PENSACOLA, FLA. (AUG. 11, 2026) – The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival Committee announces the launch of the 2026 Foo Foo Festival website, detailing the day-by-day calendar of events for the 13th annual iteration, with more events to be added in the coming months, including those presented by Friends of Foo. This year’s Foo Foo season is highlighted by the 2026 grant recipients, including the 309 Punk Project, Ballet Pensacola, Fiesta Pensacola, Friends of Downtown, Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida, Night Moves Inc, PenArts, Pensacola MESS Hall, Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola Opera, Pensacola State College, and the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.
The Foo Foo Fest Committee invites local organizations that are hosting events that fit the nature of the Foo Foo Festival, occurring during the scheduled event dates of Oct. 29 – Nov. 9, 2026, to submit to become a Friend of Foo. Submissions for 2026 Friends of Foo are open now through Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. Becoming a Friend of Foo adds organization events to the overall event lineup and Foo Foo Fest website, as well as integrates them into Foo Foo Fest’s regional advertising campaign. Eligible organizations include:
- Local non-profit organizations that submitted their events for a grant but did not receive a grant this year
- Local organizations that never applied for a grant, but are putting on events during Oct. 29 – Nov. 9, 2026
- Local for-profit businesses, such as venues, hotels, restaurants, bars, and others that are hosting events during Oct. 29 – Nov. 9, 2026
There is a submission and approval process for the Friend of Foo program. If accepted, the organization will be notified. Click here to apply!
The 2026 grant-funded events include:
309 Punk Project: Oct. 29 – 30, 2026
309 Punk Project is the only artist-run nonprofit organization in the South committed solely to archiving the creative efforts of the punk culture of the region. It is 309 Punk Project’s primary goal to serve the local and regional community as an archive, residency, and venue for divergent practices in DIY culture and contemporary art that critically examines the sociopolitical cultural moment that is shaping lives. In 2026, Punk Project will present the return of HalloZine Fest, a two-day interactive arts event from Oct. 29 – 30, 2026, celebrating the resurgence of Zine culture through workshops, exhibitions, film, and live performances.
Ballet Pensacola: Nov. 1 – 3, 2026
The mission of Ballet Pensacola is to enhance the cultural life of the Pensacola community by developing an appreciation and knowledge of dance by producing quality dance performances and exceptional dance training. In 2026, Ballet Pensacola will present “Carnival of the Animals” – a collaborative, family-focused event uniting Ballet Pensacola and the Pensacola Humane Society to blend high-quality dance with community engagement during the Pensacola Foo Foo Festival, November 1 – 3, 2026. Inspired by Camille Saint-Saëns’ classic composition, the production will feature multiple performances with young dancers, elaborate costumes, puppetry, and interactive elements, culminating in a lively Parade of Animals.
Fiesta Pensacola: Nov. 5, 2026
The mission of Fiesta Pensacola is to celebrate the city’s rich heritage, promote tourism, and build pride in Pensacola through festive activities that enhance the quality of life in the Pensacola community. On November 5, 2026, Fiesta Pensacola will present Living Museum – an immersive, interactive cultural event at the Pensacola Museum of History that transforms the space into a living timeline of the city’s 467-year history through costumed performances and first-person storytelling.
Friends of Downtown: Oct. 29 – Nov. 9, 2026
The mission of Friends of Downtown is to enhance the district’s quality of life and economic success by creating a cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable environment. Friends of Downtown will present Lightspill, a large-scale, temporary public art installation that transforms the historic Artel Gallery in downtown Pensacola into a striking visual landmark using cascading mirrored spheres that create the illusion of a fluid, reflective surface. Designed as an immersive and highly photogenic experience, the installation aims to attract residents and visitors alike. The installation will be on view from Oct. 29, 2026, through Nov. 9, 2026.
Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida: Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, 2026
The Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida, Inc. (JAS of NWFL) is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, with membership consisting of both individuals and interested organizations. The Society’s mission is to work toward fostering and promoting stronger ties of friendship and understanding between the U.S. and Japan. The goal is to cultivate and enrich mutually beneficial relationships between the U.S. and Japan, based on a spirit of goodwill. For its third consecutive year, Japan-America Society will produce the HizashiCon Anime Festival, a vibrant three-day community-powered anime and Japanese pop culture convention celebrating creativity, inclusion, and cross-cultural connection, taking place Oct. 31, 2026 – Nov. 1, 2026.
Night Moves Inc: Oct. 29 – Nov. 8, 2026
Night Moves is a Pensacola-based nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the city’s music culture by attracting world-class artists while supporting emerging local talent, with Night Moves Music Fest serving as its flagship event with the Pensacola Foo Foo Festival. In 2026, Night Moves Music Fest will expand into a multi-day, citywide experience from Oct. 30, 2026, through Nov. 8, 2026, activating multiple downtown venues.
