Evolution Festival has announced that the Forest Park–based music festival will not return in 2026. The event has been “placed on pause,” according to organizers, in order to avoid conflict with other major events taking place in the region over the next year.
A press release announcing the pause for 2026 cited events such as America’s 250th birthday, the World Cup, and the Olympics as the reason for the lack of an event this coming fall. The weekend-long music festival, which is typically held at Forest Park’s Langenberg Field in late September, aims to celebrate music, art, food, and spirits as well as the “essence of St. Louis.” Evolution has seen acts such as Ice Cube, Brandi Carlile, Tom Morello, Beck, TLC, Sublime, and more make their way to its stages since launching in 2023.
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READ MORE: The best of Evolution Festival 2025
“While 2026 is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy year for our city, we remain incredibly proud of what Evolution has built and the enthusiasm our community continues to show,” said Steve Schankman, founder and executive producer of Evolution, in the same release. “From day one, our goal has been to create an experience that brings people together, celebrates music, and positively impacts our region. That mission will never pause.”
Details beyond 2026 are unclear, but Schankman says that he and the Evolution team are still looking toward the future of the fest.
“We’ll miss gathering with our fans at Evolution Festival next year, but we’re excited about what’s ahead,” Schankman said. “This break gives us room to innovate and evolve while ensuring we continue to produce the high-quality event our audience expects.”
