A year full of major festivals and celebrations lies ahead in Raleigh, N.C.! These events serve an important purpose—they mark history and sense of pride, plus they showcase talent, creativity and culture, delicious foods and beverages (and some surprises, too!).

Make plans now to spend a day or a weekend in the Raleigh area around these trip-worthy events in 2026!

A note: Some of the dates for these events have not yet been announced, but we can generally know what month they fall in (and some major events—concerts, for example—haven't been announced at all yet). We'll update this page as information comes in!

January

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North Carolina Vintage Bazaar, Jan. 17-18
One of the Tar Heel State's biggest vintage clothing market and thrift convention events, the Vintage Bazaar brings together sellers of all genres, eras and styles of vintage clothing at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

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Astronomy Days, Jan. 24-25
From comet crafts to solar observing, lectures to rocket launches, space enthusiasts of all ages will find something to do at one of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' most popular annual events.

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25th Annual African American Cultural Celebration, Jan. 31
An annual, statewide kickoff to Black History Month for a quarter-century now, the African American Cultural Celebration brings together authors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, scholars and more, all around a central theme to highlight the contributions that African Americans have made to North Carolina’s history and culture. This event will be held at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

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• Rascal Flatts, Jan. 15
• North Carolina Symphony: Music of the Beatles, Jan. 16-17
• NCMA Art Heist Dinner, Jan. 22
• YDG, Jan. 23
• CINCH World's Toughest Rodeo, Jan. 24
• Triangle Restaurant Week, Jan. 26-Feb. 1
• Appalachian Road Show (PineCone's Down Home Concert Series), Jan. 30
• North Carolina Opera: Madama Butterfly, Jan. 30-Feb. 1

^{PineCone's Down Home Concert Series}

February

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American Aquarium: Roadtrip to Raleigh, Feb. 5-7
Raleigh-based alternative country band American Aquarium, known as one of the 21st century’s ultimate road-warrior acts, brings their annual, much-anticipated Road Trip to Raleigh show to downtown Raleigh's Lincoln Theatre for three nights of packed shows in front of a hometown crowd.

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Krispy Kreme Challenge, Feb. 7
One of America's most unique running events (and toughest eating events!), the Krispy Kreme Challenge requires competitors to run five miles, eat a dozen doughnuts at the halfway point and hit the finish line in under one hour. For the curious, those doughnuts total 2,400 calories and 144 grams of fat—but who's counting! 

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QuiltCon, Feb. 19-22
Hosted by the Modern Quilt Guild at the Raleigh Convention Center, QuiltCon is the largest modern quilting event in the world, featuring competition quilts, special exhibits, workshops and more—25,000 attendees are expected!

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• Little River Band, Feb. 5
• The Wombats, Feb. 6
• Taylor Tomlinson, Feb. 6-7
• Black History Month at Chavis Park, Feb. 7
• Lunar New Year Market, Feb. 7
• Mardi Gras Masquerade, Feb. 7
• Theatre Raleigh: The Safarinas, My Way, Feb. 12-15
• Katt Williams, Feb. 13
• N.C. State vs. UNC-Chapel Hill men's basketball, Feb. 17
• Andrea Bocelli, Feb. 20
• Monster Jam, Feb. 21-22
• Peter Rowan, Feb. 27
• Winter Jam, Feb. 27

^{Krispy Kreme Challenge}

March

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Carolina Ballet presents Snow White, March 12-29
One of several can't-miss performances from Carolina Ballet in the second half of their 2025-2026 season, this production brings the wonder of the classic fairytale to life while depicting timeless themes. Choreographed by Artistic Director/CEO Zalman Raffael and with an original score from Shinji Eshima.

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Art in Bloom, March 18-22
Always a popular affair at the North Carolina Museum of Art, Art in Bloom is a five-day festival of art and flowers. More than 50 floral interpretations inspired by the museum's galleries are created on-site by world-class designers and showcased throughout the museum's West Building (note: tickets typically sell out). 

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Balsam Range, March 20
One of the most celebrated acts in bluegrass, North Carolina's own Balsam Range is back to thrill audiences at the Martin Marietta Center for Performing Arts as part of PineCone's 20026 Down Home Concert Series.

