Looking for the best rap festivals and hip-hop festivals in 2024!? Well, look no further, because I’ve put together the best upcoming festivals in the U.S.A that showcase some of the world’s best hip-hop artists!
“Hip-hop gave a generation a common ground that didn’t require either race to lose anything; everyone gained.” – Jay Z
Hip-hop is a globally appreciated music genre, but nobody does it better than where it all began – the USA!
There’s nothing quite like the energy you can find at a USA hip hop music festival. It’s electric, it’s authentic and it’s a loud voice for many. It has grown from its beginnings within African American and Latino communities of The Bronx in New York City to being embraced and loved by all races, creeds, ethnicities and genders.
The 25 Best Rap Festivals & Hip Hop Festivals in 2024
And with the popularity of hip hop comes an explosion in the number of amazing USA hip hop music festivals across this great country.
From the West Coast to the East Coast and everywhere in between, my list of the 26 best hip hop festivals in the USA is bound to fill your summer music festival calendar and beyond. While a few of these festivals aren’t solely focused on hip-hop, they book incredible artists that hip-hop fans will love!
2024 Update: A few of these festivals haven’t made official announcements yet, but be sure to stay tuned for dates and line-ups that I’m sure will come soon!
Also, be sure to read my guides on Top 50 USA Music Festivals, California Music Festivals, Florida Music Festivals, and New York Festivals for more epic events around the country.
Photo credit: Chase Price
1) Rolling Loud California 2024
When: TBD (early 2024)
Where: Hollywood Park Grounds, California
“Rolling Loud Festival is a 3-day music event that started in Miami, FL and is now the largest Hip-Hop festival in the world. We now also hosts festivals in Northern California and Southern California, with plans to expand internationally to Japan, China and Europe in the near future. Some of the biggest names that have performed on the Rolling Loud stage includes the likes of Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Future, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, Young Thug, Post Malone, Migos, Kodak Black, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Lil Yachty, Lil B, and many more.”
2) Rock The Bells Cruise | A Hip-Hop Festival Experience
A brand new Hip Hop festival on a cruise you simply can’t miss!
When: November 13-17, 2023 / 2024 TBD
Where: Miami, Florida – Bahamas
https://www.rockthebellscruise.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rockthebellsfestival
“It took 50 years, but it’s finally here! The Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience is setting sail from Miami to the Bahamas on November 13-17, 2023, for 4 days of non-stop Hip-Hop. The all-inclusive experience offers live performances, parties and unique experiences with some of the most iconic MCs, DJs and Producers in Hip-Hop. Immerse yourself in the incredible Hip-Hop inspired dream vacation with a community of like-minded heads. Turn up on the pool deck and unwind on the beautiful, white-sand beaches of Grand Bahama Island and Nassau for the greatest trip in Hip-Hop history.”
3) Broccoli City Festival 2024
When: TBD, Summer, 2024
Where: Washington, DC
“Broccoli City is redefining cool by mobilizing & educating urban millennials on how to create a better world. Through our programs we are creating pathways to higher standards of sustainable living, environmental education, economic opportunity, and access to high quality food and shelter.
“Hailed by Blavity as “vibrantly contributing not just to the city’s culture, but political voice — without picking sides” our signature event– Broccoli City Festival — has gathered more than 75,000 millennials for a celebration of music, art, food, culture and community service. The 2018 festival sold out to a crowd of 35,000 across two stages and featured some of today’s most talented artists including Migos, Cardi B, Miguel, Nipsey Hussle, H.E.R, Daniel Caesar, Rich the Kid and more.”
4) Dreamville Festival
Credit: Dreamville Festival
When: Spring, 2023
Where: Raleigh, North Carolina
https://www.facebook.com/DreamvilleFest/
“Held annually each spring in Raleigh, Dreamville Festival is an outdoor weekend music celebration curated by internationally-acclaimed hip-hop superstar J. Cole alongside his Dreamville team. The festival serves as Dreamville’s signature annual event for its fans worldwide bringing together local residents and travelers alike to gather together and enjoy incredible music performances in one of America’s most beautiful and historic public parks, Dorothea Dix Park – Raleigh’s largest city park with over 300 acres of sprawling greenspace. As one of the most anticipated annual events in the state of North Carolina, the festival acts as a perfect complement to the existing event landscape and cultural fabric of the city of Raleigh.”
