Tried-and-true recipe for a great time: a dash of warm weather, a heap of live music and plenty of good friends. With a jam-packed schedule of open-air tunes, we've put together your guide to the venues and concert series that make up more than 100 outdoor concerts in the Raleigh area this summer.

Note: This is a lot—but not all—of the outdoor concerts taking place. You can also save the date for Guns N' Roses (July 23) AND Noah Kahan (July 25) at Carter-Finley Stadium, a full calendar of tunes at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard and many, many others.
 

Red Hat Amphitheater

This 6,000-seat venue that sits in the shadow of downtown Raleigh's skyline (and just steps from bars, restaurants and other nightlife spots) has a major lineup planned for 2026 with more than 30 shows on the calendar through the summer months.

Note that the new Red Hat Amphitheater is under construction right next door, with plans to be open for the 2027 season.

• Young The Giant, Cold War Kids & Almost Monday, May 30
• Sam Barber, June 4
• Khalid, June 6
• Goose, June 26-27
• Madison Beer, July 5
• Lindsey Stirling, July 17
• Buju Banton & Stephen Marley, July 23
• Bob Dylan, July 28
• O.A.R., July 29
• Deep Purple, Aug. 4
• Stephen Wilson Jr., Aug. 8
• Simple Plan, Aug. 15
• Ella Mai, Aug. 18
• Jordan Davis, Aug. 21
• Grupo Frontera, Sept. 5
• Marcus King, Sept. 11
• Shaboozey, Sept. 22
• Rise Against, Sept. 27
• Dermot Kennedy, Oct. 4
• Amyl and The Sniffers, Oct. 5
• Bleachers Forever, Oct. 6
• Turnpike Troubadours, Oct. 10

^{Red Hat Amphitheater; photo by Michael Robson}

Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Big crowd, big acts and big tailgating. That's how things work at this 20,000-seat venue that has long been known as a can't-miss stop for music stars as they tour the Southeast.

• MGK, June 2
• Dave Matthews Band, June 5
• The Black Crowes and Whiskey Myers, June 7
• Kesha, June 10
• Hardy, June 13
• Evanescence, June 17
• Hank Williams Jr., June 20
• Meghan Trainor, June 27
• NE-YO and Akon, July 10
• Paul Simon, July 11
• Train, Barenaked Ladies & Matt Nathanson, July 16
• Phish, July 17
• Death Cab for Cutie, July 22
• TOTO, Christopher Cross and The Romantics, July 29
• Tim McGraw, Aug. 7
• 5 Seconds of Summer, Aug. 14
• Jack Johnson & Lake Street Dive, Aug. 22
• Billy Idol, Aug. 23
• Empire of the Sun, Sept. 6
• Staind, Sept. 11
• Babymetal, Sept. 13
• TLC & Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue, Sept. 19
• Lil Wayne, Sept. 26
• Five Finger Death Punch, Oct. 14
• Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle & Starset, Oct. 23

^{Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek; photo by Garrett Poulos}

Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Nestled in a landscape of tall pine trees and next to the beautiful Symphony Lake in Cary, Koka Booth Amphitheatre has more than 20 jazz, bluegrass, symphony and indie music shows lined up for the summer season.

• Epic Film Scores with North Carolina Symphony, May 30
• Swan Lake Selections with North Carolina Symphony, June 5
• A Space Spectacular: Star Wars & More with North Carolina Symphony, June 6
• Lauren Daigle, June 10
• Patriotic Pops Celebrating America 250 with North Carolina Symphony, June 12
• Under the Sea with North Carolina Sympohny, June 13
• Mozart by Moonlight with North Carolina Symphony, June 20
• Classics Under the Stars with North Carolina Symphony, June 26
• The Music of Billy Joel with Tony DeSare and North Carolina Symphony, June 27
• Independence Day at Summerfest with North Carolina Symphony, July 4
• Sidecar Social Club at Summerfest
• Ella Langley, July 24
• Squeeze, Aug. 23
• Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms with Spin Doctors, Aug. 28
• War, Aug. 29
• Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Sept. 20
• Ty Myers, Oct. 15
• Trampled by Turtles, Oct. 18
• Gavin Adcock, Oct. 24

^{Koka Booth Amphitheatre}

Midtown Beach Music Series

A Raleigh summer tradition for more than 15 years, this weekly Thursday night beach music event in North Hills attracts diverse and lively crowds—bring your dancing shoes! Admission is $5.