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• The High Kings, March 1
• N.C. State vs. Duke men's basketball, March 2
• Conan Gray, March 4
• Sindu Vee, March 6
• Aries Spears, March 6-8
• Animate! Raleigh, March 13-15
• Town of Morrisville's Holi Fest, March 14
• Matt Rife, March 15
• Bad Omens, March 16
• Harlem Globetrotters, March 19
• WWE SmackDown, March 20
• North Carolina Symphony: Beethoven Emperor Piano Concerto, March 20-21
• Raleigh Little Theatre: 1776, March 27-April 19
• ZMax Cars Tour at Wake County Speedway, March 28

^{Art in Bloom at North Carolina Museum of Art}

April

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Carolina Hurricanes final regular season home games, April 2, 4 and 7
Currently sitting near the top of the standings in the NHL's Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes' final three home games are likely to play a pivotal role in their Stanley Cup quest. They'll battle Columbus (April 2), the New York Islanders (April 4) and Boston (April 7) at Lenovo Center.

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Town of Cary's Pimento Cheese Festival, April 11
This tasty, free-to-attend event held at Downtown Cary Park puts one of the South's best delicacies front and center: pimento cheese! Food trucks, local vendors, live music, trivia, the annual pimento cheese sculpting contest and more will round out a full day's schedule for this event. Do NOT miss this!

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16th Annual North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival, April 18
What could be finer than a jam-packed day of drool-worthy barbecue from The Pit, plenty of local brews and toe-tappin' bluegrass music on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh?

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• Cardi B, April 11
• Southern Soul Explosion Tour, April 11
• April Foods Day Food Truck Rodeo, April 12
• The HillBenders: Beatlegrass, April 17
• North Carolina Opera: Il Trovatore, April 17 and 19
• An Evening with David Sedaris, April 18
• Tacos 'N Taps, April 18
• Fest in the West, April 18
• Peak City Pig Fest, date TBA
• Carolina Ballet: Celebration of America, April 23-26
• Brewgaloo, April 24-25
• Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, April 25
• Raulston Blooms!, April 25
• Alabama Shakes, April 25

^{'Cuegrass Festival}

May

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45th Annual Apex PeakFest, May 2
Salem Street in historic downtown Apex comes alive with more than 20,000 visitors during PeakFest, the towns largest annual event, featuring all-day live music, all the arts and crafts you can imagine, entertainment for kids and food vendors that bring their best State Fair-style goodies.

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Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival, May 16-17
One of the Southeast's premier arts festivals, Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival attracts more than 80,000 people to downtown Raleigh during the third weekend of May each year. Celebrating fine visual art and live music since 1980, the festival puts more than 180 artists' work—using countless mediums—on display for all to see and enjoy during the free festival.

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Animazement, May 22-24
Get in on the action at Animazement, a three-day Japanese animation and culture celebration over Memorial Day weekend that draws 15,000 attendees to the Raleigh Convention Center. Cosplay is a huge draw: guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters simply for fun, or to participate in contests showcasing their talents!

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• Woody Platt and The Bluegrass Gentlemen, May 1
• Holly Springs International Food Festival, May 1
• North Carolina Symphony: Jurassic Park, May 1-3
• Wake Forest's Meet in the Street Festival, May 2
• North Carolina Symphony: Appalachian Spring, May 8-9
• Creative Kitchen Kids Food Fest, May 9
• Carolina Ballet: Beauty and The Beast, May 14-17
• Sting, May 19
• Marisela, May 22
• Iration, May 22
• ZZ Top and Dwight Yoakam, May 22
• Got to Be NC Festival, date TBA
• NC Sugar Rush, May 24
• UNC Health Championship (golf tournament), May 28-31
• Shakespeare in the Park, May 30-31

^{Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival}

June

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The Soccer Tournament, dates TBA
One of soccer's most electrifying events of the past few years returns bigger and better to WakeMed Soccer Park this summer. This six-day, high-stakes, winner-take-all event puts $1 million on the line (for both a men's and women's tournament!).

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Raleigh's International Food Festival, June 6
Celebrate Raleigh's diverse community and welcoming spirit by trying food, beer and wine from more than 100 local vendors (plus listen to live music and see more entertainment) from around the world. Nearly 40,000 attendees are expected in downtown Raleigh's City Plaza for the event.

