Big: Culture & Arts Festival pairs hip-hop icons Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist with Circus Magic in Downtown Gainesville
Press release from Dion Dia and How Bazar
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – What happens when the country’s favorite names in alternative hip-hop, a bevy of circus performers, and thousands of attendees converge in a swampy Florida town for one weekend? Something never before experienced in the American music festival landscape.
What: Dion Dia and How Bazar present Big: Culture & Arts Festival
When: Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12, 2026
Where: Downtown Gainesville, Florida
More information: Advance tickets are $75 for general admission and $125 for a VIP experience, both available now on bigcaf.com.
Back for its fourth consecutive year, Big: Culture & Arts Festival combines national names in music with elements of circus arts and street culture — all with a focus on championing Florida artists. With over 100 names on the lineup, the Big weekend will satiate fans of rap, R&B, neo-soul, drum and bass, garage, house, indie rock, and more. This year’s performers include Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist, Zack Fox & UWAY, Navy Blue, MAVI, Rae Khalil, Liv.e, Chanpan, redveil, Pink Siifu, Ovrkast., Kelly Moonstone, Cleo Reed, Chuck Strangers, and more.
These nationally touring performers share the bill with a host of Florida-based artists and collectives, including 00JORDIE, Machina Records, Flozigg, Mijita, The Nancys, Buboy, Camp Blu, Cannibal kids ,and Jolt Radio.
With eight stages spread across the festival’s downtown footprint, ticketholders can travel among three unique outdoor stages and five iconic venues that have long served as anchors for Gainesville’s music community. Big also features a film screening experience from Miami’s Subtropic Film Festival, visual art installations, live art creation including painting and screen printing, fashion shows featuring Florida designers and models, a car show, panel discussions on art and activism, interactive workshops, a surprise parade, and, of course, a full schedule of circus and aerialist performances.
Much like the circuses that used to blow through town, stirring up a sense of freedom and creative expression, the organizers behind Big intend audiences to find or expand their sense of possibility, purpose, and intent. The Big weekend is also a time to meet new friends and collaborators, reconnect with old ones, and revel in the impact of community.
“A lot of the national and touring artists on the lineup are friends who often collaborate with each other, so this creates an energy much like a summer camp or a family reunion. We want everyone attending Big to feel that kind of comfort, friendliness, and openness to connect with other people,” said Laila Fakhoury, Big: Culture & Arts Festival co-producer. “We also worked really hard to represent cities across Florida with our artist line-up. Since Florida can feel like a forgotten state in terms of artists rarely touring here, this feels like a great opportunity to elevate and uplift Florida talent.”
What started out as an independent record label (and a series of silent discos) evolved into a brick-and-mortar event space and shop, How Bazar, which brought its unique blend of artisan makers, performances, and workshops across the state last year in aims of uniting Florida’s creative communities.
With Big, a small but mighty team — led by Fakhoury and Jahi Khalfani alongside others — proves that the possibilities for creative and cultural exchange are endless with a bit of self-determination and dedication. As the folks in the Instagram comments keep saying in response to what Big offers this year, “All this, in Gainesville?” You’d better believe.
“Big represents a continuation of growth and progression of a vision that has been really intentional from day one: we want to build this into a sustainable, Florida-based staple,” Fakoury said. “The festival feels like a step in shifting Florida’s culture – yes, we’re home to terrible policies and leadership, but we also have so many people here wanting to build community and contribute to culture. We’ve built trust and a reputation with our communities, and people are pouring themselves back into this project, ultimately creating a positive economy that we hope can support creatives in Florida and beyond. This year feels like our goals are finally coming to fruition. We don’t know what the outcome is going to be yet, but there’s just this different kind of feeling.”
Tickets for Big are on sale now. A limited number of general admission tickets are $75 until sell out, when the price will increase. Tier 1 VIP tickets for $125 grant access to the VIP lounge, hosted by Kin Cocktail Bar & Lounge, where guests will enjoy bites and two complimentary drinks inside of a state-of-the-art cocktail bar. Other VIP perks include free massages and access to exclusive performances and DJ sets.
For more information and to secure your tickets to Big: Culture & Arts Festival, visit bigcaf.com.