PenArts: Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 & Nov. 3 – 8, 2026
PenArts is a non-profit (501c3) that brings theatrical arts to all members of the Pensacola community and professional theatrical productions to an already vibrant Pensacola theatre scene. In 2026, PenArts will present the highly theatrical musical, SIDE SHOW, by Bill Russell and Henry Krieger for the first time in Pensacola. The production will be expanded into an immersive, circus-inspired experience at The Gordon from Oct. 30, 2026, through Nov. 8, 2026.
Pensacola MESS Hall: Oct. 30 – Nov. 9, 2026
The mission of Pensacola MESS Hall is to inspire curiosity, experimentation, and creative problem-solving through exploration of math, engineering, science, and stuff. From Oct. 30 – Nov. 9, 2026, the Pensacola MESS Hall will present Science on the Street, transforming downtown Pensacola into an interactive science experience focused on the physics and perception of sound. The initiative will feature multiple Sound Booth sessions and hands-on installations along Palafox Street, designed to engage audiences of all ages as they explore how sound is created and travels.
Pensacola Museum of Art: Nov. 4 – 7, 2026
The Pensacola Museum of Art aims to facilitate the preservation, understanding, and engagement of visual culture for audiences in the Northwest Florida region and beyond. In 2026, the Pensacola Museum of Art will present a multi-day series of events entitled STEAM2026: Exploring Wonder – an exhibition featuring artist talks, performances, workshops, and public engagement opportunities. Programming begins on Nov. 3, 2026, with a collaborative performance by Nathalie Miebach and a Pensacola Symphony Orchestra string quartet interpreting weather data, followed by additional artist talks, panels, and themed tours for families and adults on Thursday and Friday evenings. The series culminates in a free public day on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, featuring hands-on activities and exhibitions, along with fee-based workshops led by nationally recognized artists featured in the triennial. Together, these events are designed to spark curiosity, expand access to contemporary art, and deepen community interaction with the museum’s STEAM-focused programming.
Pensacola Opera: Nov. 4, 2026
The mission of Pensacola Opera is to enrich the culture of Northwest Florida by producing professional opera performances, educational programs, and other opera-related community events for people of all ages, interests, and backgrounds. On Nov. 4, 2026, Pensacola Opera will fuse high fashion, iconic rock anthems, and operatic power in the return of Rock the Runway: Living Art at Saenger Theatre — an immersive event blending opera, fashion, dance, and visual art into a theatrical runway experience. Building on last year’s success, the production features opera singers, Ballet Pensacola dancers, a live band, and community models who bring iconic operatic scenes to life through a fusion of classical arias and contemporary music, enhanced by large-scale projections and storytelling.
Pensacola State College: Nov. 2, 4 & 5, 2026
Pensacola State College is a public, comprehensive community college that was founded as Pensacola Junior College in 1948. As the oldest and largest college in the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola State College serves traditional and non-traditional students in Northwest Florida and Southern Alabama. From Nov. 2, 2026, through Nov. 5, 2026, will present a multi-event program exploring the rapidly evolving and controversial role of artificial intelligence in art, highlighting how machine learning is reshaping creative practice through generation, augmentation, and analysis of visual media. The centerpiece of the series is Ai-Da, the world’s first ultra-realistic robot artist, whose work and persona challenge traditional boundaries between human and machine creativity while prompting reflection on digital identity, algorithmic influence, and the future of art. The programming includes a signature live demonstration and panel discussion at the Saenger Theatre on Nov. 3, 2026, alongside additional lectures, receptions, and a family-focused event in partnership with the Pensacola MESS Hall, featuring experts from institutions such as the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition and Persona AI. Ai-Da’s work will be exhibited throughout the festival at Pensacola State College, creating an extended opportunity for public engagement with AI-driven art and dialogue around its cultural and ethical implications.
Pensacola Symphony Orchestra: Nov. 7, 2026
The mission of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra is to promote the well-being of the greater Pensacola community through excellence in live symphonic music and lifelong learning through engaging musical activities. In 2026, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra will present Mozart & Bizet on Nov. 7, 2026, at the Saenger Theatre. Featuring Music Director Peter Rubardt, pianist Carter Johnson, and a full orchestra performing works by Stravinsky, Mozart, and Bizet, the program includes both an afternoon open dress rehearsal and an evening concert, offering accessible entry points for visitors, students, and families while showcasing a rare full-scale symphonic performance in a historic venue. Internationally acclaimed pianist Carter Johnson will be featured as soloist, bringing significant artistic prestige and global recognition to the event.
Additional event details and additional partners will be added and announced on the Foo Foo Festival website in the months leading up to this fall’s kickoff. For a detailed festival FAQ, general information, continuing news, and general updates, visit FooFooFest.com or follow Foo Foo Festival on Facebook and Instagram.
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ABOUT ART, CULTURE, ENTERTAINcMENT, INC. (ACE):
ACE is a nonprofit organization that receives Federal, State of Florida, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, corporate, foundation, and personal funds. ACE disperses these funds through an equitable granting process to nonprofit arts, culture, and entertainment organizations throughout Escambia County, Fla., and promotes Escambia County as an arts and cultural destination through the annual Foo Foo Festival and other marketing efforts. For more information about ACE, visit acepensacola.org.
