NextNOW Fest 2026

College of Arts and Humanities | The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - September 15, 2026 University of Maryland

About the Event

Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.

About NextNOW Fest

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.

A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.

Funding

NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Terps After Dark, the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative and UMD's Student Entertainment Events.

Cost

Free

Event Dates

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - September 15, 2026

Wednesday, Sep 09, 2026 11:00 am

09/09/26 11:00:00 09/09/26 16:30:00 America/New_York NextNOW Fest 2026
About the Event
Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.
About NextNOW Fest
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.
A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.
Funding
NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Terps After Dark, the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative and UMD's Student Entertainment Events.
University of Maryland false
Thursday, Sep 10, 2026 1:00 pm

09/10/26 13:00:00 09/10/26 23:45:00 America/New_York NextNOW Fest 2026
About the Event
Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.
About NextNOW Fest
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.
A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.
Funding
NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Terps After Dark, the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative and UMD's Student Entertainment Events.
University of Maryland false
Friday, Sep 11, 2026 5:00 pm

09/11/26 17:00:00 09/11/26 23:00:00 America/New_York NextNOW Fest 2026
About the Event
Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.
About NextNOW Fest
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.
A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.
Funding
NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Terps After Dark, the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative and UMD's Student Entertainment Events.
University of Maryland false
Saturday, Sep 12, 2026 5:00 pm

09/12/26 17:00:00 09/12/26 20:00:00 America/New_York NextNOW Fest 2026
About the Event
Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.
About NextNOW Fest
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.
A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.
Funding
NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Terps After Dark, the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative and UMD's Student Entertainment Events.
University of Maryland false
Monday, Sep 14, 2026 3:00 pm

09/14/26 15:00:00 09/14/26 21:00:00 America/New_York NextNOW Fest 2026
About the Event
Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.
About NextNOW Fest
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.
A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.
Funding
NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Terps After Dark, the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative and UMD's Student Entertainment Events.
University of Maryland false
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026 5:00 pm

09/15/26 17:00:00 09/15/26 20:00:00 America/New_York NextNOW Fest 2026
About the Event
Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.
About NextNOW Fest
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.
A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.
Funding
NextNOW Fest is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Terps After Dark, the University of Maryland's Arts for All initiative and UMD's Student Entertainment Events.
University of Maryland false