83rd National Folk Festival and Mississippi Arts Commission Unveil Captivating Program for Festival’s Mississippi Folklife Area

Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story puts a spotlight on the ways the state’s folk traditions have influenced the nation

Jackson, MS, September 1, 2026 —The wide-ranging program for the 83rd National Folk Festival’s Mississippi Folklife Area & Stage was announced today at a press conference inside the House Chamber at the Old Capitol Museum. This is the event’s second year of a three-year residency, scheduled to take place November 13-15, 2026, in Downtown Jackson.

On hand for today’s announcement were Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) Executive Director David Lewis, and Director of the Two Mississippi Museums Michael Morris. Also participating were Shaquita Chapman, Community Engagement & Strategic Communications Coordinator, National Folk Festival; and Blaine Waide, Executive Director, National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). To provide a preview of the rich and varied program that will be on offer in November, three participants in this year’s program were also featured at the press conference: Rising Stars Fife & Drum, keepers of a singular African American fife and drum legacy; quilters from Mississippi Cultural Crossroads; and Geno Lee with the Big Apple Inn.”

The Mississippi Folklife Area & Stage is a special component of the National Folk Festival, celebrating and showcasing the traditions held deeply in the state's diverse communities. With a different theme each year, the Folklife Area shines a spotlight on the distinctive music, rituals, crafts, occupations, foodways, and other traditions at the heart of Mississippi's cultural heritage, expressing both the state’s deep history and its evolving character.

From the Gulf Coast to the Delta and the Prairie to the Hill Country, this area presents the best traditional musicians, artisans, and foods in Mississippi, in curated programs that celebrate the state’s rich, varied, and unique culture. Performances, demonstrations, displays, exhibits, and narrative presentations explore a wide range of topics, including the traditions of its Native peoples, the cultural legacies of families who have called the state home for generations, and the expressions of the newest Mississippi residents whose cultural roots are in far-flung places around the globe.

Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story

For 250 years, Mississippi culture has flowed continually outward to shape the nation. The state's folk traditions speak to the heart of America, particularly when it comes to food and music. From church hymns to juke joints, and kitchen tables to gameday tailgates, Mississippi's traditions are meant to be shared and continually remade. Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story, a special program curated by the Mississippi Arts Commission, honors the state's contributions to the nation's artistic and cultural excellence. It celebrates artists, musicians, cooks, friends, and families who carry the past forward and communities where creativity is a shared act. Here, traditions remind us that Mississippi's cultural soul does not simply belong to one state but enriches the entire nation

“America’s rich palette and sounds are rooted right here in Mississippi,” said David Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission. “With southern soul and a side of comeback sauce, we continue our celebration of America’s 250th with a focus on the music and flavors Mississippi has cultivated for generations. We can’t wait for everyone to experience what Mississippi has brought to the table this year.”

"The Folklife Area is always a vital part of the National Folk Festival experience, but that’s especially true this year, " said NCTA Executive Director Blaine Waide. "Mississippi Flavor is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reflect on the state’s contributions, not just as the ‘birthplace of America’s music,’ but as the source of so much of our nation’s artistic and cultural legacy.”

Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story will feature:

Alan Sibley & the Magnolia Ramblers of Ackerman, combining classic bluegrass standards, original gospel sounds, and classic instrumental licks in a style that harkens back to the music’s founding generation.

Annie & the Caldwells of West Point, blending fiery gospel sounds with the slow-burn groove of soul, making this family band a longtime favorite on the gospel circuit in Mississippi’s Golden Triangle, and of late, across the world

Big Apple Inn of Jackson, a community staple for nearly 80 years, serving up classic southern soul food like their famous pig ear sandwiches. 

Cedric Burnside of Holly Springs, an innovator and torch bearer for the spellbinding Hill Country blues tradition, bridging the music’s legacy and future, transmitting deeply held blues stories in a fresh, contemporary voice.

Chimneyville Weavers & Spinners Guild of Jackson, sharing the time-honored practice of creating textiles by hand using tools that predate modern technology. 

Eddie Cotton, Jr. of Clinton, a master of soul blues moving audiences, body and spirit, with blistering guitar work, stirring vocals, and a hard-driving style rooted in the church of his youth.

Eden Brent of Greenville, a blues pianist, vocalist, songwriter, and educator carrying forward the rich sounds of Mississippi Delta blues and boogie-woogie piano.

Edna Nicole & Rev. Slim of Clarksdale, performing their mix of Delta blues, gospel, soul, and funk that draws inspiration from the community and people around them.

Hollywood Luck of Jackson, a hip hop artist, producer, and songwriter, celebrating the creativity and energy of southern hip hop.

Jarita Frazier-King of Natchez, sharing her signature twist on traditional southern soul food and Creole classics. 

Jemero Carter & Kingdomology of Oxford, playing a compelling mix of traditional, contemporary, and trap gospel—creating music that celebrates the continuing evolution of a signature southern sound.

