and the Maple Leaf, and dozens of smaller rooms all book around a festival weekend.

These shows often sell out or pack the room, especially for artists who played the festival earlier that day. Knowing what is on and where gives you a real advantage.

Where can I find live music at night in New Orleans?

These neighborhoods and venues reliably book around a festival weekend. All are included in our listings by venue. Hot tip: The NOLA.Show app has a handy "Nearby" feature, so when you are out at night you can find shows within a 10 to 15 minute walk (or drive). Download for iOS or Android.

Frenchmen Street: This stretch in the Marigny has gotten more touristy over the years, but the scene is lively and the rooms are close together. Snug Harbor is the old-school intimate club for straight jazz (like a smaller Blue Note). The Blue Nile, d.b.a. and Maison all book heavily on festival weekends. It is a 15 minute walk from the riverfront.

French Quarter: Closest to the festival grounds. Preservation Hall for traditional jazz (advance tickets absolutely mandatory). Toulouse Theater and the House of Blues both book touring acts, and the House of Blues has a smaller, more intimate room in The Parish. The clubs on Bourbon Street are more tourist-oriented and we generally do not list them, although Mayfield's 208 is an exception.

Uptown: Tipitina's hosts marquee shows and is worth the trip. Maple Leaf Bar is a local institution. Le Bon Temps Roule has live music late most nights. Carrollton Station hosts good local acts, and Gasa Gasa books indie and experimental.

Marigny and Bywater: Siberia, Saturn Bar and No Dice sit on the St Claude Arts Corridor and book local and touring acts. BJ's Lounge and Vaughan's Lounge feature top-shelf local acts you are unlikely to see elsewhere. Look out for smaller bars with regular live music, like Okay Bar.

Mid-City: Chickie Wah Wah brings in national acts and is a small, intimate room to see them in. The Broadside has an outdoor stage and an indoor pavilion, and books a mix of local and touring acts.

Do I need tickets for nighttime shows?

On a festival weekend, venues that are usually free will often charge a cover, and popular rooms on Frenchmen Street can have lines out the door. Arrive early for shows you care about, or buy in advance where you can. Most of our listings link to the venue so you can buy online.

Should I tip the band?

Yes. Many of these shows are at small venues where musicians depend on tips. If you are enjoying "free" music, or even if you paid a cover and are having a great time, put something in the tip jar. A lot of tip jars have Venmo QR codes now.

Stay Updated

We update our listings daily as venues announce shows. Bookmark our recently added page to see what is new, or check the main calendar filtered to your dates.

See you on the riverfront, and remember to tip the band.