Wichita Forever Fest announces full lineup, presenting sponsor
The new festival advertises 100 bands, 10 venues, one day celebrating Wichita music, art, and community.
Wichita Forever Fest, the free celebration of local music, art, and community, has announced its full artist lineup and presenting sponsor ahead of the inaugural festival on Saturday, August 22.
KAKE News is the presenting sponsor for the 2026 festival. This partnership gives Wichita Forever Fest the ability to compensate over 100 local artists for their performances.
Produced by local artists for local artists, Wichita Forever Fest aims to unite creative communities across the city for a one-day event that spotlights Wichita talent. Performances will occur at 10 local venues across Wichita, each with their own music genre and sub-community.
Within one month of launching, the festival received over 250 submissions from local musicians, visual artists, and volunteers. Through fiscal sponsorship with Harvester Arts, the festival is 100% crowdfunded through donors and sponsorships, with all proceeds going directly toward paying artists and covering overhead costs. The festival has already surpassed its first fundraising goal of $10,000, and is now setting its sights on the next milestone of $25,000.
Patrick Heath, co-director of the festival and a local photographer, credits the Wichita music scene’s diversity and depth as a primary source of inspiration.
“With over 100 bands showcasing dozens of genres, Wichita Forever Fest is the perfect opportunity for anyone who is interested in local music to take the leap and experience what our community has to offer,” he said.
Heath hopes Wichita Forever Fest will serve as an attainable platform for novice musicians, stating “This festival is not just for us adults, but also the 13-17 year old kids in Wichita who need that last bit of inspiration to pick up the guitar and start the band they’ve been dreaming of.”
The full festival lineup has officially been released. Check it out at wichitaforeverfest.com/lineup or on Instagram and Facebook @WichitaForeverFest.
Performances will span ten local venues: Harvester Arts, Kirby's Beer Store, Norton's Brewing Company, Central Standard Brewing, The Furnace, The Backbeat, The Arcade, PrimeTime Barbershop, Chainlink Gallery Place, and Simply Sangria.
Learn more about festival sponsorship at WichitaForeverFest.com/support, or meet the team in person at the next fundraising show from 6-9 p.m. August 8 at Harvester Arts for a behind-the-scenes look and a chance to connect with the artists bringing the fest to life.
Announcements are submissions from arts and cultural organizations and community members. They are published at the discretion of SHOUT editors and may be lightly edited. Send press releases and other announcements to emily@shoutwichita.com.
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