Verified for Summer 2026 – Last updated May 7, 2026
If you’re of the “celebrate life” mindset, welcome to your new happy place, Virginia Beach, where there’s a celebration or event going on every day this summer. OK, we’re exaggerating, but not by much. Visitors and locals come together to listen to music, create art, play beach sports and watch movies under the stars. The famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk – always a lively place – is at its best during the summer season, abuzz with concerts, cultural festivals, surfing competitions and all kinds of fun. Here’s a look at the top summer festivals and events in everyone’s favorite playground, Virginia Beach. And did we mention that many of them are free?
Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Summer
May 22-24, 2026
There’s no better way to say “Howdy, summer!” than with a dance party. (Dancing is optional but we know you’ve been practicing your moves all winter.) Head to the parks on 17th, 24th, and 31st streets for free concerts featuring great local bands in a variety of genres. And check out the banners on the Heroes’ Walk along the boardwalk from 16th Street to the north, featuring essays composed by Virginia Beach students.
VB Street Art Festival
May 29-31, 2026
Pick up some artsy vibes as you watch artists at work at the annual VB Street Art Festival. The ViBe Creative District’s 18th and 19th streets come alive with creativity when 15 artists live-paint and add 15 new murals to neighborhood-identifier sculptures in this art-bedazzled area. Admire student murals and skate deck artwork, and bring your own inner artist to the community this summer.
Jackalope Virginia Beach
May 29-31, 2026
Experience the high-energy excitement of the Jackalope Festival Virginia Beach, where elite athletes and rising talent gather at the Oceanfront for a weekend of adrenaline-fueled competition and culture. Think world-class competitors and demos from the adrenaline-filled worlds of skateboarding, bouldering, freestyle motocross, BASE jumping and skimboarding. This free event takes place at 31st Street Park and on oceanfront courses. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t want to miss!
USO Experience Music Concert Series
May 30- June 1, 2026
Our brave military members and their families know how to get a groove on. For proof, pop over to the USO Experience concerts held at 17th and 24th street parks on the boardwalk and open to all. These free concerts feature a great line-up of local bands and are part of an event that includes kayaking, skydiving and other experiences and activities for military families.
Point Break Music Festival
June 20-21, 2026
Reggae and the beach go together like, well, Jamaican rum and pineapple juice. The annual Point Break Music Festival brings the best reggae musicians to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Among 20 acts, headliners include Grammy nominee rock band Rebelution, alt-rockers Sublime, along with performances from other well-known artists across reggae, rock, and hip-hop. This ticketed event starts at noon and goes until late.
North America Sand Soccer Championships
June 5-7, 2026
Sand soccer is a thing? You bet. The sand will fly during the 32nd annual world’s largest celebration of beach sports culture. The main event is the U.S. Open of beach soccer, with 11,000-plus players and cash prizes. But wait, there’s more: 30 whole blocks of amateur soccer, volleyball, kickball and flag football, all played on the beach. Not to mention 50+ vendors, musical entertainment and a free kids’ clinic.
Chalk the Walk
June 13, 2026
You can talk the talk, but can you chalk the walk? Skip the hopscotch, but otherwise, the sky’s the limit at this chalk art extravaganza. Participants will create 4×4-foot chalk drawings on the boardwalk from 16th to 18th streets, inspired by the theme “Wonderful World of Color.” The event is open to youth, amateur and professional artists alike. Registration is required (and BYO chalk).
JazzTeenth
June 20, 2026
JazzTeenth expands how Juneteenth is celebrated in Virginia Beach, centering Black history, music, and artistic expression in a vibrant Oceanfront setting. This one-day festival brings together residents, visitors, and local creatives for a shared cultural experience, featuring live jazz, R&B, and spoken word performances alongside visual art, local vendors, and interactive programming. With something for music lovers, families, and visitors alike, JazzTeenth highlights the creativity and culture that shape Virginia Beach’s community.
Hampton Roads Pride at the Beach
June 28, 2026
Pride Week’s glorious finale is Pride at the Beach, a rainbow-hued party with beachside DJs, food trucks, vendors and live entertainment including fab headliner, The Lady Gaga Tribute. Neptune’s Park (the boardwalk at 31st Street) is the setting for this celebration of diversity, love and inclusion. This event is free (you can also choose to spring for a VIP lounge upgrade.)
La Fiesta Virginia Beach
June 26-27, 2026
Experience the vibrant energy of La Fiesta Virginia Beach, a two-day celebration of Latino culture, food, and music at the Oceanfront. Held at 24th Street Park and on the beach, the festival features live performances, authentic cuisine, and colorful cultural traditions. Friday’s events are free and open to the public at 24th Street Park, while Saturday’s ticketed concert takes place on the beach, bringing high-energy Latin music to the Oceanfront. With food vendors, live entertainment, and a lively coastal setting, La Fiesta offers a festive way to experience the sights and sounds of Latin culture in Virginia Beach.
July 4th Stars & Stripes Celebration
July 4, 2026
Hooray for the red, white, blue – and gold, purple, sparkly silver and other spectacular fireworks colors that light up the sky over Virginia Beach on Independence Day. The waterfront is a stunning backdrop for star-spangled festivities. Live concerts take place at park stages along 17th, 24th, and 31st streets, including a performance by the Tidewater Winds Concert Band at 24th Street Park. The evening comes to an exciting end with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m., offering a memorable Fourth of July experience by the water.
