Tulsa Mayfest Reimagines 2026 Festival to Embrace Route 66 Celebration

Mayfest: Road Trip will bring art, music and community to Tulsa's stretch of the Mother Road in its centennial year.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Tulsa's annual Mayfest festival is set to undergo a major reimagining in 2026 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The festival, renamed Mayfest: Road Trip, will move its focus to Tulsa's section of the iconic Mother Road, bringing art, music, and community events to the historic route. In 2027, the festival will then shift to downtown Tulsa's Deco District.

Why it matters

Route 66 holds deep cultural significance for Tulsa and the surrounding region, and its 100th anniversary provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the city's heritage and connection to the Mother Road. By embracing this milestone, Mayfest can reinvigorate the festival and attract new audiences while honoring Tulsa's longstanding relationship with one of America's most famous highways.

The details

Mayfest: Road Trip will feature a range of programming and events along Tulsa's stretch of Route 66, including art installations, live music performances, food vendors, and community gatherings. The festival's shift to the Mother Road in 2026 is intended to provide a more immersive and authentic experience for attendees, allowing them to engage with the history and culture of the iconic highway. In 2027, the festival will then move to downtown Tulsa's Deco District, capitalizing on the city's rich architectural heritage.

  • Mayfest: Road Trip will take place in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Route 66.
  • In 2027, the festival will be staged in downtown Tulsa's Deco District.

The players

Mayfest

Tulsa's annual arts and music festival, which is set to undergo a major reimagining in 2026 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66.

Route 66

Also known as the Mother Road, Route 66 is an iconic American highway that runs through Tulsa and holds deep cultural significance for the city and surrounding region.

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The takeaway

By embracing the 100th anniversary of Route 66, Tulsa's Mayfest festival can reinvent itself, attract new audiences, and deepen the city's connection to one of America's most famous and culturally significant highways.