This Memorial Day weekend, downtown Cincinnati will sound a little louder, stay open a little longer and serve up even more flavor than ever before.

Taste of Cincinnati, presented by Kroger, is expanding to four days for the first time in the festival’s 47-year history — and organizers are marking the milestone with one of the event’s biggest entertainment announcements yet: platinum-selling alt-hip hop group Gym Class Heroes will headline opening night on Friday, May 22.

The performance on the Ultimate Fish Stick Main Stage, presented by Trident Seafoods, signals a major moment for the nation’s longest-running culinary festival, which has spent nearly five decades transforming downtown Cincinnati into a celebration of food, music and community.

“Landing Gym Class Heroes for opening night sets the tone perfectly,” said Chelsea York, Vice President of Events and Experiences for the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. “With four days on the calendar, we wanted to make sure every single one had its own reason to show up.”

And this year, every night does.

A Headliner Every Night

For the first time, each evening of Taste of Cincinnati will close with a featured headlining performance on the main stage, creating a full weekend soundtrack to accompany the festival’s signature food experience.

The 2026 headliners include:

• Friday, May 22 — Gym Class Heroes
• Saturday, May 23 — Naked Karate Girls
• Sunday, May 24 — Soul Pocket
• Monday, May 25 — 2nd Wind Band

In total, more than 30 acts will perform across three stages throughout the weekend, blending national talent with Cincinnati favorites and giving festivalgoers plenty of reasons to linger long after their last bite.

Full performance schedules and set times will be released closer to the event.

More Time to Taste

The expanded schedule also means more opportunities to experience the festival’s massive culinary lineup without trying to cram it all into a single afternoon.

Kitchens officially open at 4 p.m. on Friday, kicking off a four-day stretch featuring more than 300 menu items from over 70 restaurants, food trucks and Findlay Market vendors. From longtime Cincinnati staples to creative newcomers and limited-time festival exclusives, Taste continues to deliver one of the region’s most anticipated food weekends.

For visitors, the extra day creates a different pace — one where attendees can sample more dishes, revisit favorite vendors or spend more time exploring downtown before the traditional holiday weekend crowds peak.

The event remains free and open to the public.

A Festival That Continues to Grow

Since launching in 1979, Taste of Cincinnati has evolved into one of the country’s largest street festivals, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees annually to Fifth Street downtown. What began as a culinary showcase has become a defining Cincinnati tradition — equal parts food festival, music event and community gathering.

This year’s expansion reflects both the festival’s continued growth and Cincinnati’s increasing reputation as a destination city for culture, entertainment and dining.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Fifth Street will once again become the center of that energy.

Festival Information

Taste of Cincinnati takes place along Fifth Street between Main Street and Sentinel Street in downtown Cincinnati.

Festival hours:

• Friday, May 22: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
• Saturday, May 23: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Sunday, May 24: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Monday, May 25: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Additional festival details, stage schedules and updates are available at Taste of Cincinnati, as well as on Instagram and Facebook.