St. Louis’ 7th annual music festival, July 15-18, 2027, in the Grand Center Arts District, will feature eight main stages and an even more expanded indoor-outdoor footprint.
Indoor is ticketed (Thurs-Sun): SLSO’s Powell Hall and The Sheldon Concert Hall join The Fabulous Fox Theatre, The Sovereign, and Jazz St. Louis as indoor, ticketed MATI festival stages.
Outdoor is free (Fri-Sat): MATI’s community block party grows with The Big Top, Wash Ave Stage and Counterpublic Performance Green Stage completely free for 2027.
St. Louis, Mo. – October 20, 2026 – MATI (Music at the Intersection) is back for its seventh year. The festival and conference returns July 15-18, 2027, with eight main stages, including St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s Powell Hall and The Sheldon Concert Hall (both new for 2027). MATI is taking full advantage of Grand Center Arts District’s world-class music and art infrastructure to deliver a fully walkable indoor-outdoor summer festival experience.
Festival tickets are expected to go on sale in spring 2027. Instead of purchasing an all-encompassing, multi- or single-day festival pass (as in past years), attendees will purchase individual show tickets for the artists and showcases that interest them most. Ticketed shows will take place Thursday through Sunday (July 15-18) at five indoor Grand Center Arts District venues: Powell Hall, The Sheldon Concert Hall, The Fabulous Fox Theatre, The Sovereign and Jazz St. Louis.
“As MATI continues to grow and evolve, we’re thrilled to welcome Powell Hall and The Sheldon as official festival main stages,” said Chris Hansen, Executive Director of Kranzberg Arts Foundation. “The capacity and caliber of Grand Center’s world-class venues allow us to secure top-tier artists and really unique programming. That comes at a cost, so instead of making a more expensive weekend pass, we’re letting fans choose shows individually – like Jon Batiste at The Fabulous Fox in 2026. Buy the one, two, or three ticketed shows that speak to you and then supplement your weekend with all of MATI’s free outdoor entertainment.”
In 2027, MATI’s outdoor stages will all be completely free. On Friday and Saturday (July 16-17), The Big Top, a mobile Wash Ave Stage, and the Counterpublic Performance Green Stage on Samual Shepherd will host a mix of to-be-announced national and St. Louis-based artists.
MATI’s free community block party – connecting the festival’s five indoor (ticketed) and three outdoor (free) main stages down Washington Avenue – will once again feature family-friendly experiences, mural and art exhibits, a vendor market, tastes of St. Louis’ favorite culinary dishes and incentives to visit Midtown’s many bars, restaurants and retailers.
Courtesy of MATI
“We’re going even bigger with the free community block party this year,” said Hansen. “The mobile Wash Ave stage is back. Eight national acts – along with St. Louis-based talent – will perform there or at The Big Top on Friday and Saturday. Counterpublic’s Performance Green Stage on Samual Shepherd will feature non-musical performances. Plus, the streets will be alive with community, art, fashion, poetry, shopping, kids’ activities, and more. There’s something for everyone.”
Yes, and you will find top celebrities like Juvenile chilling at MATI Courtesy of MATI-2026
Additionally, MATI Places, which include The Key, The Grandel, The Dark Room and Metro Theater, will feature performances, partner parties, clinics and workshops throughout the weekend. Midtown Alley to the east and Grand Center’s visual arts corridor to the west (CAM, Counterpublic, etc.) are also planning special MATI events and activations.
MATI’s annual thought leadership conference returns to .ZACK, providing panels, keynote discussions, and networking opportunities targeted at artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs. The conference and MATI Places are also primarily free.
Since its inception in 2021, MATI has grown in size and ambition year-over-year, garnering rave reviews from attendees, as well as attention from The Recording Academy and national press outlets – including PEOPLE, The Source, Billboard, Essence, VIBE, Ebony, Live for Live Music, SPIN and Forbes.
About MATI:
MATI is a civic-led effort presented by Kranzberg Arts Foundation. First held in 2021, the festival tells the story of St. Louis’ musical, cultural and artistic heritage. It celebrates the city’s imprint on the American songbook, as well as the relationship St. Louis has with its Mississippi River roots. The festival aims to celebrate musical heritage, from the West African coasts to the Caribbean islands, up through the Mississippi Delta. Music at the Intersection honors the giants who shaped genre and sound – across blues, jazz, soul, R&B, hip-hop, and rock n’ roll – as it also calls up and gives a platform to a new wave of artists.
For updates and additional information, visit Music at the Intersection at www.matistl.org or follow the festival on social media: Facebook (www.facebook.com/matistlouis), Twitter (www.x.com/matistl), Instagram (www.instagram.com/matistlouis) and TikTok (www.tiktok.com/@matistl).
