A free three-day festival and conference will bring nationally recognized artists, educational workshops, networking opportunities, and Chicago’s independent music scene together over Labor Day weekend.
FAST FACTS
- What: GoodWaves Music Festival & Conference
- When: August 28-30, 2026
- Where: Venue Six10 & The Salt Shed Fairgrounds
- Cost: Free, advance registration required
- Festival Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026
- Conference Dates: Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29, 2026
Chicago’s festival calendar is getting another major addition this summer.
Groundwaves, the hip-hop community movement founded by rapper MURS, is bringing its first annual GoodWaves Music Festival & Conference to Chicago for a free, three-day celebration of music, education, networking, and culture.
The event takes place Friday, August 28 through Sunday, August 30, 2026, with the conference happening at Venue Six10 and the festival closing out the weekend at The Salt Shed Fairgrounds.
Presented by MURS 3:16 and Groundwaves in association with Good Chaos, GoodWaves is designed to bring together acclaimed hip-hop artists, rising independent talent, and Chicago’s creative community.
Admission is free, but advance registration is required at goodwavesfestival.com.
A LINEUP THAT BLENDS LEGENDS WITH CHICAGO TALENT
The Sunday festival will feature performances from a stacked lineup of national acts and Chicago-connected artists.
Scheduled performers include Killer Mike, Snow Tha Product, DJ Premier, Rapsody, Brother Ali, Dee-1, Navy Blue, Coyote x Statik Selektah, Propaganda, Lily Fangz, Recoechi, Pinqy Ring, Urbanized Music, June, Bella BAHHS, M.E.R.C., STR8 BarZzz, Mastermine, DA’LIGHTBEAM, and TMC Records.
Hosting duties will be handled by Slot-A, B4Lasers, Coolout Chris, and Binkey.
Tickets for the festival are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
MORE THAN JUST PERFORMANCES
Before the festival, GoodWaves will host a two-day conference on August 28 and August 29 at Venue Six10.
The conference will feature one-on-one conversations live on stage with Killer Mike, Snow Tha Product, DJ Premier, Vic Mensa, Styles P, Rapsody, Dee-1, April Walker, Estevan Oriol, and The Company Man.
There will also be writing and performance workshops led by Brother Ali and Phenom.
Unlike the festival, the conference will only hold 400 attendees. Those interested must apply to attend for free at goodwavesfestival.com.
GROUNDWAVES BRINGS ITS BIGGEST EXPANSION TO CHICAGO
Groundwaves launched in 2018 as a hip-hop community movement created by MURS to give artists more than just a stage.
Through open mics, mentorship, social events, and community programming, Groundwaves has created spaces where artists can perform, receive feedback, connect with mentors, and build relationships inside the hip-hop community.
Previous Groundwaves seasons have taken place in Fort Collins, Denver, Tulsa, and Northwest Arkansas. Chicago now represents the movement’s largest expansion to date.
“I’m so happy to partner with Good Chaos to put together this free multi-day event in Chicago, a legendary city for festivals and free public programming. GoodWaves is what I always dreamed my Paid Dues festival would evolve into.”
— MURS 3:16, Founder of Groundwaves
MURS also said the conference gives the Groundwaves community a chance to hear from and build with hip-hop legends, while the festival platforms some of the best performers in the nation alongside Chicago talent.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Chicago has always been an important city in hip-hop, from its legendary artists to its independent music infrastructure and festival culture.
What makes GoodWaves stand out is the mix of access and education. It is not just a concert. It is a space for artists, producers, managers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and fans to connect with people who have shaped the culture.
For rising artists, the free conference creates an opportunity to learn from respected voices in music, fashion, photography, media, and performance. For fans, the festival brings a major lineup to one of Chicago’s most recognizable outdoor venues at no cost.
With Groundwaves and Good Chaos partnering to bring this experience to the city, GoodWaves has the potential to become a yearly destination for hip-hop discovery, collaboration, and community building in Chicago.
EVENT DETAILS
GoodWaves Music Festival
- Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026
- Venue: The Salt Shed Fairgrounds, Chicago, IL
- Admission: Free and all ages, registration required
- Tickets: goodwavesfestival.com
GoodWaves Music Conference
- Date: Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29, 2026
- Venue: Venue Six10, Chicago, IL
- Admission: Free with limited capacity
- Apply: goodwavesfestival.com
BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION
Would you attend a free three-day hip-hop festival and conference featuring Killer Mike, DJ Premier, Rapsody, Snow Tha Product, Vic Mensa, Brother Ali, and some of Chicago’s rising creative voices?
Let us know who you are most excited to see.
Source: GoodWaves Music Festival & Conference Press Release
