Raleigh Weighs New Music Festival at Dix Park After Dreamville's Run

City officials and organizers remain tight-lipped on details of a potential new festival to replace the popular Dreamville event.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 10:27pm

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Raleigh officials and Dreamville organizers have announced that a new music festival will be taking over the first weekend of April at Dix Park, where the Dreamville Festival has been held in recent years. However, details about the new event have been scarce, with the city and organizers remaining tight-lipped on specifics. WRAL Investigates obtained documents that provide some insight into the city's deal with the festival organizers, including a multi-year agreement and options for future events.

Why it matters

The Dreamville Festival has become a major draw for Raleigh, attracting top performers and tens of thousands of fans each year and generating significant economic impact for the city. The uncertainty around the future of the festival has local businesses concerned about potential impacts on foot traffic and sales. The city is hoping to maintain Raleigh's reputation as a music destination, but the transition to a new festival organizer could be challenging.

The details

The documents obtained by WRAL show that the new festival agreement is between the City of Raleigh and ScoreMore Holdings, LLC, which has a majority stake owned by Live Nation. The agreement sets dates for future festivals in April, but does not obligate the organizers to hold a festival each year. It provides options for events in 2026 and beyond, 'regardless of whether a festival is held in a particular year.' The agreement also requires that at least one of the 'key festival decision-makers' from the Dreamville Festival be involved in the new event as an operator, producer or Live Nation representative.

  • The Dreamville Festival has traditionally been held on the first weekend of April.
  • In 2024, the Dreamville Festival generated $145.9 million in economic impact for Raleigh.
  • The new festival agreement covers the 2026-2029 period.

The players

Live Nation

A live entertainment company that has a majority stake in ScoreMore Holdings, LLC, the organizer of the new Raleigh music festival.

ScoreMore Holdings, LLC

The event organizer that has an agreement with the City of Raleigh to host a music festival at Dix Park, taking over from the Dreamville Festival.

J. Cole

A Fayetteville musician who was the original brainchild behind the Dreamville Festival.

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What they’re saying

“No small business wants to encounter any dip in sales.”

— Kiyomi Ownbey, Owner of Father and Son vintage shop (WRAL)

“I hope that we are able to continue to have it in whatever form they would like to give us. We will support it, if they bring it.”

— Kiyomi Ownbey, Owner of Father and Son vintage shop (WRAL)

“[Organizers] did their homework. They put the effort in to understand the demographics of the area, the logistics of the area. You want to complement what's already there, so you're adding higher quality to their living. I think that does take time.”

— Kiyomi Ownbey, Owner of Father and Son vintage shop (WRAL)

What’s next

The city and festival organizers are still discussing potential dates for the 2026 event, as the traditional first weekend of April conflicts with Easter that year.

The takeaway

Raleigh is working to maintain its reputation as a music destination by transitioning to a new festival at Dix Park, but the change in organizers and uncertainty around the event's future has local businesses concerned about potential impacts on foot traffic and sales.