- By Mabel Pais
The North to Shore Festival of New Jersey will return for a fourth year in June 2026, marking the start of the summer season in New Jersey with two full weeks of music and comedy performances in the state’s most vibrant cities.
The Garden State’s annual largest arts and music festival is produced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) of Newark in collaboration with a cohort of production partners, sponsors and community organizations.
During June 13-28, North to Shore will light up Newark and Asbury Park with performances featuring a dynamic lineup of internationally acclaimed musical performers, the biggest names in comedy, and rising local artists who help define New Jersey’s vibrant creative landscape. The performances will take place at venues including Prudential Arena, NJPAC’s Prudential Hall, Victoria Theater and Chambers Plaza, Stone Pony Summer Stage, Wonder Bar and more spaces in Asbury Park’s boardwalk district.
Launched in 2023, the festival is a unique combination of performances by artists beloved both internationally and in their hometowns. In 2025, during its third year, the festival welcomed more than 160,000 arts-lovers to performances and events in Newark, Asbury Park and Atlantic City. Its social media outreach captured an audience of more than 1.1 billion, and more than 180 radio, television and online features spread the word of festival offerings.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill said, “By investing directly in local artists and small businesses, we are ensuring this festival’s legacy isn’t just a two-week celebration with global headliners, but a lasting driver for opportunity and growth in every corner of our state.”
“”North to Shore” has always been about celebrating both the artists who perform on our biggest stages and the creative voices shaping New Jersey’s communities year-round,” said David Rodriguez, Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, NJPAC. “By partnering with trusted local organizations, we are expanding access to resources and ensuring the festival continues to reflect the authentic cultural identity and artistic excellence found in each host city.”
Newark
Janelle Monáe, The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Joe Bonamassa, Iliza Shlesinger, and Jesse & Joy are among the international superstars who will perform at the festival in Newark.
“This festival reflects the spirit, diversity, and talent that define our city. We are proud to partner with NJPAC and our cultural organizations to ensure residents and visitors alike can experience the extraordinary artistic energy that thrives here in Newark,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “North to Shore has an established track record of bringing communities together to celebrate the cultural excellence that makes our state unique,” said John Schreiber, President and CEO of NJPAC.
Asbury Park
Yellowcard, Kurt Vile, Black Uhuru, David Cross, The Bouncing Souls, Happy Mondays, and more will perform in Asbury Park. Additional performances will be presented throughout the shore region, including ParkStage at East Freehold Park Showgrounds featuring Sublime, The Head and The Heart, and Dark Star Orchestra.
“By bringing together internationally recognized performers and local talent, the festival drives tourism, supports small businesses, and spotlights the creative spirit that has made Asbury Park an iconic destination for music and the arts,” Asbury Park Mayor John Moor.
Atlantic City
The festival launched a full year of community arts programming in Atlantic City in May 2025. Dozens of North to Shore Festival concerts, parties and workshops — including a Dias de los Muertos celebration, the pop-up art gallery ARTeriors and the third annual Bash at Back Sov, a celebration of punk music and skateboarding — have welcomed Atlantic City residents and visitors alike every month since.
This spring, dozens of young artists from across Central and Southern New Jersey will be highlighted by the festival’s ongoing “Garden State Live!” showcase concerts at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. “AC Jamming!,” a concert and open mic series at Gin Rickey’s Live Music Bar at the Tropicana Casino Hotel, will bring both veteran and new performers center stage.
And city teens will have a platform to share their words and experiences at free monthly Dodge Poetry Workshops held at Stockton University’s Noyes Arts Garage; the series’ finale will be a Youth Showcase at which the city’s young poets can read for friends, family and the community.
All the festival’s Community Arts events are free or reasonably priced, to ensure events are easily accessible to both Atlantic City residents and visitors.
POETRY FOR ATLANTIC CITY TEENS
- The FREE “Dodge Poetry” series will offer writing workshops for Atlantic City teens at Stockton University’s Noyes Arts Garage, at 2200 Fairmount Avenue, once a month on Monday afternoons. Young people are invited to join teens from across Atlantic City to showcase their words and ideas in verse, and then (if they choose) speak them aloud at the open mic that ends every session. Snacks and notebooks will be provided. Workshops were scheduled for March 16, 2026, April 13, 2026, will continue at 4:30 PM on May 18, 2026, and to celebrate the work of the teen poets, a “Youth Poetry Showcase” will be held at 1 PM on Sunday, June 14, 2026, where friends and family can hear the young writers share their work.
Tickets & Updates
For tickets for events, visit www.NorthtoShore.com. Additional lineup announcements and event details will be released throughout the spring.
For the latest festival updates, follow North to Shore on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.
NJPAC is producing this multi-city celebration in collaboration with this year’s festival sponsors Prudential Financial, NJEDA, NJM Insurance Group, Outfront Media Group, United Airlines, Mosaic – from NJ.com, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and AirBnB. Producing Partners for this year’s “North to Shore” include Madison Marquette; Newark International Film Festival; SJ Presents; and Live Nation.
A portion of all ticket sales will directly benefit “Growing Healthy Pantries,” a statewide collaborative that addresses food insecurity in partnership with New Jersey’s five primary food banks, supporting more than 1,000 local pantries across all 21 counties.
Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Education, Business, Spirituality, Health and Wellness, and Cuisine.
Be the first to comment