John Legend, Mahershala Ali, Olandria Carthen Among CultureCon 2026 Lineup

CultureCon is returning to Brooklyn this October, and some major names are joining this year’s celebration of creativity and culture.

John Legend, Mahershala Ali, Daniel Kaluuya, Niecy Nash-Betts, Colin Kaepernick, Olandria Carthen, Miles Caton and Rajah Caruth are among the names announced for CultureCon 2026, taking place Oct. 3 and 4.

The two day event will bring together voices across film, television, music, sports and culture for a weekend of conversations, experiences and programming centered around the creative community.

This year’s theme, “Museum of Us,” celebrates the people shaping culture today and putting the creators, thinkers and cultural voices influencing this generation at the center of the experience.

The latest lineup announcement also comes as John Legend prepares for newly announced music with Pharrell, adding another timely name to CultureCon’s growing roster of guests.

But the weekend won’t be limited to the names taking the stage.

CultureCon is expanding the experience this year with new collaborations that bring visual art and literature further into the festival.

Black Girl Art Show and Black Boy Art Show will be part of the 2026 experience, alongside Literature and Libations, creating additional opportunities to celebrate artists, authors and storytelling.

The additions reflect the larger idea behind “Museum of Us”: culture isn’t shaped by just one industry or medium. Music, film, television, sports, visual art, literature and the people behind them all contribute to the stories being created right now.

CultureCon has become a gathering place for creatives looking not only to experience those conversations, but to connect with one another and see what’s happening across the broader cultural landscape.

With two days of programming planned, this year’s gathering will once again bring that community together in Brooklyn. This time with a theme that asks attendees to recognize the cultural impact happening in the present.

How To Attend CultureCon 2026

CultureCon 2026 takes place Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4 in Brooklyn, New York.

Tickets and additional festival information are available directly through CultureCon Collective.

Additional speakers, programming and event details are expected as CultureCon gets closer to its October return.

This original reporting was produced by Zollyann Howell for UNWRITTEN Media. Follow @theunwritten.media for more interviews, event coverage, and stories that matter.