City and MOJA Arts announce 2026 MOJA Arts Festival Opening in Marion Square

Lunchtime celebration on September 24 features food, fun and a drumline battle. 

Tickets go on sale beginning August 27 with citypapertickets.com.

CHARLESTON, S.C. _ The City’s Office of Cultural Affairs and MOJA Arts, the new 501(c)(3) nonprofit overseeing the national MOJA Arts Festival, are announcing the Festival Opening on September 24 at Marion Square.

The opening celebration, which will resemble an old-fashioned family picnic and drumline battle featuring Burke High School, Timberland High School and Woodland High School, begins at 11 a.m.

Tickets for five MOJA events go on sale August 26. Other events, most of which are free, are being offered by the College of Charleston, the Drummond Studio Gallery and OCA at its new headquarters, the Cannon Street Arts Center.

The celebrated, eight-day MOJA Arts Festival celebrating Black arts, culture and heritage will be held September 24 through October 1 in locations across the city, offering entertainment from local and national stars. This year’s Honorary Chairpersons are Jonathan Green, Carolyn Murray, Michael B. Moore, Brenda Lauderback and Darius Rucker.

2026 marks a turning point for the festival, which was launched in 1979 and re-branded as MOJA in 1984. The 2026 festival is being planned for the first time by MOJA Arts, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is seeking sponsors and funding to cement the festival as a cultural institution and make it a highlight of Charleston’s festival season for years to come. Sponsor packets are available at mojafestival.com.

“We are energized by the continued momentum of the MOJA Arts Festival and remain committed to expanding its visibility, elevating its artistic excellence and raising the bar each year to reflect the creativity, innovation and world-class spirit that define both this extraordinary festival and the City of Charleston,” said Charlton Singleton, Artistic Director of the Festival. 

The festival includes the first Community Heroes Gala at the South Carolina Aquarium on September 24, the much-loved Reggae Block Dance on September 25 and a FREE blockbuster, family-friendly concert on October 1 showcasing albums celebrating their 50^th anniversary. The show, produced by Ray Chew and Vivian Scott Chew of Chew Entertainment and featuring Charleston’s own Tommy Brown and Zandrina Dunning, will feature music from Stevie Wonder’s ”Songs in the Key of Life” (featuring “Sir Duke” and “Isn’t She Lovely);” Parliament’s “Mothership Connection,” a defining P-Funk album; Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You” and Earth, Wind &Fire’s “Spirit” among others. Chew Entertainment returns after a blockbuster Juneteenth Block Party and History Lesson that brought more than 1,000 people to downtown Charleston to dance in the street during a tribute to Michael Jackson. 

“We are so excited to bring together some of the finest talent across the Lowcountry to celebrate some of the best music ever made,” said Charleston’s Director of Cultural Affairs Rochelle Riley. “I cannot wait for my friends from across the country to come to Charleston to experience this amazing display of local talent, cuisine and culture here. We want new sponsors to help MOJA become the best and largest cultural festival in the country.”

The festival also will honor music legend Wonder with a special concert on September 28 specifically celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Wonder’s masterpiece “Songs in the Key of Life,” which was released on September 28, 1976. At the time of the album’s release, the album was the centerpiece of a groundbreaking $13 million contract that Wonder signed with Motown, the largest record deal in history at that time.

Festival highlights include:

September 24

The first MOJA Community Heroes Gala* is at 7 p.m. at the South Carolina Aquarium;

The MOJA Arts Festival Opening Celebration in Marion Square will feature marching bands and food trucks at 11 a.m.

September 25

The annual MOJA Arts Festival Juried Art Exhibition begins at noon at City Gallery at Waterfront Park, with an Opening Reception from 5-7 p.m. The exhibition is on view September 25 – October 25. 

The first MOJA Food Truck Gullah Geechee Cook-off at 4 p.m. with celebrity judges and a $1,000 first-place prize, followed by the annual Reggae Block Dance featuring Kenyatta Hill of Culture at 6 p.m., both at Hampton Park; 

September 26

The MOJA Arts Fitness^#, which begins at 9 a.m. at Hampton Park and the “New Jack Swing” Concert featuring Charlton Singleton at the Charleston Music Hall is next. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m.

September 27

Gospel Extravaganza honoring Men of Gospel* at 4 p.m. at Greater St. Luke AME Church, 78 Gordon Street, Charleston

Black Frequencies: Poetry, Sound & Vision*, the return of Free Verse, presented by past and present Poet Laureates Marcus Amaker and A$iahMae Thomas featuring poetry, original electronic music and live accompaniment. The event is at 7 p.m. at the Cannon Street Arts Center, 134 Cannon Street, also will feature books for sale from local poets in the lobby;

September 28

The Wonder-ful Concert by Demetrius Doctor* at 7 p.m. at the Dock Street Theatre devoted to Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” on the 50^th anniversary of its release;

September 29

Jazmin Ghent*, award-winning international jazz saxophonist, will perform at Dock Street Theatre at 7 p.m.

September 30

The MOJA Kids’ 4^th Grade Readout and Book Giveaway; MOJA Arts will give away 1,500
       books to children across the school district. The MOJA Storytelling will feature Gullah Storytelling at two Charleston County Public Libraries: The John L. Dart Library on King St at 3 p.m. and the Baxter-Patrick Library on James Island at 3:30 p.m.

October 1

The Golden Anniversary Celebration, beginning at 4 p.m. at Hampton Park with the opening of The Wellness Village. The celebration features local food trucks, an artisan village, some surprise pre-concert guests and the Concert, which begins at 8 p.m.

*Ticketed events ^#Registration Required  

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The City of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) guides the city’s investment in and curation of fine and performing arts, culture and history in one of America’s greatest arts and culture hubs. OCA plans the annual Piccolo Spoleto Festival and Juneteenth Block Party and History Lesson and co-sponsors the annual, national MOJA Arts Festival.