Totally Tribute Music Fest
July 10-11, 2026
Party with tribute bands that span the generations at this free two-night bash. Go ahead, sing along, you know all the words. Held at 17th and 24th Street Parks, this free event features performances from talented tribute acts spanning multiple genres and generations. With waterfront stages and a lively atmosphere, it’s a fun way to experience familiar favorites and timeless hits by the beach.
Beach Blanket Movie Series
Thursdays June 18- August 20, 2026
Beach blanket? Check. Snacks? Check. All you need are the kids (or yourself, a kid-at-heart) to enjoy free movies under the stars at 29th Street on the beach. Shows begin at 8:30 p.m. The family-friendly line-up (rated G to PG-13) includes A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, Zootopia 2, and throwback favorites like Hocus Pocus, The Karate Kid, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Who can resist the big screen at the beach? (Please pass the Twizzlers.)
SonRise Music Festival
August 15-16, 2026
Don’t miss the biggest Christian music festival in Hampton Roads. The SonRise Music Festival is a family-friendly event that features worship, live music, beach games, special guests and lively fellowship, all on the oceanfront at 24th Street.
Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships
August 23-30, 2026
This is the big kahuna: the world’s longest-running surf competition, now in its 64th year. Hundreds of surfers will compete for titles and prizes, sharing the love of surfing as they carve up the coastline from the 1st Street jetty to 11th Street. This crazy-cool celebration of beach culture includes beach volleyball, a 5K race, street skate and ramp contests and a live concert series on the beach.
Virginia Beach Funk Fest Beach Party
August 28-29, 2026
“Ain’t it funky now,” sang James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, in 1971. Things will get “way funky” on the beach at 26th Street when the Funk Fest Beach Party comes to town. Funk – music evolved from R&B, jazz, gospel and the blues, and greats like Brown and George Clinton – will provide a soulful soundtrack, enhanced by great food and vendors galore. The event is free (or pay a fee for preferred viewing).
Neptune’s Coastal Craft Beer Festival
August 15, 2026
Beer and the beach are the perfect pairing for a brew fan. Sip the suds, including local Virginia beers, ciders and seltzer, as well as regional and national craft beer brands, at the 11th annual beer-lovers’ festival at Neptune’s Park. Choose among more than 60 beers from 30 brewers, brewed in collaboration with New Realm and Back Bay brewing companies. There will be live music and food trucks, too. This is a ticketed, age 21-and-over event.
Labor Day Weekend
September 4-6, 2026
It’s the unofficial end of summer, but no need to cry into your Orange Crush. There is still plenty of fun to be had. Say “See ya, summer” with like-minded souls and lots of free live music at 17th, 24th and 31st Street parks to celebrate Labor Day all weekend long. Go ahead, let loose: Jump into the surf, have a huge plate of oysters, and dance in the sand.
Oceanfront Concert Series
Most Wednesdays from May 27- August 19, 2026
Live music with a backdrop of ocean – it doesn’t get better than this! Virginia Beach delivers with the free Wednesday night summer concert series, held at 17th Street and 24th Street parks along the Boardwalk. Bring a beach blanket, towel or chair (but no alcohol, please) and settle in for some great music. The line-up includes performers like The Wailers, The War and Treaty, Moon Taxi, MC Lyte, Umphrey’s McGee, and All-4-One, along with many more throughout the summer.
Town Center’s Ynot Wednesdays
Every Wednesday, June 10-August 26, 2026
The outdoor plaza at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts transforms into a lively scene of live music, food and drinks on Ynot Wednesdays from 5-9 p.m. A local band performs live each week; genres represent a range of music, from big brass to Motown to alt rock. A craft corner will keep the little ones occupied. And it’s free! Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Symphony by the Sea Concert Series
Select days July-September 2026
The Virginia Beach Neptune Festival presents its 15th season of free summer concerts at 31st Street Park on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Five concerts will feature the renowned Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Symphonicity Orchestra. Pro tip: Arrive early; concert-goers fill the park quickly. Or pony up for a VIP membership with reserved seating privileges.
Getting Around Virginia Beach in 2026
Planning ahead can make getting to and from summer events in Virginia Beach much easier. With large crowds and popular festivals throughout the season, knowing your transportation and parking options can save time and reduce stress.
Seasonal trolley routes are a convenient way to get around the Oceanfront and nearby event areas. From mid-May through Labor Day, Hampton Roads Transit operates the VB Wave Trolley and Bayfront Shuttle, with routes running along Atlantic Avenue and connecting areas like Rudee Inlet and First Landing State Park. Be sure to check the latest trolley schedules and routes before heading out.
Parking can fill up quickly during major events and festivals, especially near the Oceanfront. Paid parking is seasonal (April–October), with municipal garages located at 9th, 25th, and 31st streets along Pacific Avenue. Rates are typically around $2 per hour (with daily maximums). Parking meters accept coins, credit or debit cards, text-to-pay and mobile payment apps like PassportParking and ParkMobile making it easy to find and pay for spots.
Ride-share services are also widely available, with designated drop-off and pick-up zones near many major events. These can be a great alternative to driving, particularly during peak times.
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