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14th Annual Out! Raleigh Pride, June 26-27
Out! Raleigh Pride—one of the state's largest Pride gatherings—is the area's annual street festival that celebrates the LGBT community and its allies. Expanded to a two-day event for the first time in 2025, the Saturday festival is all-day affair that has a bit of everything (two stages of music and dancing, plus food, a beer garden and more). The Friday night block party is an 18 and up throw down. The event is organized each year by the LGBT Center of Raleigh.

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• MGK, June 2
• Theatre Raleigh: Dear Evan Hansen, June 3-21
• Sam Barber, June 4
• Raleigh Little Theatre: School of Rock, June 5-28
• Khalid, June 6
• Town of Knightdale African American Festival, June 13
• Capital City Juneteenth Celebration, date TBA
• N.C. Hops Festival, date TBA
• Forrest Frank, June 16
• Evanescence, June 17

^{The Soccer Tournament in Cary, N.C.}

July

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The Town of Cary Presents: Independence Day Celebration, July 4
Relax under the pines at Koka Booth Amphitheatre for the Town of Cary Independence Day Celebration. Music from the Cary Town Band, plus a patriotic performance by the North Carolina Symphony, precede fireworks over beautiful Symphony Lake to cap the evening. 

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Guns N' Roses at Carter-Finley Stadium, July 23
A legendary night with a legendary rock band? Count us in! Guns N' Roses will play a special event at Carter-Finley Stadium this summer, the Raleigh area's largest venue that typically hosts the North Carolina State University Wolfpack football team (the venue sports a capacity of more than 55,000). Previous performers at Carter-Finley include Beyonce, Rolling Stones and U2.

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GalaxyCon Raleigh, July 23-26
A four-day festival for fans of pop culture, superheroes, science fiction, anime and more, GalaxyCon Raleigh features celebrity guests, comic book creators, artists and cosplayers—altogether an incredible 30,000 attendees at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh to participate in all things geek!

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• Apex Fireworks Frenzy, July 3
• Garner Independence Day Celebration, July 3
• Fourth on First Avenue (Knightdale), July 4
• Rolesville 4th, July 4
• Holly Springs July 5th Celebration, July 5
• Train, Barenaked Ladies & Matt Nathanson, July 16
• O.A.R., July 29
• Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, July 31-Aug. 1

^{GalaxyCon at the Raleigh Convention Center}

August

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Sir Walter Miler, date TBA
One of America's best (and fastest) track events, the Sir Walter Miler, is a free-admission event featuring an elite field of men and women runners and allows fans onto the track at Meredith College to scream and cheer as athletes look to set some of the fastest mile times of the year in the U.S.

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CaribMask Carnival, date TBA
A festival to promote diversity, equality and create a deeper appreciation for Afro-Caribbean culture in the Raleigh area, CaribMask is expected to return for an 13th annual event in downtown Raleigh in 2026. In previous years, a parade of bands, flag ceremony, live music and tons of food and drinks have kept a joyful crowd of more than 15,000 people plenty happy.

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Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, Aug. 22-23
For 50 years now, the Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival has put local artists and craftsmakers in the spotlight. Today, the Cary festival has grown to two days, features more than 300 artists from 16 states, has multiple stages of live music, a beer garden and plenty of food trucks to keep everyone happy.

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• Theatre Raleigh presents The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aug. 12-15
• Edén Muñoz, Aug. 21
• Jack Johnson & Lake Street Dive, Aug. 22
• Packapalooza, date TBA

^{Packapalooza on Hillsborough Street}

September

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Hopscotch Music Festival, dates TBA
The 16th annual Hopscotch Music Festival—time and time again named as one of America's can't-miss independent music events—is expected to be back and ready to jam in the center of the City of Oaks in 2026. Last year a total of 120 performers played across 10 downtown Raleigh venues, with headlining acts that included Earl Sweatshirt, My Morning Jacket, Built to Spill, Superchunk and a whole lot more.

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BugFest, date TBA
Experience more than 100 exhibits, crafts, games and activities at BugFest, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' annual event that lets you interact with entomologists and other scientists while learning about the fascinating world of bugs. 

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17th Annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County, dates TBA
An annual celebration of African American culture expressed through art, music, food and community, this two-day downtown Raleigh festival showcases local, national and international artists, performers, food vendors and more over Labor Day weekend.

