Media Contact: 
Angela Thomas, 201.503.1333, AThomas@njpac.org 
Brian McDonough, 908.322.1100, BMcDonough@kesslerpr.com

THE NORTH TO SHORE FESTIVAL WILL RETURN

IN JUNE 2026

‘The Festival Only Jersey Could Handle’ brings a fourth year of concerts, comedy and community arts events to the state’s most iconic cities

Now New Jersey’s largest summer music and arts celebration, North to Shore is produced by NJPAC

January 27, 2026—Newark, NJ –The North to Shore Festival will return for a fourth year in June 2026, marking the start of the summer season in New Jersey with two full weeks of music and comedy performances in the state’s most vibrant cities.

Now the Garden State’s largest arts and music festival, the annual event is produced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in collaboration with a cohort of production partners, sponsors and community organizations.

“This is a festival that celebrates New Jersey as a destination for innovation and artistic expression, through the performing arts, the visual arts, film and more,” says David Rodriguez, NJPAC’s Executive Producer and Executive Vice President. 

From June 13 through June 28, North to Shore will light up Newark and Asbury Park with performances by world-class artists at venues including Prudential Arena, NJPAC’s Prudential Hall, Victoria Theater and Chambers Plaza, Stone Pony Summer Stage, Wonder Bar and more spaces in Asbury Park’s boardwalk district.

Headlining artists, performance locations and other updates will be announced both at NorthtoShore.com and through the North to Shore Festival app.

In Newark, the festival will partner with the Newark Arts Council, Newark Alliance, and the City of Newark’s Arts and Education District, which will administer regranting funds directly to community organizations who will highlight local Newark creatives. In Asbury Park, the festival will collaborate with AsburyFest, Asbury Underground, Carousel Art House, and Georgie’s Bar to present events showcasing local artists. Additional arts and cultural programming will take place throughout Asbury, from the West Side to the waterfront. As in previous years, all community events in both Newark and Asbury will be free or affordably priced for all attendees.

“Artists who have made their homes in New Jersey, who’ve built careers in New Jersey’s clubs, concert halls and galleries — they’ve always been a major feature of North to Shore. We can’t wait to turn a spotlight on them again this summer,” said Dr. Sherri-Ann Butterfield, NJPAC’s Senior Vice President, Social Impact.

In Atlantic City, the festival launched a full year of community arts programming in May 2025. Dozens of North to Shore Festival concerts, parties and workshops have welcomed Atlantic City residents and visitors alike every month, with more events scheduled through July 1, 2026.

Once again this year, the festival will focus its social outreach efforts on combating food insecurity through the Growing Healthy Pantries initiative, a partnership between Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and numerous Garden State food distribution centers, including the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, FoodBank of South Jersey, Fulfill, Mercer Street Friends, Norwescap and Feeding America. The project addresses food security statewide and enhances access to healthy choices at food banks. 

In 2026, the North to Shore Festival is sponsored by Prudential Financial, the NJM Insurance Group, United Airlines, Mosaic / NJ Advance Media and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

Launched in 2023, the festival is a unique combination of performances by artists beloved both internationally and in their hometowns. In 2025, during its third year, the festival welcomed more than 160,000 arts-lovers to performances and events in Newark, Asbury Park and Atlantic City. Its social media outreach captured an audience of more than 1.1 billion, and more than 180 radio, television and online features spread the word of festival offerings. 

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About The North to Shore Festival

The North to Shore Festival, launched in 2023, features all the talent, diversity and creativity that New Jersey has to offer, delivering performances, screenings, parties and conversations in three of the state’s most iconic cities. In partnership with Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark, the festival guarantees an over-the-top showcase of Jersey excellence — a celebration worthy of the Garden State’s long legacy of innovation in the arts. For the latest updates and new concert listings, visit northtoshore.com.

About NJPAC

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is an anchor cultural institution for both the city of Newark and the state of New Jersey. It is an artistic, cultural, educational and civic center where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings communities together both on and off of our campus – on stages, in schools and community settings – providing access to the arts for all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Social Impact programs, NJPAC leverages the arts to advance positive outcomes in education, health and well-being, civic engagement and community development. NJPAC has attracted more than 12.7 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997. Learn more at njpac.org.