Summertime in DC isn’t complete without a great concert. There are several major artists and big music fests coming to town this season, so we compiled a list of a few that you’ll want to add to your calendar.
FESTIVALS
1. Vans Warped Tour
In 2025, The Warped Tour returned to DC after a six-year hiatus to commemorate the rock music festival’s 30th anniversary. This summer, the punk rock mania continues at a two-day showcase featuring more than 80 live acts ($199+ for two-day admission).
2. Home Rule Music Festival
This celebration of DC’s musical roots kicks off at the Parks at Walter Reed on June 20 and ends on October 3 at Alethia Tanner Park. The free outdoor concerts plan to transport festival goers into the cosmos with jazz, soul, go-go, and funk rhythms from artists such as Chuck Brown Band, Melanie Charles, Trouble Funk, and SunRa Arkestra featuring Marshall Allen (free, NoMa, Takoma Park).
3. DC Jazz Festival
Listen to homegrown and international jazz tunes at the District’s most popular ode to the genre. This year’s finger-snapping lineup features award-winning artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet and Kurt Elling, and local musicians Nasar Abadey and Janelle Gill. Most of the shows and concerts will take place at Wharf-area venues: Arena Stage, Union Stage, Pearl Street Warehouse, and the Anthem ($25+).
4. Afro Plus Fest
Afrobeat stars Wizkid, Davido, and Alkaline headline the second iteration of Afro Plus Fest this Labor Day weekend. After a sold-out debut last year, the Afro-Caribbean and hip-hop party is expanding to a multi-day showcase at Northwest Stadium where fans can whine their hips to the beats of ampiano, soca, and other high-energy genres ($199+ for three-day admission).
CONCERTS
5. James Blake
Grammy-winning producer and songwriter James Blake arrives in DC to promote his first self-released album Trying Times—an emotional project featuring melodic hums and R&B vocals ($58).
6. Yungblud
Britain’s genre-defying artist Yungblud performs an electrifying concert at The Anthem. Expect to be on your feet singing along to rock songs “The Funeral” and “Zombie” (sold out, $98+ from third-party sellers).
7. Lizzo with National Symphony Orchestra
Hear your favorite Lizzo pop songs accompanied live by the National Symphony Orchestra. The trained flutist and lyricist will perform at Wolf Trap’s open-air amphitheater Filene Center ($65.50+).
8. The R&B Tour with Usher and Chris Brown
From Usher’s show-stopping Super Bowl performance to Chris Brown’s sold-out Breezy Bowl, the two R&B and dance icons have been touring nearly nonstop over the past two years. Now fans of both Billboard-charting artists can see them perform together live at the Raymond and Brown tour coming to Northwest Stadium this summer for three nights; tickets are going fast ($138+).
9. Noah Kahan with Gigi Perez
Folk-pop vocalist Noah Kahan released his new project The Great Divide last month. Get tickets to his live concert with viral TikTok singer-songwriter Gigi Perez to hear their acoustics and banjo melodies echo through Nats Park ($356+).
10. Bob Dylan
Legendary songwriter Bob Dylan returns to Wolf Trap for two evenings to sing some of his greatest rock and roll poems from the ’60s. The music pioneer is accompanied by Lucinda Williams and Jimmie Vaughan and their respective bands ($65+).
11. Karol G
If you missed Colombian artist Karol G’s explosive Coachella performances, don’t fret. The reggaeton megastar is coming to the DC area this summer to sing songs from her latest tropical-infused record Tropicoqueta; be on the lookout for themed snacks and drinks at Northwest Stadium ($213+).
12. Ella Mai
The British singer’s most recent album Do You Still Love Me? is a grown and sexy R&B project that invites listeners to her inner world of falling in love and the journey that comes along with it. She’s performing intimate tracks from the record to a sold-out audience at The Anthem ($95+ from third-party sellers).
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
