Music festival season is about so much more than great tunes. It's about community. The outfits, the food, the atmosphere and the people come together to create a vibe that feels open and freeing. Madison's live music festivals create safe spaces for people of all musical interests to embrace their creativity and let go of their worries, if only for a couple hours. 

How do you know which music festival is right for you? We've created this guide to find which musical event matches what you're looking for. 

Looking for more concerts and live music? Check out our events calendar for a full lineup of the best things to do this summer in Madison.

Jump around to learn more about summer outdoor live music festivals.

What are some of the most popular music festivals in Madison?

If you're looking for big crowds, big names and big sounds, then Madison's most popular music fests are right for you. World's Largest Brat Fest might sound like a food festival (and it is) but it also hosts dozens of musical acts every Memorial Day weekend covering genres like country, classic rock, funk and more. On the tail end of summer, Taste of Madison (another food and music event) hosts live music all day on two different stages so you can catch great acts while sampling from some of the city's best restaurants.

Make Music Madison is the ultimate celebration of sound in the capital city. Occurring annually on Make Music Day, the city hosts hundreds of live musical performances all day long across the entire city from parks to dive bars to porches and more.

Madisonians are known to be a bit funky, so it's a no-brainer that funk and groove fest La Fete de Marquette is one of our most popular music festivals. Fete happens every year around Bastille Day and is a celebration of cultural diversity with a long lineup of eclectic local and national acts.

Serving up a heaping slice of Americana, Sugar Maple Music Festival is a celebration of American Roots music. The outdoor festival features not just national and local folk entertainers, but also jam sessions, educational workshops and dance performances.

Event details

World's Largest Brat Fest

Make Music Madison

  • When: Make Music Day, June 21
  • Where: Various locations across Madison
  • Cost: Free
  • Where to stay: With shows happening across the city, you have endless options for accommodations. Check out our hotels page to find what's right for you.

La Fete de Marquette

Sugar Maple Music Festival

Taste of Madison

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Are there any free music festivals in Madison?

Yes! In fact, most of the summer music festivals in Madison are free. That means more savings to put toward tasty treats, the perfect outfit and making your music festival weekend into a full-blown vacation. 

Among the free music festivals are Madison's specialty: quirky neighborhood fests. These events, like Marquette Waterfront Festival, Orton Park Festival, AtwoodFest and Eken Park Festival, are microcosms of everything that makes the capital city stand out. These outdoor events are where you can meet some of our quirkiest locals and feel fully integrated in our city's culture while discovering your new favorite bands.

Madison has long been a hub for jazz music, with the greatest celebration of the genre happening every summer during the Madison Jazz Festival. Experience 10 days of live music at venues across the city that will make you tap your toes and snap your fingers.

More free festivals + event details

Madison Jazz Festival

  • When: June 5–15
  • Where: Various venues across Madison
  • Cost: Most shows are free. Please check the festival's website prior to attending for fees by venue.
  • Where to stay: With shows happening across the city, you have endless options for accommodations. Check out our hotels page to find what's right for you.

Marquette Waterfront Festival

The Sessions at Garver Feed Mill

Catfish River Music Festival

  • When: July 3–6
  • Where: Stoughton Opera House
  • Cost: Free
  • Where to stay: Quality Inn and Suites Stoughton-Madison South, Tru by Hilton Stoughton

AtwoodFest

Eken Park Fest

Orton Park Festival

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Are there any ethnic music festivals in Madison?

Yes! All summer long, Madison comes alive with ethnic fests featuring music from around the world. 

Celebrate two cultures in one weekend when Madison kicks off the summer strong with Madison Irish Fest and Festa Italia. Both events guarantee a good time with cultural music, dancing, food and more.

There's no better place to polka than in New Glarus, aka America's Little Switzerland. New Glarus Polkafest is a celebration of music, dancing and Swiss culture in a town that will make you feel like you've been transported right to Europe.

Groove to brassy beats and sway to the good word of gospel music during Madison's annual Juneteenth celebration. This festival, commemorating the abolishment of slavery, includes a parade, great food, kids' activities and more. 

Celebrate the beauty and art of the African diaspora during Africa Fest. Local performers showcase their talents across genres including reggae, funk, afrobeats and more.

Event details

Madison Irish Fest

  • When: May 30–June 1
  • Where: Awildan Distilling, Four Winds Farm and Garver Feed Mill
  • Cost: First day is free. $25 for one day, $30 for both May 31 and June 1
  • Where to stay: With three locations to choose from, you have many great options for accommodations. Check out our hotels page to find your perfect stay.

Festa Italia

New Glarus Polkafest

  • When: June 13 & 14
  • Where: Downtown New Glarus
  • Cost: Free
  • Where to stay: The Blanc Chalet, Seven Acre Dairy Co.

Juneteenth Celebration

Africa Fest

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Are there family-friendly music festivals in Madison?

Yes! All the festivals listed in this guide are family friendly.