Black creativity, culture, joy and community will take center stage in downtown Madison this upcoming weekend as Black on State, a Madison-based events and cultural organization founded by Ashley Moseberry, expands its annual Black on State Festival into a full weekend of experiences on Aug. 22-23. The festival will bring together music, nightlife, art, food, social experiences and community in downtown Madison.
The 2026 festival will take a more immersive and interactive approach than in the past, Moseberry says, giving attendees opportunities to engage through interactive art, a community canvas and dedicated photo stations designed to capture the energy, creativity and spirit of the weekend.
“Actually, the first year we hosted the festival, it was supposed to be a weekend,” Moseberry tells Madison365. “That was my idea all along: to make the Black on State weekend a series of events that just kind of brought people together downtown Madison to experience the city with each other, and also it just be like a space for Black folks to get together”
That full-weekend idea didn’t quite work out that inaugural year, and Moseberry says she was a little discouraged the second year because of that.
“So for year three, I was just like, let’s bring it back,” she says. “So we are having three different events happening this year, the first being the Black on State Festival.”
The Black on State Festival, subtitled “Midwest Motion,” will take place on Saturday, Aug. 22, 6-9 p.m., in the 100 block of State St. The festival is designed as a celebration of Black joy and the people, creativity and culture that continue to shape Madison and the Midwest.
“I’m trying to focus on the young professionals, entrepreneurs and creatives who come to my events regularly,” Moseberry said. “We’re going to be on the 100 block of State Street, so that’s a change as well. We’re getting together, but we’re scaling back in a very intentional way. We’re really focusing on community connection and people being able to experience each other. That’s kind of the big thing with the festival this year.”
“Midwest Motion” will feature Chicago-based DJ Jukie Tha Kidd, who goes by “the international crowd-pleaser” and is known for bringing high energy and diverse crowds together through music.
“We’re just hoping to bring folks from the Midwest together to really champion the culture and the creativity of the Midwest,” Moseberry says. “I think we don’t get enough credit compared to the East Coast, the West Coast, and, of course, down south. So I just wanted to show the Midwest a little bit of love.”
Following the festival, attendees will have the opportunity to continue the celebration at the official Black on State After Party at Merchant in downtown Madison from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
“At the afterparty, we’re really continuing the movement of what we had going on on State Street,” Moseberry says. “We’re expecting that to be a really fun time.”
The Black on State Weekend will conclude with the Black on State Wine Down Brunch on Sunday, Aug. 23, noon-3 p.m. at the Merchant. This daytime event allows guests to slow down, connect and celebrate after a full weekend of Black on State experiences. The elevated brunch experience features delicious food, soulful sounds, and great company to close out the weekend.
“We have this crowd of people that show up regularly, not even just to the festival, but to almost all of my events. There’s like a core group of folks who really support, share, and show up to everything,” Moseberry says. “And I’m really just trying to tap into and connect with that core group of folks. I think they are the people that constantly say, ‘This is so necessary. We’re happy you’re doing this. When is the next event?’ So it’s been great to kind of figure out who we’re here for and who needs us, and just kind of show up for them.”
Madison’s summer festival season has been modified and curtailed in the aftermath of the killing of Corey Ruiz on Williamson Street, a shift that Moseberry is keenly aware of.
“It’s exhausting to see things like this happen so often. You know, even if it happens once, it’s exhausting to see. So after a while, I was just like, you know what, my job is to create spaces where joy is necessary, where it happens,” Moseberry says. “I think that’s why I’m really just looking forward to people being able to experience a good time, especially with everything that’s happening in this city and country. I think events like Black on State are important.”
It’s something that Moseberry’s Black on State has been doing for a while now. Through festivals, social gatherings and collaborative programming, Black on State creates opportunities for people to come together and experience the culture and creativity of Madison’s Black community.
This weekend’s event is a great opportunity for some camaraderie and networking, Moseberry says. If you don’t go to this event, you can’t say there’s nothing to do in Madison, right?
“That’s all I’m saying,” Moseberry laughs. “If folks are saying, ‘Oh, there’s nothing to do here in Madison,’ well, I’m here. I’m putting stuff together every year. I’m gonna have a lot more going on the rest of the year, too, so I’m really excited to see kind of how this pans out.”
The expanded Black on State Weekend is the result of partnerships with local businesses, community supporters and creative professionals who have helped Black on State continue to create meaningful experiences for Madison’s Black community and its broader community of supporters. The 2026 Black on State Weekend is supported through contributions, partnerships and community support from Madison Gas and Electric, TruStage, Pepsi, Madison Arts Commission, Wisconsin Arts Board, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Urban Community Arts Network, and Arts + Literature Laboratory, among others.
“We are creating an entire weekend that gives people different ways to experience Black joy, whether that is through music, dancing, art, food, conversation or simply being in community with one another,” Moseberry says. “I am excited about what this partnership-driven approach allows Black on State to become.
“I’m really looking forward to just being out all weekend, enjoying people’s company, and really just connecting with new people and sharing more about what we have to offer.”
Tickets and additional information are available through Black on State’s Eventbrite page and on social media at @blackonstate.
