A growing Florida festival is putting Tampa talent on a national stage this spring. From April 10 through April 12, downtown Gainesville will transform into a sprawling arts playground for the fourth annual Big: Culture & Arts Festival, a three-day event blending music, visual art, circus performance, and street culture while spotlighting artists from across the state.
More than 100 performers will appear across eight stages throughout the city, including nationally recognized names like Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist, Zack Fox, Navy Blue, and redveil. Tickets are available here, and this year, Tampa artists are showing up in a big way.
Tampa Bay talent takes the spotlight
While the festival attracts artists from across the country, organizers intentionally carved out space for Florida’s music communities, including a strong showing from Tampa Bay.
Co-producer Laila Fakhoury said highlighting Florida artists has been central to the festival since its beginning.
“A lot of the national and touring artists on the lineup are friends who often collaborate with each other, so this creates an energy much like a summer camp or a family reunion,” Fakhoury said. “We want everyone attending Big to feel that kind of comfort, friendliness, and openness to connect with other people.”
That sense of collaboration extends across Florida’s cities, something the organizers say is often missing in the state’s fragmented music ecosystem.
“The Tampa music scene is deep and vibrant,” said festival co-producer Jahi Khalfani. “We’re really excited to see artists from the Gulf Coast showing up this year.”
Tampa Bay’s presence at Big: Culture & Arts Festival includes:
Cannibal Kids
Adia
Rohna
AJ Hall
They Hate Change
Sector.FM
Pilot Jonezz
fesssi k.
T.COUTURE
MILA KILLA
Little Giver
The Pleasantries
Cigar City Records
Donnie Luv
Justin Depth
Jean~Baptiste
Cato Galen (visual artist managing the decompression space and bringing art/activities in)
Photo by Tiffany Fang
BIG festival getting bigger
Big began as a grassroots project from Gainesville creative collective Dion Dia and its community hub How Bazar. What started as a record label and silent disco series eventually grew into a full-scale cultural festival designed to connect artists across the state.
That vision is now expanding rapidly. The 2026 festival will feature more than 100 performers, up from roughly 80 the year before, and will span three outdoor stages and five downtown venues.
Beyond music, attendees can explore visual art installations, fashion shows featuring Florida designers, live screen printing, circus and aerial performances, a car show, and a film program presented by Miami’s Subtropic Film Festival.
Artists discovering Florida’s hidden music scene
For many touring artists, Big also becomes their first real introduction to Florida’s independent music culture.
According to co-producer Laila Fakhoury, some performers arrive without knowing what to expect and leave surprised by the depth of the state’s creative communities.
“One of the artists who performed at the first Big festival was MIKE, and he had actually never been to Florida before,” Fakhoury said. “I think artists who haven’t been here are often shocked at how deep our music scene runs, and how specifically slow and easygoing Gainesville feels compared to the bigger cities they’re used to.”
That slower pace is part of the festival’s charm. After last year’s event wrapped, a handful of visiting performers even extended their stay to explore Florida’s famous freshwater springs.
“A few of the artists ended up going to the springs afterward and really enjoyed themselves,” Fakhoury added. “It’s a totally different environment than what most touring artists experience.”
MIKE performing at BIG fest| Photo by Elise Norman
Creating space for artists to stay in Florida
For Khalfani, who grew up in the rural town of Archer just outside Gainesville, the festival is about building opportunities that allow creatives to remain in Florida instead of moving to popular cities like New York or Los Angeles.
The team has already taken steps toward that goal, including organizing a statewide “Florida tour” that helped connect artists across different cities.
“Florida can feel like a forgotten state in terms of artists rarely touring here,” Fakhoury said. “This feels like a great opportunity to elevate and uplift Florida talent.”
A moment for Tampa’s independent scene
The festival arrives at a moment when independent music infrastructure in Tampa is facing uncertainty.
After 20 years as one of the region’s most important DIY venues, Crowbar is set to close when its lease ends in summer 2026. The venue has long served as a launchpad for emerging artists and touring acts, hosting early performances from bands like Portugal. The Man and Two Door Cinema Club.
For many Tampa artists, festivals like Big represent a rare opportunity to reach broader audiences while keeping Florida’s creative networks connected.
Tickets and details
Advance tickets for the festival are now at $75 for general admission, while $125 VIP passes include access to a lounge hosted by Kin Cocktail Bar & Lounge, plus complimentary drinks, exclusive performances, and additional perks.
If the momentum behind this year’s lineup is any indication, Gainesville may be quickly becoming one of Florida’s most unexpected creative hubs, with Tampa artists helping lead the charge.
Secure your tickets because they will sell out soon!