On April 27, the stage at Tipitina’s will once again become a living, breathing tribute to the sound of New Orleans. Shorty Fest Presented by Acura isn’t just another festival on the city’s packed cultural calendar. It is a celebration of lineage. Of mentorship. Of the music that shaped this city and the young artists who will carry it forward.
Now in its 2026 edition, Shorty Fest serves as the largest annual fundraiser for the Trombone Shorty Foundation, an organization that has spent more than a decade building pathways for young musicians across New Orleans and beyond.
A Lineup Rooted in Tradition and Global Connection
Headlining the night is hometown powerhouse Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, joined by the electrifying Afro-Cuban funk force Cimafunk & La Tribu. The evening also features an impressive roster of special guests, including Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball, Big Freedia, Jelly Joseph, and JoJo Hermann.
But perhaps the most powerful performance of the night will come from the next generation. Students from the Trombone Shorty Foundation will share the stage with Primera Linea, a dynamic youth band from Havana, Cuba which highlights the deep musical ties between New Orleans and Cuba. Over the past several years, the Foundation has fostered cultural exchanges in Havana, strengthening a connection that dates back centuries through rhythm, brass, and Afro-Caribbean influence.
This isn’t symbolic programming. It’s a tangible example of how music moves across borders and how mentorship expands opportunity.
It’s A Community Block Party
The celebration spills beyond the walls of Tipitina’s. Beginning at 5 p.m., the free Cultural Block Party will transform the neutral ground at Napoleon Avenue and Tchoupitoulas into a festival of its own.
Expect brass bands, Mardi Gras Indians, food trucks, a family-friendly kids’ area, and the always-anticipated “Battle of the Bands” between two local high school marching bands. The annual Tipitina’s Walk of Fame induction ceremony will also take place, honoring Roger Lewis of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band which is bound to be a fitting tribute to one of the architects of modern brass band culture.
Doors for the indoor show open at 7 p.m., with music beginning at 8 p.m.
The Mission Behind the Music
Founded in 2012, the Trombone Shorty Foundation was created to formalize what Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews himself experienced growing up in Tremé: access, mentorship, and real-world opportunity. The Foundation provides students with music instruction, industry exposure, business skills, and sustained mentorship, creating performers that are also professionals.
Santrell “Jade” Perdue, a Foundation alumna who now serves as Program Administrator, describes the transformation clearly. Before joining the Foundation, her career was largely regional. Today, she performs nationally and internationally, including on the Shorty Fest stage itself. That arc from student to leader is exactly what the organization was built to achieve.
A Decade of Support
This year also marks ten years of Acura serving as Presenting Sponsor of Shorty Fest. The partnership has gone beyond branding; Acura’s support helps fund transportation and professional experiences for students throughout the year. According to Foundation leadership, those logistical resources are essential to providing real-world exposure that many young musicians would not otherwise access.
Why Shorty Fest Matters
In a city where music is both heritage and economic engine, investing in young musicians supports both preservation and progress at the same time.
Shorty Fest embodies that dual purpose. It honors the past through legends and tradition-bearers. It amplifies the present with world-class performers. And most importantly, it elevates the future by putting students center stage.
On April 27, the spotlight at Tipitina’s won’t just shine on established stars. It will illuminate the next generation of New Orleans culture which will be proof that the city’s sound is not only alive but evolving.
What: Shorty Fest Presented by Acura
When: April 27 (Block Party at 5 p.m., Doors at 7 p.m., Music at 8 p.m.)
Where: Tipitina’s, 501 Napoleon Avenue
Tickets: On sale Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. via tipitinas.com
For more information on the Trombone Shorty Foundation and its programs, visit tromboneshortyfoundation.org.
