Dillon Francis and A-Trak will play the 2026 National Fried Chicken Festival, which returns to the New Orleans Lakefront from 2 to 4 October. EDM.com reported the bookings on 19 August 2026. It is the festival's tenth year, and the music side of it has grown to match.
The two DJs sit on a bill that also carries Nelly, 2 Chainz, Ying Yang Twins, Keri Hilson and Webbie, plus Big Freedia performing with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. EDM.com called Francis and A-Trak the festival's most prominent electronic bookings to date, though DJs have appeared on past lineups and much of the rest of the bill is hip-hop.
The event was built around food rather than music. Founded in 2016, it has become one of New Orleans' more recognisable culinary events, and its organisers say it has served 2.4 million pounds of chicken to roughly 500,000 people over the past decade.
The anniversary edition stretches to three days and three stages, with 40 restaurant vendors, lounges, VIP offerings, a 5k run and walk, family activities and the Raising Cane's Block Party.
Other dance bills filled out around the same week. Cloud 9 added Loukeman, Lis Dalton and LukeAnthonyBarry for 2026, and Kaskade's Sun Soaked returned with Matroda and Cassian. All of them are listed in the festival tracker.
The bigger music push comes with higher weekend pricing. Friday general admission stays close to previous years at $21 including taxes and fees, a single ticket for Saturday or Sunday is $70, and a three-day general admission pass is $115.
The facts
- The 2026 National Fried Chicken Festival runs 2 to 4 October in New Orleans.
- Dillon Francis and A-Trak are among the headliners.
- Nelly, 2 Chainz, Ying Yang Twins, Keri Hilson and Webbie also play.
- Big Freedia performs with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
- The tenth edition expands to three days and three stages.
- Organisers say 2.4 million pounds of chicken have been served over a decade.
- Friday general admission is $21 including taxes and fees.
- A three-day general admission pass costs $115.
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