MILWAUKEE, WI (September 30, 2026) – Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (MWF) is excited to share that Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance has been nominated for 2026 Festival of the Year by the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) as part of its 2026 Honors & Awards. Other Festival of the Year nominees include Bourbon & Beyond (Louisville, KY), Coachella (Indio, CA), Lollapalooza (Chicago, IL), Louder Than Life (Louisville, KY), and Country Thunder Wisconsin (Twin Lakes, WI).
The annual awards celebrate outstanding achievement, leadership, and lasting impact across the live entertainment and concert industry. Winners will be announced at the IEBA Honors & Awards Ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
“Summerfest is honored to be recognized by IEBA alongside so many outstanding festivals from across the country,” said Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. “We're grateful to the incredible artists who took our stages in 2026, as well as our fans, sponsors, and partners.”
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. President and CEO Sarah Pancheri will also be participating in a panel discussion exploring the economic impact of festivals at the upcoming IEBA Conference. The session will be moderated by Brian Wagner of IEBA and feature Craig Baltzer of The Monument, Craig Hassall of Playhouse Square, and Michael Mariano and Greg Pepitone of Tourism Economics.
For more information about Summerfest, visit Summerfest.com.
About Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance
Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is one of the most iconic celebrations of music in America, hosting the industry’s biggest acts for an unforgettable live music experience. Since its inception in 1968, Summerfest continues to distinguish itself as a premier independent national music festival and has developed an unrivaled reputation, consistently featuring hundreds of performances across 12 stages, throughout the permanent 75-acre festival grounds along Lake Michigan. Summerfest will take place across three weekends: June 24-26, July 1-3, and July 8-10, 2027.
For the latest information, visit Summerfest.com, or Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok: @Summerfest.
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., producer of Summerfest, continues to fulfill its nonprofit mission of bringing the community together and providing a showcase for performing arts, activities, and recreation to the public, through music and special events.