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Charlottesville’s signature festival returns April 22–26, 2026, exploring the courage to act boldly, bridge divides, and imagine a shared future.

In a moment when America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, and Charlottesville celebrates the 50th anniversary of the beloved Downtown Mall, the Tom Tom Festival invites community leaders from across Virginia and beyond to consider the bravery required to take bold action, confront hard truths, celebrate shared progress, and chart a hopeful path forward.

April’s Tom Tom Festival has grown into one of the nation's most vibrant celebrations of civic possibility, convening over 27,000 attendees in 2025. The 14th Annual Festival's music, art, and ideas will invite reflections on COURAGE that surface through Courageous Stories, Courageous Conversations, and Courageous Expression.

Tom Tom Festival includes the Civics Summit on April 22, Innovation Summit on April 23 - 24, five days of community partner programs, and fun, free events, such as Downtown Mall Block Parties and Porchella -- a series of front porch concerts in the historic Belmont neighborhood.