The Church of the Living God, “Home of the Sacred Steel Players,” of Tupelo, offering a rare opportunity to experience the distinctive sacred steel musical tradition of the Church of the Living God, Jewell Dominion.

Lady Trucker of Holly Springs, a cousin of Jessie Mae Hemphill, performing the blues and gospel of her roots, celebrating the rich musical traditions of North Mississippi’s Hill Country.

Las Delicias of Leland, demonstrating their award-winning version of a distinctive Mississippi staple, Delta tamales.

Leda & Annie Issac of Choctaw, sharing their knowledge of traditional Choctaw culinary traditions that have been practiced in Mississippi for millennia.

Los Preeminentes of Greenwood, a family band that has transported Northern Mexico’s classic norteño sounds to the Delta. 

Melony Armstrong of Tupelo, showcasing her skills as an expert hairbraider and sharing her craft with festivalgoers of all ages. 

Mississippi Cultural Crossroads of Port Gibson, sharing the rich quilting traditions of the region, including string quilts and their newest collaborative quilt celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.  

Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum of Cleveland, showcasing the rich and vibrant customs brought to the Delta by Chinese immigrants, from grocery stores to wok demonstrations, chopstick tutorials, and mahjong. 

Palmer Robbins of Jackson, demonstrating traditional blacksmithing techniques. 

Peter Sherman of Natchez, a bowl hewer, showcasing a form of woodworking using an adze, a seldom-seen, historic woodworking tool.

Rising Stars Fife & Drum of Coldwater, infusing the centuries-old African American fife and drum tradition with a new energy and youthful spirit, keeping the flame of her grandfather Otha Turner’s legacy.

Shane Sekul of Ocean Springs, demonstrating boatbuilding and boat restoration by sharing the time-honored skills that serve Mississippi boatbuilders of past and present. 

Southern Boyz Grabbling of Olive Branch, sharing the uniquely southern practice of catfish grabbling, also known as noodling.

Bringing the tailgating traditions of a Saturday college gameday to the festival, with tailgaters from Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Mississippi. 

More artists may be added at a later date.

Several of these artists, along with others who have been previously announced, will also participate in pop-up street performances, providing festivalgoers a unique way to interact and engage with festival performers. Schedule and festival site details, including performance times, will be announced in the fall.

Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will take part in the National Folk Festival, with more than 30 different musical groups performing on as many as six outdoor performance venues throughout Downtown Jackson.

Over 15 people of different backgrounds—and with a deep knowledge of music and art forms—came together from across Mississippi to serve as the local Festival Programming Advisory Committee. This committee’s role is to consider—and help the NCTA select—the artists who will perform at the National Folk Festival each year.

This year marks the second year of the festival’s three-year residency in Jackson, Mississippi, and will prominently feature National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship recipients, our nation’s highest honor for the traditional arts, in a special program celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The 83rd National Folk Festival is also participating this year in Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, a series of programs and exchanges marking the U.S. Semiquincentennial and showcasing the country’s remarkable cultural landscape. 

To learn more about these artists and their stories, please visit nationalfolkfestival.com/artists. The National Folk Festival will feature individual artists on its Facebook page (facebook.com/NFFJackson) and Instagram (instagram.com/NFFJackson) throughout the summer.

The 83rd National Folk Festival will prominently feature National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship recipients, our nation’s highest honor for the traditional arts, in a special program celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The festival is also participating in Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, a series of programs and exchanges marking the U.S. Semiquincentennial and showcasing the country’s remarkable cultural landscape.

The National Folk Festival is a partnership of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Jackson, Jackson Redevelopment Authority, Visit Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Humanities Council, Visit Mississippi, the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and the National Park Service. The festival is FREE to the public.

The 83rd National Folk Festival, presented by Ergon / Alliant, is also sponsored by Amazon, AT&T, Atmos, BankPlus, Barbour Hurst, Capital Area Tourism Association, Cathead Distillery, City of Flowood, Clarion Ledger / LocalIQ, Comcast, C Spire, Entergy, Explore Louisiana, Explore Ridgeland, Fertile Ground, the Foundation for Mississippi History, Hal & Mal’s, Hinds County Economic Development Authority, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, iHeart Radio, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, Kellogg Foundation, Levitt Foundation, the MAX, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, the Mellon Foundation, Morgan Stanley, Neel-Schaffer, Nissan Foundation, Phil Hardin Foundation, Regions Bank, Renasant Bank, South Arts, Southern Beverage, StateStreet Group, Trustmark Bank, Visit Vicksburg, VitalCore Health Strategies, Volunteer Mississippi, Westin Jackson, Where Y’At Magazine, and WJTV.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

This project received funding from the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250 years.

For festival media inquiries, please contact Allison Ford, allison@ivpr.com, or Sydney Griffin, sydney@ivpr.com.