⚜️Tank & The Bangas, STS9, Grahame Lesh & More at Joy's Fest After Dark!

The Joy Theater is proud to announce the return of Joy’s Fest After Dark 2026, taking place during the two weeks of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival from April 22 through May 2. This year’s series brings an eclectic lineup of rock, funk, jam, soul, R&B, and hip-hop artists to the stage, including Lukas Nelson, STS9, Take Me To The River All-Stars, Silversun Pickups, Grahame Lesh & Friends, Lettuce, The Heavyweights featuring Oteil Burbridge, and a powerful finale with Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia, and Dawn Richard.

“This year’s Joy’s Fest After Dark is shaping up to be our biggest and most dynamic yet,” says Brian Bourgeois, General Manager of The Joy Theater. “We’ve put together a lineup that spans the sounds fest-goers come to New Orleans for. Late-night shows are a huge part of the Jazz Fest experience, and we’re excited to keep that tradition going with unforgettable performances across both weekends.”

The series kicks off April 22 with Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Lukas Nelson, followed by a two-night run (April 23–24) from genre-defying livetronica pioneers STS9 and their Human Dream Tour. Weekend one closes on April 26 with the Take Me To The River All-Stars, a superjam of legendary artists celebrating the deep musical connection between New Orleans and Memphis through funk, soul, and R&B.

During the days between weekends, indie-alt favorites Silversun Pickups take the stage on April 27, followed by a special two-night run (April 28–29) from Grahame Lesh & Friends, featuring an all-star rotating lineup that blends dead-inspired tradition with New Orleans flair.

The second weekend continues April 30 with Lettuce’s iconic RAGE!Fest, followed May 1 by The Heavyweights — the powerhouse trio of Cory Henry, Eric Krasno, and Robert Searight — joined by special guest Oteil Burbridge.

The series concludes May 2 with Queen’s Night in NOLA, a celebratory finale featuring Tank and the Bangas (their only Fest performance this year), alongside bounce icon Big Freedia and visionary R&B artist Dawn Richard — closing out Joy’s Fest After Dark in true New Orleans style.

When the fest grounds close for the day, the celebration continues just down Canal Street at Joy's Fest After Dark. All shows are on sale now!