DBQFest Returns to Downtown Dubuque’s Washington Park on August 8-9, 2026

DBQFest, Iowa’s longest-running arts fair and festival, returns to downtown Dubuque’s historic Washington Park on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, 2026. This free, family-friendly celebration will transform the park into a vibrant, two-day creative hub featuring 57 regional artists and makers, a packed performance schedule featuring over 150 professional musicians, on-demand poetry, yoga, youth performances, theater, hands-on art activities, and local food trucks.

Festival Hours:

• Saturday, August 8: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with headlininger musical act by Allison Mahal from 4:30–6:00 p.m. followed by DBQFest After Hours at downtown venues from 7:00-11:00 p.m.

• Sunday, August 9: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m, with headlining musical act Sun Centauri from 3-4 p.m.

Visual Artists & Makers Market: A Showcase of Talent from Across the Region

DBQFest invites visitors of all ages to explore an outdoor gallery filled with original paintings, sculptures, handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, woodworking, glass art, and more — all available for purchase directly from the artists.

Returning favorites and fresh new voices will be part of the mix, including Emerging Artist Scholarship recipients Haley Holzer, Martin Vanags, Antonia Wherry, and Alex Moen. Local favorites like Emily Cotton Cram (Daydream Illustration), Liz & Rich Robertson (Cricket Hill Pottery), Jenni Brant (Burro Branch Studios), Amber Carlin (Berlyn Designs), and Jess Ochoa (Paper Rainbow) join a talented lineup that showcases the depth and creativity of the regional arts scene.

Live Performances: Two Stages of Music and Performances

This year’s DBQFest features a thoughtfully curated lineup of diverse performers from across the region to ensure festivalgoers will enjoy free live music and performances on two stages in Washington Park: the Ironside (Main) Stage and the Gazebo Stage all weekend long. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, or grab a spot at one of the public picnic tables to enjoy an exciting mix of emerging talent spanning a wide range of ages and genres. From jazz and singer-songwriters to theater, spoken word, dance, family entertainment, and genre-bending contemporary artists, the lineup reflects the creativity and diversity that have become hallmarks of DBQFest.

Saturday, August 8

Ironside (Main) Stage

10:30 a.m. | The Groundhogs (Jazz)

12:00 p.m. | Faye (Jazz Singer-Songwriter)

1:30 p.m. | Addison Aronson (Singer-Songwriter)

3:00 p.m. | Daniel.Xavier & Co. (R&B)

4:30 p.m. | Allison Mahal (Pop/Rock)

Gazebo Stage

10:00 a.m. | Groundswell Joy Collective (Participatory Arts Experience)

11:30 a.m. | Suonare (Classical Chamber Ensemble)

1:00 p.m. | Royal T Princesses (Family Entertainment)

2:30 p.m. | TK Dynamic (Youth Dance Program)

4:00 p.m. | Centrally Rooted (Youth Music Showcase)

Sunday, August 9

Ironside (Main) Stage

10:30 a.m. | Dick Rogers: Space Detective (Live Radio Theater)

12:00 p.m. | Def Sonic (Electronic/ Singer-Songwriter)

1:30 p.m. | Lamplight Jazz Quartet (Jazz)

3:00 p.m. | Sun Centauri (Future Pop / R&B)

Gazebo Stage

10:00 a.m. | Glab II (Electronic)

11:30 a.m. | The Driftless Guild (Shakespeare Theater)

1:00 p.m. | Madison Loree (Classical Crossover Violin)

2:30 p.m. | Chozen (Spoken Word)

New in 2026: DBQFest After Hours

Presented by Driftless Frequencies, DBQFest After Hours extends the festival experience beyond Washington Park with a new evening concert series hosted at two downtown Dubuque music venues. Following the close of the daytime festival on Saturday, August 8, the community is invited to continue the celebration with free, no-cover performances at The Goose and The Lift.

The series begins from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Goose, with Lame Witch, a Dubuque jazz fusion group known for its adventurous, experimental sound, followed by Iowa City rapper and producer Ion Alexakis, whose thoughtful hip-hop blends working-class storytelling with reflective lyricism.

From 9:30 to 11:30 p.m., DBQFest After Hours continues at The Lift with Cedar Falls singer-songwriter Joel Sires and Run Dog, a young indie Americana rock band whose melodic, guitar-driven sound draws inspiration from the alternative music of the 1990s while feeling distinctly contemporary.

DBQFest After Hours is free to attend, with no cover charge at either venue.

Park Activities, Community Connections & Flavors of the Festival

Food trucks along 6th Street will serve up local flavors and refreshments both days including alcoholic beverages sold by EJs Wine Shop. Community booths will offer visitors a chance to connect with local organizations and learn about community initiatives, while the all-ages Creation Station, sponsored by the Dubuque Museum of Art, invites youth and adults alike to tap into their creativity with hands-on art projects.

Please Note: 6th and 7th Streets between Locust and Bluff Streets will be closed during festival hours. Parking will be restricted on the north side of Locust Street and the south side of Bluff Street next to Washington Park to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees.

Kick off the Weekend: On Friday, August 7, from 5:00–7:00 p.m., the City of Dubuque will unveil its newest Art on the River public sculpture exhibition with an opening reception at the Grand River Center patio, 500 Bell Street. This free, all-ages event invites the community to meet the artists and explore the newly installed sculptures along the Mississippi Riverwalk; for details visit cityofdubuque.org/artontheriver. Galleries and creative spaces throughout downtown Dubuque will host First Fridays events; for details visit firstfridaysdubuque.org.

For the full festival schedule and details, visit www.dbqfest.com or contact Ali Levasseur, DBQfest Director, at di******@*********st.org or 307-630-9447.

About DBQfest: DBQfest is a volunteer-powered program of the Dubuque County Fine Arts Society, a 501c3 organization, whose mission is to support artists and creatives by serving as a fiscal sponsor for collaborative, community-based arts experiences in Dubuque and its surrounding areas. To volunteer, get involved, or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit dbqfest.com.