Concert of Colors 2026 Schedule
Explore five days of free live music and cultural programming across Midtown Detroit. Browse by day, venue, or event type to plan your festival experience.
Type
Venue
Wednesday
July 15, 20268:15 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. | Intermission 9:00–9:15 P.M.
Concert: Miles From India
An evening celebrating the musical legacy of Miles Davis reimagined through the lens of Indian classical music.
Detroit Institute of Arts
inside: Detroit Film Theatre
Thursday
July 16, 202610:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Arts & Scraps
Family Creative Fun — hands-on arts and creative activities for kids and families of all ages.
Michigan Science Center
at: Parking Lot
12:00 – 1:00 P.M.
Marca & Reg Pettibone
Indigenous Dance Workshop — an immersive movement experience rooted in Indigenous traditions.
Michigan Science Center
inside: The Science Stage
2:00 – 3:00 P.M.
Lisa Montes
Flamenco Dance Workshop — learn the footwork, rhythm, and spirit of traditional Spanish flamenco.
Michigan Science Center
inside: The Science Stage
5:30 – 9:00 P.M.
Motown Revue
A celebration of the legendary sound of Motown with live performances across the Legends Plaza.
Detroit Historical Museum
at: Legends Plaza
6:30 – 7:15 P.M.
Joan Belgrave & Bill Meyer Group
Salute Motown featuring special guest Al Chisholm — a soulful tribute to the sounds that defined Detroit.
Detroit Historical Museum
at: Legends Plaza
7:30 – 9:30 P.M.
TBD — Details Coming Soon
Stay tuned for lineup announcements at the Sosnik Court Stage.
DSO / University of Michigan
at: Sosnik Court Stage
7:45 – 8:45 P.M.
New Generation Funk Brothers
Led by Ralphe Armstrong — the next chapter of Detroit’s legendary Funk Brothers legacy, live on the plaza.
Detroit Historical Museum
at: Legends Plaza
Friday
July 17, 202610:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Arts & Scraps
Family Creative Fun — drop-in arts and crafts for children and families.
Michigan Science Centerat: Parking Lot
12:00 – 1:00 P.M.
Marca & Reg Pettibone
Indigenous Dance Workshop — an immersive movement experience rooted in Indigenous traditions.
Michigan Science Centerinside: The Science Stage
2:00 – 3:00 P.M.
Lisa Montes
Flamenco Dance Workshop — learn the footwork, rhythm, and spirit of traditional Spanish flamenco.
Michigan Science Centerinside: The Science Stage
5:30 – 6:45 P.M.
“Graphic Language”
Saladin Ahmed & Guests — a storytelling event exploring the power of visual narrative and graphic art as cultural language.
Scarab Clubinside: Main Gallery
7:00 – 8:00 P.M.
Kasan Belgrave
An intimate garden concert featuring the distinctive sound of Detroit-rooted artist Kasan Belgrave.
Scarab Clubinside: Garden
7:30 – 8:30 P.M.
TBD — Local Performance
A featured performance from a Detroit-area artist. Details to be announced.
Charles H. Wright Museumat: Outdoor Stage
Doors 7:30 P.M.
Beautiful Noise: An Evening of Experimental Sound and Texture
Battle Elf · Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, Macie Stewart · Bill Nace — a night of experimental sound at Detroit’s iconic Third Man Records.
Third Man Records
9:00 – 10:30 P.M.
TBD — Headline Performance
Headline act to be announced. Stay tuned for updates at concertofcolors.com.
Charles H. Wright Museumat: Outdoor Stage
Saturday
July 18, 202611:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
“Celebrating Ish”
A public procession led by the Larry Gabriel Brass Band celebrating Ismael Ahmed’s legacy. Featuring Xiao Dong Wei, Public Allies, and Kamaal Amen-Ra.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: South & North Lawns
1:00 – 3:00 P.M.
AANM Community Forum
“Remember/Reimagine: Truth-Telling through Art, 250 Years On.” Moderated by Neda Ulaby. Panelists: Clarissa Bitar, Kelly Churche, Esraa Warda, Jamaal May.
Spot Lite Detroit
1:00 – 8:00 P.M.
COC Youth Celebration!
Youth Stage performances, Visual Arts Exhibition, Musical Maze, Tot PlaySpace, Sensory Tent, and Hands-on Arts activities for all ages.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: South Lawn
2:00 – 3:00 P.M.
Killer Diller
High-energy performance on the North Lawn Stage to kick off Saturday afternoon.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: North Lawn Stage
2:00 – 9:00 P.M.
Greek Performances
Michael Malis & Constantine Novotny present “Another Shore, Another Country” — a sweeping musical journey through Greek tradition and contemporary expression.
Hellenic Museum of Michigan
3:30 – 4:30 P.M.