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• Whiskey, Wine & Fire, Sept. 12
• Fenton Art Festival, Sept. 13
• Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Sept. 20
• La Fiesta del Pueblo, date TBA
• Asia Fest, date TBA

^{Hopscotch Music Festival in City Plaza}

October

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Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival, dates TBA
This two-day event—featuring six free stages of music, food and fun in downtown Raleigh—debuted in 2025 with a massive music lineup that leaned into Americana and bluegrass acts (Dom Flemons, Balsam Range, Sonny Miles, Jim Lauderdale and more). 

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Triangle Oktoberfest, dates TBA
The Raleigh area's biggest Oktoberfest celebration, Triangle Oktoberfest at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary provides plenty of family-friendly activities including live music, storytelling, dancing and traditional Bavarian food and fare (plus local and authentic German beers on hand).

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N.C. State Fair, Oct. 15-25
The largest annual event in the state, the N.C. State Fair draws one million visitors through the gates each October. Eleven days of high-flying rides, deep-fried foods, live music, stunt shows and other entertainment (including nightly fireworks) has been a can't-miss event for generations of families—the 2026 version of the N.C. State Fair marks the 158th year of the event!

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• Playthrough Gaming Convention, dates TBA
• Falling for Local at Dix Parkl, date TBA
• 98th Annual Wendell Harvest Festival, date TBA
• Hum Sub Diwali, Oct. 10
• SAS Championship (golf tournament), Oct. 16-18
• Raleigh's International Wine & Beer Festival, date TBA
• HollyFest Celebration in Holly Springs, date TBA
• Trophy Brewing's Oktrophyfest, date TBA

^{N.C. State Fair}

November

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Moonlight in the Garden, dates TBA
A magical lighting exhibition that's suited for the entire family, Moonlight in the Garden at JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University is a once-per-year opportunity to see the nationally acclaimed gardens artfully illuminated by colorful lights. Each evening of the ticketed event is paired with live music, food trucks, hot apple cider, fire pits and marshmallows to roast!

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North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, November 2026 through January 2027
Perhaps the most-attended holiday event in the Raleigh area for a decade now, the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival puts hundreds of larger-than-life lanterns on display at Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre, creating an incredible, colorful adventure for you to walk through during the holiday season.

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82nd Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade, Nov,. 21
The largest parade of its kind between Atlanta and Washington, D.C.—filled with marching bands, dancers, giant balloons, super heroes and more—marches through downtown Raleigh for two hours along a 1.4-mile route that draws a crowd of 60,000 spectators.

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• American Indian Heritage Celebration, dates TBA
• The Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at North Hills, dates TBA
• THE RINK presented by UNC Health, dates TBA
• Holiday Express at Pullen Park, dates TBA

^{Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C.}

December

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Carolina Ballet presents The Nutcracker, dates TBA
Filled with grace and grandeur, Carolina Ballet's holiday classic is a can't-miss tradition for locals, visitors, families and friends. After 25 years, artistic director Zalman Raffael unveiled an updated version of this production in 2022, featuring new choreography, sets, costumes and more that continue to dazzle audiences.

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Theatre In The Park presents A Christmas Carol, dates TBA
This iconic theater production, having wowed more than a million guests since its inception, celebrated its 50th year of holiday laughs in 2023, closing out a half-century of performances for Theatre In The Park executive director Ira David Wood III as Scrooge. Wood III handed over the keys to his son, Ira David Wood IV, in 2024 to carry on the tradition of this beloved musical comedy that many consider to be the ultimate Raleigh holiday event.

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NCAA Men's and Women's Division I Soccer Championships, Women (Dec. 4 and 7); Men (Dec. 11 and 14)
Two champions will be crowned at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary to close out the college soccer season—the semifinals and final matchups for both the women's and men's championships played in front of as many as 10,000 fans! A heads up: Cary will also be home to both championships again in December 2027!

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• Raleigh Little Theatre presents Cinderella, dates TBA
• Downtown Raleigh Illuminate Art Walk, dates TBA
• Wendell Wonderland, date TBA
• Boylan Heights ArtWalk, date TBA
• State Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony, dates TBA
• 55th Annual Oakwood Candlelight Tour, dates TBA
• North Carolina Master Chorale: Joy of the Season, dates TBA
• First Night Raleigh, Dec. 31
   

^{Header photo by Garrett Poulos}