Afro Plus Fest Drew 20,000 People Last Year — Now It’s Expecting 120,000

With the second edition of Afro Plus Fest about to go down, Travel Noire tapped in with founder Michael Awosanya to get everything you need to know about the festival, its venue, and how to have an amazing time vibing to the best musical artists within the Black/African diaspora. 

Last year, Afro Plus Fest drew around 20,000 people from all over the world to Washington, D.C. This year, the venue has changed from the Festival Grounds at RFK Campus to the Northwest Stadium Complex in Landover, Maryland, a choice Awosanya believes will make things bigger, more streamlined, and more enjoyable for attendees. As someone who proudly reps Prince George’s County, the founder noted that the venue change is also a meaningful move for him, as well as one that will boost the attendee experience and invest in the local economy. 

“Prince George’s County raised me. I was born in Brooklyn, but PG County made me who I am and it’s home to one of the largest and most prosperous African diaspora communities in the country,” said Awosanya. “People kept asking why I didn’t take this to a bigger city like New York or London. It’s because those cities didn’t raise me. And this festival is for the people who did.”

“Everything about Afro Plus Fest comes from that PG upbringing. The block party, community-first feel — everybody outside, all ages. That’s how we move out here. So keeping it home for year two was never a question. The community pushed us to go bigger, and there’s no version of bigger where I pack up and leave home to do it. We built this for us, by us, in the place that made us,” he added.

Regarding this year’s attendee experience at the Northwest Stadium Complex, Awosanya said to expect the best elements of last year’s festival, plus bonus perks of the new venue. It’s still going down over Labor Day weekend (September 4-6, 2026), but instead of being a one-day event, this year’s Afro Plus Fest will be a three-day affair. In addition to taking over the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area for the holiday weekend, the extra days also give the festival more time to include a larger variety of the Black and African diaspora’s best musicians. Also, there will be more Black-owned vendors to shop from, and more activations to help you meet people, party, and make memories.

“The Northwest Stadium Complex gives us world-class infrastructure without losing the open-air, high-energy cultural campus that made RFK so special,” Awosanya promised. “We’re out on the open grounds in Lots E and F, so it still feels like a festival, just with far more room to do what I always pictured.”

“Going from one sold-out day to three full days changes the entire experience. Now there’s room for two big stages plus sub-genre hubs like the Piano District for Amapiano and La Vibe for the Francophone and electronic sound. New this year, we added an interactive basketball court, a full carnival, and a bigger marketplace stacked with Black-owned vendors. No two days feel the same,” Awosanya continued.

Tickets And Pricing

Awosanya acknowledged that this year’s tickets and packages created a stir on social media, with some criticisms challenging pricing. The VIP Owner’s Circle table package, for example, was billed at $20,000. Additionally, single-day general admission tickets weren’t initially offered for purchase.

“I see the conversation, and I’d rather speak to it directly. A festival this size should have a place for everyone, so we built a range of experiences to choose from,” said the founder.

“General admission gets you full access to everything. Five headliners, two stages, the Piano District, La Vibe, the carnival, the basketball court, and a marketplace full of Black-owned vendors across all three days. Then there’s our premium hospitality, like the Owner’s Circle. That one is a full VIP table setup. You get a reserved space for your whole crew, premium bottle service, and the kind of comfort and service that fits people who want to celebrate that way. It’s built for hosting your people in style across the full weekend.”

“The tiers in between give everyone a way to pick what fits how they want to enjoy the festival,” he added, later noting, “The pricing came down to one goal. I want anybody who wants to be here to find a way in. So it runs on a wide ladder. General Admission for three days started at $199 (plus taxes and fees) during the early-bird on-sale and climbs up to premium hospitality for people who want the full table experience. You pick the experience that fits you.”

“Regarding the single-day tickets, I designed this year as one three-day experience where every day is different. Different headliners, different energy, and no single day that’s the same. That’s why the ticket model was originally built around the full weekend. But we opened up single-day general admission tickets because of the demand and to make it even more accessible,” Awosanya explained.

What To Expect At Afro Plus Fest 2026

Attendees can expect a dynamic lineup showcasing genres across the diaspora, including afrobeats, amapiano, dancehall, go-go, and hip-hop. Additionally, there will be vendors, different musical hubs, a carnival, and more.

“The old music industry always tried to box these genres into separate lanes, and that framework feels dated for how my generation enjoys music,” said Awosanya. “So when I put Tems, Ayra Starr, and Alkaline on the same bill as Chief Keef or Lil Baby, you can see the lineage and the connection for yourself. Catch Wizkid or Davido on the main stage, walk over to the Piano District for a deep Amapiano set, then go hear a hip-hop heavyweight, all in one night. And feel DMV go-go heritage right in the mix.”

“This year’s scale is something I’m proud of. We’re projecting 120,000 people across three days, roughly six times the amount of last year. Two stages, the Piano District and La Vibe hubs, and a food operation running over 100 slots with vendors serving cuisines from across the diaspora, plus activations across a range of industries,” said Awosanya.

Commenting on the anticipation and excitement for this year’s festival, the founder said, “Labor Day weekend in the DMV, this diaspora, this party culture. There’s no better time or place for a homecoming.”

Top Tips For Attending Afro Plus Fest

We asked Awosanya to give us the deets on how to make the most of your Afro Plus Fest experience. He shared practical tips on how to plan before the festival and how to have a memorable time. Basically, the best things you can do before the festival include getting your passes and hotel well in advance. Awosanya also shared the reminder that you can book a discounted hotel room rate via the festival’s accommodations partner, Crewfare.

To get to Afro Plus Fest 2026, taking the Metro is strongly advised. Using the Blue or Silver lines of D.C.’s Metrorail will bring you directly to Morgan Boulevard Station, and you skip car traffic. That said, parking (including ADA-accessible parking) will be available on the festival grounds. 

Awosanya said to “get there early and pace yourself.”

“Gates open an hour before performances. You’re outdoors over three days, so hydrate, dress for the weather, and don’t spend all your energy on day one.”

Another tip: The founder said not to stay stuck watching the main stage. 

“There’s a lot to see if you walk around. Hit the Piano District and La Vibe, check out the basketball court, walk the carnival, and eat your way through more than a hundred food vendors serving global cuisine. Shop the marketplace and catch the local acts. Find the DMV designers and Black-owned brands, and pull up early for the ‘Made in the DMV’ sets.”

Finally, Awosanya said to “bring the family and make it a DMV weekend.”

“The festival is all ages, so the kids and the grandparents can pull up too. Then explore the county’s Black-owned spots and nightlife around the festival.”

“Come ready to make a whole weekend of it. The music gets you through the gate. What you find walking around is what makes it a weekend you remember.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.