• Band of Oz, June 4
• Sleeping Booty, June 11
• Blackwater Band, June 18
• The Embers ft. Craig Woolard, June 25
• The Soul Psychedelique Orchestra, July 2
• The Pink Slips, July 9
• Too Much Sylvia, July 16
• Spare Change, July 23

^{Midtown Beach Music Series at Midtown Park}

Live After 5

This free, block-party style music series—taking place on second-to-last last Wednesday of each month—will feature electrifying evenings of tunes on a few different stages in downtown Raleigh. 

• AZUL, June 18 (Raleigh Union Station)
• River Shook, July 16 (Moore Square)
• Elora Dash, July 23 (Seaboard Station)
• Fancy Gap, July 30 (Moore Square)
• Harvey Street, Aug. 13 (Moore Square)

^{Live After 5 music series; photo by Shephard Barnes}

Friday Night on White

This free, family-friendly concert series in downtown Wake Forest takes place on the second Friday of each month throughout spring and summer. Food trucks will be on hand as will beer from White Street Brewing Company and Norse Brewing Company (both brewed literally just steps away from the main stage).

• Night Years, June 12
• Love Tribe, July 10
• The Amazing Lounge Lizards, August 14
• Liquid Pleasure, Sept. 11

CaryLIVE! at Downtown Cary Park

This lively series of free concerts features musical styles from near and far—all taking place at fun-filled Downtown Cary Park. 

• Fancy Gap, May 30
• Abraham Alexander, June 27
• The Suitcase Junket, July 25
• Delta Rae, Aug. 22

Bands, Bites and Boats at Bond Park

One Friday per month, Fred G. Bond Metro Park and Boathouse in Cary plays host to musicians, food trucks, beers and after-hours boat rentals.

• LaureNicole Duo, June 5
• Garland Mason, July 10
• Adam Pitts, Aug. 7
• My Cousin Skinny, Sept. 4
• Amanda Peach Duo, Oct. 2

Live Music Wednesdays at Waverly Place

A longtime family favorite destination for a fun night out—thanks to a kids' play area and plenty of A-plus dining spots just steps away (Enrigo Italian Bistro, Gonza Tacos y Tequila and more)—this series of free Wednesday night jam sessions at Cary's Waverly Place is always a good time. 

• Bounce Party Wednesday, June 3
• Island Time Band, June 10
• The Embers, June 17
• Heads Up Penny, June 24

Packapalooza

Aug. 22
This annual all-day block party and street festival, drawing more than 80,000 attendees, caps off North Carolina State University's Wolfpack Welcome Week at the start of another academic year. The free and open-to-the-public event features more than 300 vendor booths lining Hillsborough St., along with food, games, arts and crafts, visual and performing arts and more. A headlining music act will be announced soon.

^{Packapalooza; photo courtesy of North Carolina State University}

Hopscotch Music Festival

Sept. 10-12
Three days, more than 100 bands, a handful of venues across downtown Raleigh, a full schedule of totally-free day parties and 25,000 fans—it's no wonder why Hopscotch Music Festival is time and time again named one of America's can't-miss music events. The acts—and genres—are as wide-ranging as the venues they play in.

The 2026 lineup is yet to be released, but past events featured St. Vincent, Wxaxhatchee, Faye Webster, Earl Sweatshirt, My Morning Jacket, Built to Spill, Guided by Voices, Ty Segall and way more. 

^{Hopscotch Music Festival; photo by Michael Robson}

Live in the District at Park West Village

This free weekly beach music series at Park West Village in Morrisville pulls together good tunes, craft brews and local food trucks for a family-friendly night out. Lineup to be announced later!

• Sept. 17; Sept. 24; Oct. 1; Oct. 8; Oct. 15; Oct. 22

Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival

Oct. 1-3

A "so long to summer" music showcase, if you will. The first weekend of October calls thousands to downtown Raleigh to gather around bluegrass, Americana, folk and other traditional music. Multiple music stages, food trucks, a beer garden, art market and more—all with free admission. The 2026 music lineup is out now!

 

 

 

 

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