Texas Music Office

The 2026 Summer Institute Concert Series at the Round Top Festival Institute runs from June 1 through July 11 at Festival Hill in Round Top, offering six weeks of chamber music, orchestral performances, special themed concerts, and recitals featuring the Texas Festival Orchestra and nearly 100 emerging classical musicians from around the world. The series officially opens on June 6 with a Chamber Music Concert followed by the Texas Festival Orchestra’s opening performance and continues with concerts every weekend through July 11. Special events include a Patriotic Concert on June 28, American Composers Concerts on July 4 and July 5, and season-closing chamber and orchestra concerts on July 11.

Performing artists include members of the Texas Festival Orchestra, distinguished faculty artists, and guest conductors from around the world. Featured conductors for the 2026 season include JoAnn Falletta, Jerry Junkin, Robert Spano, Carl St. Clair, Michelle Merrill, Delyana Lazarova, and Dongmin Kim. Featured faculty artists include concert pianist James Dick, violinist Stefan Milenkovich, violist Brett Deubner, cellist Emilio Colón, flutist Carol Wincenc, clarinetist Jonathan Gunn, and pianist Viktor Valkov, among many others appearing throughout the festival’s chamber and orchestral programs.

Round Top Festival Institute
institute

The inaugural JAMBALOO Music Prize Final will take place on June 6, 2026, at the historic Longhorn Ballroom, celebrating the best full-length album released by a Dallas–Fort Worth artist during the previous year. The event will feature a headline performance by Marc Rebillet, the internationally acclaimed Dallas-born artist known for his improvisational live shows. In addition to Rebillet’s set, the evening will showcase live performances from the three Music Prize finalists before the winner is announced on stage. The event is part of JAMBALOO’s broader mission to support North Texas musicians, venues, and arts education, with proceeds benefiting local music and arts programs.

The three finalists are Aaron's Book Club for the album Doggies, Matthew McNeal for High Lonesome, and Paul Schalda for Lately. Selected from a field of ten semifinalists through a combination of judges’ scores and public voting, the finalists will each perform live at the June 6 celebration, opening for Rebillet. The winner will receive a $20,000 cash prize, the opportunity to record a professionally produced single with Grammy-winning producer Tre Nagella, and additional promotional support.

Longhorn Ballroom & Backyard Amphitheater

Dallas Sounds
Hear Fort Worth

The 2026 Sonic Guild George Reiff Producers Grant is a competitive funding opportunity that supports music producers in the Austin and Seattle music communities by providing $7,500 to develop a recording project with an artist who may not otherwise have access to professional production resources. The grant is intended for experienced producers who have released at least one commercially available full-length album and who reside within 100 miles of Austin or Seattle. Through this program, Sonic Guild helps foster high-quality music production, strengthen local creative ecosystems, and create meaningful collaborations between producers and emerging artists. Applications for the 2026 grant cycle must be submitted by June 12, 2026.

Named in honor of George Reiff, the acclaimed Austin bassist, producer, mentor, and longtime advocate for independent musicians, the grant celebrates his legacy of artistic excellence and community support. Recipients receive funding to complete a proposed recording project, along with visibility and promotional opportunities through Sonic Guild. The program not only helps producers expand their portfolios but also enables artists to create professional recordings while retaining ownership of their work. By investing directly in creative partnerships, the George Reiff Producers Grant continues Sonic Guild’s mission of empowering musicians and strengthening regional music communities.

Sonic Guild Austin

In FY2026, the Texas Music Incubator Rebate Program awarded $10.1 million to 180 music venues and festivals across 60 Texas cities, supporting communities and local economies statewide.

Learn more at https://gov.texas.gov/music/tmir

The BMI Acoustic Lounge returns to Saxon Pub in Austin on Wednesday, June 3rd, from 6:00–7:30 PM, offering a warm, songwriter-focused evening in the heart of South Lamar. The event is free and open to the public, spotlighting BMI’s emerging talent in an intimate, listening-room setting.

This month’s lineup features a diverse group of songwriters, including Dossey, Guy Vincent, Matt Battle, Blake Brown, Steph Cash, and Andi Holleman, each bringing their own style and story to the stage. The series itself, rebranded from the Saxon Songwriters Series in 2024, is part of BMI’s ongoing commitment to giving Austin’s songwriting community a platform to share new music and connect more deeply with fans.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
The Saxon Pub

The Blanco Lavender Festival returns June 5–7, 2026, in Blanco, Texas, celebrating the Hill Country’s famous lavender season with three days of live music, artisan vendors, food, wine, and family-friendly activities. Festival events take place around the historic Old Blanco County Courthouse and nearby Bindseil Park in downtown Blanco, with additional activities hosted at Hill Country Lavender Farm just outside town. The annual event draws thousands of visitors each year to experience lavender fields in bloom, specialty markets, and the relaxed charm of the Texas Hill Country.

The 2026 live music lineup includes Donovan Hatcher & Wild Hearted Sons, Texas Heavy, Rochelle & The Sidewinders, Jesse Stratton, Bobby Mack, Zydeco Blanco, and Hill Country Honeys performing throughout the weekend in Bindseil Park. Guests can also enjoy lavender-inspired foods and drinks, regional wines and beer, educational talks, and shopping from artists and craftspeople from across Texas. The Lavender Festival is one of the premier summer celebrations in the Hill Country, blending music, local culture, and Blanco’s longstanding connection to lavender farming.



Blanco Lavender Festival

The 30th annual Texas Music Revolution will kick off June 5, 2026, in historic downtown McKinney, bringing two days of Americana, Red Dirt, country, and roots music performances to multiple stages around the Downtown McKinney Square at 111 N. Tennessee Street. Presented by KHYI 95.3 The Range, the festival has become one of North Texas’ signature live music events, showcasing both legendary Texas artists and emerging performers while drawing fans from across the region for a weekend of music, food, and community celebrations.

The 2026 lineup features major performances by Wade Bowen, Shane Smith and the Saints, Ray Wylie Hubbard, William Beckmann, Shelby Stone, Two Tons of Steel, and Ellis Bullard, along with dozens of additional artists performing throughout the weekend. The milestone anniversary festival will continue its longstanding tradition of celebrating independent Texas music while creating an immersive live music experience across McKinney’s historic downtown district.

Texas Music Revolution

The Wylie Jubilee Bluegrass on Ballard festival returns on May 30, 2026, bringing a full day of bluegrass music, arts, food, and family activities to historic downtown Wylie, Texas. The free community festival will be held at Olde City Park along Ballard Avenue, where visitors can enjoy live entertainment, craft vendors, classic cars, and local food throughout the day. The event is one of North Texas’ premier bluegrass gatherings, drawing thousands of attendees each year to Wylie’s historic downtown district.

The 2026 music lineup includes nationally recognized bluegrass performers including The Grascals, Dave Adkins & Mountain Soul, Kristy Cox, Bobby Giles & Texas Gales, Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue, and Randy Collier & Grassland. Festivalgoers are also encouraged to bring instruments for informal jam sessions throughout downtown, adding to the event’s longtime reputation as a celebration of Texas bluegrass culture and community music traditions.


Wylie, TX City Hall

The Texas Music Incubator Rebate Program has supported music venues and festivals in 98 cities, helping keep music alive in communities statewide.

Learn more at https://gov.texas.gov/music/tmir

Today we honor he memories of those who lost their lives in service of our country.