Locust Street Festival 2026: Schedule, music lineup and more info

The Locust Street Festival — oops, sorry, I mean the Locust Street Festival of Music and Art — is back!

Of the many events that claim to be “the kickoff to festival season in Milwaukee,” this one might be able to make the best case. It has time on its side, with this year’s celebration on May 31 being the 47th annual. It has multiple stages of music featuring dozens of artists. It has the necessary collection of food/drink vendors and local craftspeople/businesses selling their wares.

Add it all up, and you’ve got more than enough to fill the schedule, which will start once again at 11:30 a.m. Sunday with the Locust Street Beer Run. The 1.6-mile jaunt through Riverwest begins at the corner of Locust and Booth streets, and includes four beer stops: Nessun Dorma, Riverwest Pizza, Falcon Bowl and Seven Swans Crêperie.

If you’re a participant and haven’t grabbed your race packet yet, you can do that from 10-10:45 a.m. Sunday. If you’re a spectator, enjoy the athletic prowess on display.

Before the runners have time to catch their breath, the music starts filling the air and doesn’t stop until the festival’s close. You’ll find the artists spread across five different stages, all along Locust Street (of course).

Swarmm Events Stage
Located at Locust and Booth

11:30 a.m. — Beer Run kickoff
11:45 a.m. — Lovanova
1 p.m. — Diet Lite
3 p.m. — Dad Strength
5:30 p.m. — Surprise Guest
6 p.m. — Hipster Disco

Shriners Stage
Located at Locust and Pierce

11:45 a.m. — Indigo Dog
2:15 p.m. — The Blues Folks
4:45 p.m. — The Shuga Blu Band

Black Husky Brewing Stage
Located at Locust and Bremen

11:30 a.m. — Key Of Evil
12:45 p.m. — Living Room
2 p.m. — Bomber & Red
3:30 p.m. — Lost Orange Cat
5 p.m. — The MilBillies
6:30 p.m. — Wire & Nail

Lush Gourmet Popcorn Stage
Located at Locust and Bremen

11:30 a.m. — DJ L Boogie
2:30 p.m. — Ms. Erica & The Sound Production
4 p.m. — DJ Buttasauce
6 p.m. — DJ Mixx’Chelle

Falcon Bowl Stage
Located at Locust and Humboldt

Noon — Heavy Bend
12:50 p.m. — dak duBois
1:30 p.m. — Courtesy
2 p.m. — Joseph Huber
2:50 p.m. — Emmitt James
3:30 p.m. — Max & The Fellow Travelers
4:10 p.m. — Old Pup
5 p.m. — Social Cig
5:40 p.m. — Wave Chapelle
6:25 p.m. — Fellow Kinsman
7:10 p.m. — Ladybird

A good chunk of the remaining real estate at the Locust Street Festival goes to the vendors, which this year includes darn near 100 different options between food/beverages and the various local organizations, artisans, small business and other folks. Check out the lists below and start planning how you’ll support all of the wonderful people who make this event what it is every year.