After announcing earlier this week that Jay-Z and The Roots will headline this year’s Roots Picnic on May 30 and May 31 in Philadelphia in its new home in Belmont Plateau, the R&B/hip-hop festival revealed the full lineup on Friday morning (March 20). Joining Jay for his first performance since appearing with wife Beyoncé on stage in Paris at the final overseas show of the Cowboy Carter Tour in June will be fellow headliner Erykah Badu, who will do the honors on night two.
In addition, the lineup features Kehlani, Brandy and T.I., Mariah the Scientist, a J.Period live mixtape set with Wale and Roots rapper Black Thought, DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Magnificent Block Party, Destin Conrad, KWN and a Jermaine Dupri and friends set. Other performers include: De La Soul, Corinne Bailey Rae, Bilal, Joe Kay (Soulection), Sasha Keable and a special celebration of the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack presented by Adam Blackstone featuring Yolanda Adams, Ledisi, Tamar Braxton, Andra Day and more.
Tickets are available now here.
The opening night will be the first time Jay-Z has performed with the Roots in more than a decade. Among the other sets on tap are a Baller Alert and Front Porch celebration of 50 years of go-go hosted by Noochie & Kenny Burns, as well as sets from Funk Flex, Beano French, Infinite Coles, DJ Diamond Kuts, DJ Cash Money, DJ Aktive, DJ Doc B, DJ Miss Milan, DJ Kid Roc and Ray Bae the DJ.
Speaking of the move to scenic Belmont Plateau, Roots manager and Live Nation Urban president Shawn Gee said in a statement, “Moving the Roots Picnic to Belmont Plateau and bringing Jay-Z and The Roots together to perform are both bucket-list moments for us. After meeting with Mayor Cherelle Parker and hearing her vision for Philly 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.”
Jay-Z’s last festival appearance was a surprise pop-in at Pharrell’s Something in the Water Festival in Virginia in 2019, but Hov has two other major shows on his schedule this summer as well. Also announced this week are a pair of hometown shows at Yankee Stadium celebrating the 30th anniversary of Jay’s debut, Reasonable Doubt, and the 25th anniversary of 2001’s The Blueprint, on, respectively, July 10 and July 11.
Last year’s Roots Picnic featured Lenny Kravitz, GloRilla, Tems, Latto, Kaytranada, Jeezy, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, Musiq Soulchild and more.
Check out the 2026 Roots Picnic poster below.
