Erica Campbell and Jonathan McReynolds to Headline Middlesex County’s 2026 Gospel Music Festival
The free annual Gospel celebration returns to New Brunswick with The Group Fire, local artists, food vendors, live streaming, and family-friendly community experiences.
Middlesex County is set to bring Gospel music, culture, and community together once again with the return of its third annual FolkLIVE Gospel Music Festival on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Taking place at Monument Square Park, located at 2 Livingston Avenue, this free outdoor celebration will feature an inspiring lineup led by Grammy Award-winning Gospel artists Erica Campbell and Jonathan McReynolds. Also joining the lineup is Billboard chart-topping Newark-based Gospel group The Group Fire, along with performances from Tangie Cobb, Valarie Adams, Bishop George C. Searight & Royal Priesthood, Myles Cherrette, and DJ RunTheFade.
Presented as part of Middlesex County’s FolkLIVE free community event series, the Gospel Music Festival continues to celebrate African American cultural heritage through the power of live Gospel music. This year’s event will be hosted by Toya Beasley, host of 94.7 The Block, and nationally recognized arts administrator Deonté Griffin-Quick.
The 2026 festival will also include several new attendee amenities designed to make the experience even more enjoyable. The nearby New Brunswick Performing Arts Center will serve as a cooling center and provide a live stream of the event. The Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center is offering concertgoers a promotional rate of $119 per night using group code 665687, valid through July 3, 2026.
Food and beverage vendors will also be on-site, including Delta’s Patty Wagon, McGriff’s Fish and Chips, Just Pies by Lisa, Devvon’s Lemonade, and Jamaica Taste. Free and paid parking options will be available, with Middlesex County RIDE shuttles transporting guests from parking areas to the festival location. Attendees can also access the event by mass transit via the NJ TRANSIT Northeast Corridor Line and Amtrak, exiting at the New Brunswick station.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, sun protection, and cooling accessories as they prepare for an afternoon filled with music, worship, and community connection.
Over the years, Middlesex County’s Gospel Music Festival has welcomed some of Gospel music’s most beloved artists, including Hezekiah Walker, Jekalyn Carr, Fred Hammond, and Kierra Sheard-Kelly, while also highlighting local talent from across the region.
Middlesex County officials say the festival reflects the county’s continued commitment to making arts, culture, and history accessible to residents and visitors while honoring the diverse traditions that help shape Central New Jersey.
The 2026 FolkLIVE Gospel Music Festival is free and open to the public.