JAŸ-Z Announced as Headliner for 2026 Roots Picnic
The rap legend is taking the stage alongside the legendary Philly crew in May.
Questlove of The Roots with Jay-Z, August 29, 2006.
Photo by Stephen Lovekin/WireImage for Island Def Jam Music Group.
JAŸ-Z is headlining the 2026 Roots Picnic. The rap legend is scheduled to headline the May 30 date of the popular festival at Philadelphia’s Belmont Plateau. It will be his first performance with The Roots in over a decade. Organizers made the announcement on Tuesday, Mar. 17.
“Moving the Roots Picnic to Belmont Plateau and bringing JAŸ-Z and The Roots together to perform are both bucket-list moments for us,” says Shawn Gee, the Roots’ manager and president of Live Nation Urban, in a statement. “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.”
This marks JAŸ’s first festival appearance since he was a surprise guest at Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water, which took place in Virginia Beach in 2019. Last year, he made an appearance at Beyoncé’s final Cowboy Carter international tour date in Paris. There, he took the stage to perform “Crazy in Love,” “N****s in Paris” and “Drunk in Love.”
The news comes after this year’s Roots Picnic switched venues and has revamped its approach following customer complaints last year. There will be an upgraded Roots Picnic app and SMS service for better communication, and an added second entrance at the venue to reduce lines and speed up entry. There will also be more Roots Picnic ambassadors inside and outside the festival as well as improved premium experiences for general admission and VIP ticket holders.
The Roots famously backed Jay on his 2001 Unplugged special and album.
