NMAAM Launches Black Music Month 2026

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The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) has officially launched Black Music Month 2026, a month-long celebration honoring the artists, organizations and communities that have shaped American music. This year’s theme, “The Soundtrack Continues — 250 years in the making. Five years in the telling. Far from finished,” will be celebrated throughout June at NMAAM’s home in downtown Nashville as the museum marks its fifth anniversary as the home of Black Music Month.

The month features more than 15 special events across four genre-focused weeks, including artist talks, new exhibitions, live podcast recordings, film screenings, community events, a music and healing summit, and the first Black Music Executive Toast. Grammy Award-winning artist and producer PJ Morton has been named the 2026 Grand Marshal of Black Music Month. His exhibition, Saturday Night Sunday Morning, opens June 18.

“This is the year everything we have built comes into full view,” says Dr. Dexter D. Evans, Deputy Director of Strategy & Advancement at NMAAM. “Five years ago, we opened our doors and declared that Music Starts Here. This June, we prove it. Living legends in our galleries, emerging artists on our stages, and a community that knows this museum belongs to them.”

The following events will take place throughout the month at the museum:
• We Sound Crazy: Live Studio Audience Taping with George Clinton (June 3). Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and P-Funk founder George Clinton headlines a live taping of the We Sound Crazy podcast.
• BEEN Country: Black Roots and Rhythm (June 5). Returning to CMA Weekend, this year’s program is headlined by Rissi Palmer, founder of Color Me Country Radio and the Color Me Country Artist Fund.
• Swamp Dogg: In Conversation (June 6). The six-decade recording legend joins the museum for an intimate conversation and artifact donation in celebration of his new album; Swamp Dogg Contemplates the Afterlife.
• In The Pocket: Guy Davis (June 7). An intimate afternoon with the blues storyteller and son of legendary actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.
• First Note: Black Creators Night (June 13), presented by Wilson Bank & Trust. A celebration of emerging Black creators across music, content, and culture, with a performance by Summer Joy.
• Institutional Summit on Music, Healing & the Future (June 17), presented by HCA Healthcare. A targeted convening of music industry leaders, healthcare innovators, educators, and community organizations, featuring three moderated panels, a live performance lunch with Gabe Baker, participatory sound experiences, and a town hall. The summit also features The Blackbyrds, jazz-funk pioneers and Donald Byrd protégés whose catalog has been sampled by Tupac Shakur, Nas, De La Soul, and generations of hip hop artists, making a historic return to Nashville.
• PJ Morton Exhibition Opening: Saturday Night Sunday Morning (June 18). The landmark exhibition opens on the evening of June 18, followed by an exclusive listening party for Morton’s forthcoming album. On view through September 30.
• Black Music Executive Toast (June 18). The inaugural industry networking event celebrates the executives, managers, attorneys, publicists, and operators driving Black music forward. Featuring a live set by DJ Smoke and the Smoke Show.
• Juneteenth Community Day at NMAAM (June 19). A free daytime celebration across multiple activations including a film screening presented by Nashville Film Festival plus live performances by Halo, a barbershop quartet ensemble, and AfricaNashville.
• Juneteenth615 Pop-Up Museum at Centennial Park (June 19), presented in partnership with Juneteenth615, Nashville Predators, and Nissan. An off-site activation bringing NMAAM into the heart of Nashville’s community spaces.
• FRONT ROW (June 26). NMAAM’s signature artist conversation series returns with a one-night-only honor for a major artist still under wraps. Every ticket includes a one-year NMAAM membership.
• R&B Bingo: Pride Edition (June 27). The museum’s signature interactive series returns with a Pride celebration of LGBTQ+ artists who shaped R&B.
• Soul Food Sundays (Sundays in June). A four-week culinary and cultural series celebrating the food, music, and community traditions that sustain Black culture.

Madison Hahnen
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