5) Something in the Water Festival
When: April, 2024
Where: Virginia Beach, Virginia
https://www.somethinginthewater.com
https://www.facebook.com/somethinginthewater
“Something in the Water is a new multi-day music festival and cultural experience put on by Pharrell Williams in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia. It’s mission is to unite the community and celebrate the diversity and magic of Virginia Beach. It is an opportunity to bring the best of what Pharrell has encountered around the world back to his hometown. The weekend celebrates opportunity and the chance to empower everyone from the youth to the small business owners. SOMETHING IN THE WATER has created a legacy highlighting the pillars that Pharrell is so personally passionate about shining a light upon and celebrating his hometown community. The weekend aims to give back to the community that he so passionately supports. Musicians, students, artists, activists and more will converge on Virginia Beach to activate and amplify, collaborate and co-author, shift and shape the future.”
6) Days of Summer Cruise Hip Hop Festival
When: TBD, 2024
Where: Miami, Florida – Bahamas
https://www.daysofsummercruise.com
https://www.facebook.com/daysofsummercruise/
“Days of Summer Cruise Fest is an annual hip hop music cruise sailing to various Caribbean islands from the port of Miami Florida. Days of Summer Cruise Fest will be sailing out of Miami, Florida to a Private Island and Nassau, Bahamas for 4 days and 3 nights cruise onboard the Carnival Victory.”
7) Breakaway Music Festival
Photo credit – Tyler Church
When: TBD, 2024
Where: Multi-City Festival
https://www.breakawayfestival.com
“Breakaway is the fastest growing multi-city music festival with events in the mid west including Ohio, Michigan, The Carolinas and Tennessee. While primarily a hip-hop festival, Breakaway also throws in some top electronic and pop acts for good measure. Previous lineups include Young Thug, Wiz Khalifa, Future, Travis Scott, and many more. Offering stacked line-ups, stunning stages, and an overall incredible festival experience.”
8) Coachella 2024
When: April 12-14 and April 19-21, 2024
Where: Indio, California
“Coachella is a massive zeitgeist-chasing music festival in Indio, California. The biggest musical celebration in the world, the festival has to be on any music fan’s bucket list. Annually curating a lineup of the biggest and most buzz-worthy artists across all popular genres, Coachella has hosted some of the most historic sets in festival history, with the likes of Beyoncé, Daft Punk, Prince, Radiohead, and Bob Dylan playing the main stage over its two decade-long history. Taking place over two weekends in the middle of April, the opening of the festival gates acts as the official unofficial start to the festival season. While not a purely hip hop music festival, Coachella’s sheer number of top hip hop acts puts it on the list of the best in the USA.”
9) Roots Picnic Hip Hop Festival
When: June, 2024 (TBD)
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
http://rootspicnic.com/philly/
https://www.facebook.com/RootsPicnic/
“Roots Picnic is a day of incredible hip-hop and R&B music festival in Philadelphia. Its recent lineups have included Lil Uzi Vert, Dirty Projectors, The Diplomats and more. In addition to the Music Stage, Roots Picnic will also feature a Podcast Stage which plays host to live podcasts such as Drink Champs, On One with Angela Rye, Questlove Supreme and more. The Lifestyle Stage offers a MADDEN & NBA2K Tournament as well as a Fashion Panel, an Art Panel, Hustle Panel and an art market featuring local vendors called The mARkeT.”
10) Hive Music Festival
When: TBD, 2024
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
Hive is all about hip hop. The most recent festival in 2021 was headlined by Post Malone. It’s primarily a vehicle for some of the most promising young artists in the genre. But there is also the stated promise of at least one unannounced major act every year. The festival takes place in downtown Salt Lake, so there is no camping. Patrons are asked to find local accommodation and attend the shows between 11 am and 11 pm each day of the festival. The festival is officially all ages and is a high-energy celebration and platform for a truly evolving genre.”