Sean Blackman’s In Transit
A cinematic live experience blending jazz, world music, and improvisation inside the iconic Detroit Film Theatre.
Detroit Institute of Artsinside: Detroit Film Theatre
4:00 – 5:15 P.M.
Lemon Bucket Orchestra
Toronto’s beloved Balkan-klezmer-brass collective brings their wild, joyful sound to the DIA lawn.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: North Lawn Stage
6:30 – 7:30 P.M.
Dengue Fever
LA’s Cambodian psychedelic rock band delivers a hypnotic set inside the Detroit Film Theatre.
Detroit Institute of Artsinside: Detroit Film Theatre
6:30 – 8:00 P.M.
Burnt Sugar Arkestra
(J Dilla Donuts Re-Imagined Edition) — featuring Jessica CARE Moore, LaFrae Sci, Miss Olithea, Monica “mBtheLIGHT” Blaire, Bruce Mack, DONAVAN GLOVER, JS Williams, V. Jeffrey Smith, Duminie Deporres, Jonathan Dixon, Leon Gruenbaum, and Jared Michael Nickerson.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: North Lawn Stage
9:00 – 10:30 P.M.
Hassan Hakmoun
The master of the guembri brings the ancient trance music of the Gnawa tradition to Detroit’s night sky.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: North Lawn Stage
9:00 – 11:00 P.M.
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble
A landmark closing performance bringing together Detroit’s finest musicians under the direction of legendary producer and bassist Don Was.
Detroit Institute of Artsinside: Detroit Film Theatre
Sunday
July 19, 202611:00 A.M. – 7:15 P.M.
UM Wolverine Outdoor Stage
A full day of music featuring The Vinewood Ambassadors, J. Clyde Neal Group, Lulu Fall, DJ KoKo, Michael Turner, Roots Vibrations, and Chris Canas.
DSO / University of Michiganat: Sosnik Courtyard
1:00 – 3:00 P.M.
WDET DJ Set
Detroit’s beloved public radio station takes over the North Lawn Stage with a live DJ set.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: North Lawn Stage
1:00 – 8:00 P.M.
COC Youth Celebration!
A full afternoon of youth performances, hands-on arts, and family activities on the South Lawn.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: South Lawn
2:00 – 3:00 P.M.
Moderated Conversation with the NEA Jazz Masters
A rare and intimate conversation with the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters — an unmissable afternoon inside the DIA.
Detroit Institute of Artsinside: Lecture Hall
2:00 – 3:30 P.M.
Ethan Daniel Davidson
“Songwriters in the Round” featuring Audra Kubat & Rachele Eve — an intimate circle of storytelling through original song.
Scarab Clubinside: Garden
2:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Five Women DJs
DJ Tammy Lakkis, DJ Yukiko, DJ Whodat, and more TBA — five hours of uninterrupted movement in the CCS Sculpture Garden.
College for Creative Studiesat: Sculpture Garden
3:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Nikki D and the Sisters of Thunder
Detroit’s own Nikki D leads a powerhouse ensemble in a soul-stirring Sunday afternoon set.
Detroit Institute of Artsinside: Detroit Film Theatre
3:30 – 4:30 P.M.
Martha Redbone
Afro-Indigenous artist Martha Redbone blends Cherokee, Choctaw, and African American traditions in her distinctive sound.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: North Lawn Stage
5:30 – 7:00 P.M.
Las Cafeteras
LA’s Chicana/o collective fuses son jarocho, hip-hop, and spoken word into an irresistibly danceable celebration of culture and community.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: North Lawn Stage
6:00 – 7:30 P.M.
NEA Jazz Masters
America’s highest jazz honor recipients perform live inside the Detroit Film Theatre — a once-in-a-generation evening.
Detroit Institute of Artsinside: Detroit Film Theatre
8:00 – 10:00 P.M.
Sheila E
The legendary percussionist, vocalist, and bandleader headlines Sunday night under the stars in one of the most anticipated shows of the festival.
Detroit Institute of Artsat: North Lawn Stage
9:30 – 11:00 P.M.
Steel Pulse
Grammy Award-winning British reggae legends Steel Pulse close out the festival with a powerful and timeless set.
Detroit Institute of Artsinside: Detroit Film Theatre
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Get everything you need to enjoy Detroit’s free music festival, including locations, parking, food, accessibility, and how to get around Midtown.
Know Before You Go
Planning your day at Concert of Colors is simple. Here’s what to expect:
Completely free to attend, with no tickets required
Multiple stages and venues, both indoors and outdoors
First come, first served seating for most performances
Welcoming, family-friendly environment for all ages
Explore More
There’s more to experience beyond the schedule. Discover the artists, explore events happening across Detroit, and get answers before you go.