11) Lollapalooza 2024
Lollapalooza is simply THE Chicago music festival to attend | Credit: Charles Reagan / Lollapalooza 2018
When: August, 2024
Where: Grant Park, Chicago
“Lollapalooza is returning to Hutchinson Field at Grant Park in August 2024, and it’s bringing some of the biggest names in pop, rock, hip hop, and EDM with it! We don’t know yet who will headline next year’s festival, but we will post all the info here as soon as it is confirmed. If you want to catch the fun live in the Windy City this summer, you can’t afford to wait.”
12) Made In America Festival
Image: Rolling Stone
When: September, 2024
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“The Made in America music festival is a massive musical celebration that takes over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway each Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia. With dozens of top performers and multiple stages on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the two-day music festival curated by Jay-Z is one of the year’s can’t-miss events. Every year, Jay-Z hand-picks a lineup of both established and up-and-coming musicians to perform throughout the weekend — and sometimes, you can even find Jay-Z singing along in the crowd.”
13) Outside Lands
When: August (TBC), 2024
Where: San Francisco, California
https://www.sfoutsidelands.com
“A bike valet, wine tasting tent, and local organic food vendors are just a couple of signs that you’re in San Francisco at Outside Lands. The quirky and wonderful Golden Gate Park hosts a wide range of acts and has quickly grown into a highlight of the San Fran summer. Bring a hoodie with you. Just because it’s August doesn’t mean that the fog won’t join the party. I’ve personally attend two different Outside Lands editions, and it’s truly an incredible experience! While the festival is not strictly hip hop, the line-ups are always super diverse and I know rap fans will find plenty of acts they’ll want to see! Plus – San Francisco as a city is always worth a visit!”
14) Cali Vibes Fest
When: February 16-18, 2024
Where: Long Beach, California
https://www.facebook.com/CaliVibrationsFest/
“With so much drama in the LBC, it’s kinda hard being SNOOP D-O Double G”
Imagine being able to see Rap and Hip-Hop icon Snoop Dogg in his own stomping grounds of Long Beach. Throw in a bunch of other incredible California artists for top-notch vibes, and you’re in for a solid weekend. Organized by Golden Voice (the production team behind Coachella and dozens of other festivals), Cali Vibes promises just that – great music, tasty food, and those incredible California vibes.
15) Life Is Beautiful 2024
Courtesy of LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL Music and Art Festival
When: September 20-22, 2024
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
“Taking place in the year-long adult party capital of the United States, Life Is Beautiful returns to Downtown Las Vegas. With acclaimed artists taking residency in various resorts and playing home to one of the biggest festivals in the world, the city has become a mecca for traveling music fans. Life Is Beautiful emerged in 2012 as a festival of electronic mashups and has continued to hold its own in the crowded Vegas market space.”
16) Neon Desert Music Festival
When: May 2024 (TBC)
Where: El Paso, Texas
https://www.neondesertmusicfestival.com
“Neon Desert Music Festival is a multi-day music festival held each year on Memorial Day weekend in El Paso, Texas. From the festival’s inception in 2009, Neon Desert Music Festival has continuously strived to be a yearly music event for El Paso by El Pasoans, while providing the local artistic community with an outlet to showcase their talents alongside national and international headliners. Featuring multiple outdoor stages, local and regional artist displays, and a diverse music lineup with acts from across the globe, Neon Desert Music Festival continues to be the Southwest’s premier music festival every Memorial Day weekend.”
17) Head In The Clouds Festival
When: August, 2024 (TBC)
Where: Los Angeles, California
https://www.facebook.com/hitcfestival
“88rising’s Head In The Clouds Music & Arts Festival made a massive return in 2021 in L.A The single day event will feature performances from the 88rising roster, as well as some of the biggest music acts from around the world. Praised by Billboard as “The Asian Hip-Hop Festival You Need To Know,” the inaugural Head In The Clouds Festival made a groundbreaking impact in September 2019 as the first Asian-centric music festival to launch in the United States. Returning for year two, the festival will be a day long celebration of Asian youth culture and creativity, highlighting the best in music, food, art, and fashion from around the globe.”
18) Lil WeezyAna Festival
When: 2024 TBC
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
“Lil Wayne will host the 5th annual Lil WeezyAna Fest in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s event takes place at a new location, NO Lakefront Arena Festival Grounds, and promises a lineup featuring Wayne alongside fellow rap titans Travis Scott and Meek Mill. Other confirmed acts include Trey Songz, Megan Thee Stallion, Kash Doll, Saweetie, and Melli, along with surprise guests.”
19) Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival
When: 2024 Dates TBC
Where: Brooklyn, New York
“Established in 2005, The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is New York City’s largest Hip-Hop cultural event that showcases the positive aspects of Hip-Hop culture by highlighting Hip-Hop’s legacy as an agent of artistic progression, community building and social change. In addition to musical performances, the Festival offers a number of activities for its audience, including: panel discussions, exhibitions, parties, an award show and a family-friendly block party. The Festival is more than a concert or outdoor fair. It is a family reunion for lovers of this great culture.”
20) Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival
When: November, 2023 / TBC 2024
Where: Los Angeles, California
“Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, formerly known as the OFWGKTA Carnival or Odd Future carnival, is an annual American music festival and carnival curated by Tyler, the Creator and has been held annually since its inception in the fall of 2012, except from 2020 to 2022.”
21) Hot 97 Summer Jam
When: June, 2024
Where: Elmont, New York
https://www.hot97.com/events/summer-jam
“HOT 97’s Summer Jam is the largest live Hip Hop music & culture celebration in America, taking over New York with some of the biggest names in Hip Hop on one stage! Many consider it the most iconic Hip Hop show in the world, and it’s BACK for its 29th year as THE platform for Hip Hop’s biggest superstars.”
22) ONE Musicfest
When: October, 2023 / 2024 TBC
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
“ONE Musicfest is one of the summer’s most anticipated festival concert series. OMF takes place in the heart of Atlanta and is the largest progressive urban music & arts festival in the Southeast. Seeking to bridge the gap between diverse communities, ONE Musicfest showcases a wide variety of musical talents spanning genre, race, age and content. OMF is a bridge across cultural, generational, and economic divides.”
23) Dusk Music Festival
When: November, 2023 / 2024 TBC
Where: Tucson, Arizona
“The DUSK Music Festival is an annual two-day music festival held at Jácome Plaza, in Tucson, Arizona in early November. Founded by John Rallis, Page Repp and Pete Turner in 2016, DUSK has three stages where musical artists from genres including rock, indie, country, EDM and hip hop perform for fans.”
24) LA3C Music & Food Festival
When: November, 2023 / 2024 TBC
Where: Downtown Los Angeles, California
“LA3C is a Music & Food Festival taking place in DTLA’s Historic Core. From November 10-12, LA3C will activate four of LA’s most iconic venues including the Theatre at the Ace Hotel, the Los Angeles Theatre, the Orpheum Theatre and the Palace Theatre, as well as several surrounding lots, to bring together a spectrum of arts and vendors to celebrate what makes LA great. Leading tastemakers in LA’s food and wine scene, independent filmmakers and a world class roster of live performances come together to bridge communities, honor traditions, and inspire creativity.”
25) Honeyland
When: November, 2023 / 2024 TBC
Where: Houston, Texas
“The Honeyland Festival is shaping up to be the next big event serving as a one-stop shop for all things Black culture. Slated to take over Crown Festival Park in Sugar Land, Texas on November 11-12, the inaugural festival will feature Mary J. Blige, Jazmine Sullivan, Tems, Lucky Daye, and Chlöe Bailey as headliners. Additional musical performances listed in the star-studded lineup include Coco Jones, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Scarface, and Tobe Nwigwe, who will serve as the festival’s “Houston Ambassador.”
26) Legends & Icons Fest
When: December 9, 2023 / 2024 TBC
Where: Pembroke Pines, Florida
“The Legends and Icon festival is a destination musical experience filled with a mixture of 1995-2005 fun hip hop music. This experience will keep you coming back for more.”
Am I Missing Any Epic Hip Hop Festivals in the U.S.A?
There really are so many incredible festivals around the country with world-famous hip-hop stars! If you think I need to add any specific hip-hop/rap festivals to my list, please let me know!
Image via Tyler Church
Looking for more music festivals in America?
My travel blog is filled with articles that discuss the best parties, events, and music festivals all over the world! Check out a few of these articles below and start planning your next big adventure! There are tons of after movies to check out, awesome line-ups, and much more!
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Image via Tyler Church
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