Festival Sundiata Presents Black Arts Fest Brings a Citywide Family Reunion to Seattle Center

Credit: Susan Fried

The free, all-ages festival celebrates Black culture and community

with music, art, and food, Aug. 22–23

SEATTLE— Celebrate Black culture and community at Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest, taking place from 1 – 8 p.m.  on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 23 as part of Seattle Center Festál in the Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall, Mural Amphitheatre, and Fisher Pavilion. This year’s festival embraces the theme “The Family Reunion,” presented by Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA).

An annual highlight is the show-stopping national music acts, along with the best in local talent, that perform on two stages. This year’s confirmed lineup includes Minneapolis funk rock legend Morris Day and The Time, Zimbabwean-American hip hop artist Draze, Michael Hepburn of Pleasure, plus Michael Powers, Tha Skunk Mob, Pacific Northwest Community Gospel Choir, Celestine Berrysmith, CT Thompson, The Band, Mercedes Montgomery, Cer2fied, and Funk A Holics.

An exciting 2026 programming addition is the inaugural Skate Sundiata, which is transforming Fisher Pavilion into a roller rink, with skaters of all levels rolling and gliding to a live DJ.

Guests can explore interactive programming inside the Seattle Center Armory, including dynamic visual art installations, immersive cultural experiences, and kids’ activities hosted by the Seattle Children’s Museum. Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers can savor a delicious variety of foods and treats, plus shop goods and services from a wide range of local businesses and community organizations. 

“Festival Sundiata is special because it is a vital, long-standing hub for cultural continuity and community pride,” said Charles Tatum Jr., SAACA board member and art curator. “It’s not just an event; it’s a living bridge that connects generations through art, education, history, and shared experience, creating a unique space where the richness of the African diaspora is celebrated and made accessible to everyone in Seattle.”

Seattle Center Festál promotes cultural awareness by welcoming the broader public to engage, learn, and celebrate alongside each community, fostering greater understanding and respect. Over the decades, Festál has grown into a cornerstone of Seattle Center’s cultural programming, creating space for communities to share their histories, traditions, and contemporary expressions on their own terms.​

About Festival Sundiata and SAACA

Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA) presents Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest. Established in 1980, Festival Sundiata (pronounced Soon-jah-tah) is the longest-running African American festival in the Pacific Northwest. The festival is named in honor of Sundiata Keita, the historic and legendary Mansa (King of Kings) of the Mali Empire in West Africa, who rescued his people’s griot and built one of the most significant cultural and economic kingdoms in Africa. Learn more at festivalsundiata.org.

Information on the festival is available at SeattleCenter.com and festivalsundiata.org.

About Seattle Center Festál   

Seattle Center Festál is a unique public program series of 25 free cultural festivals, each offering its own celebration of heritage and identity.

These community-produced events provide a range of engaging programs and activities to cultivate a deeper understanding of our region’s diversity through immersive performances, food, arts, and educational programming. Collectively, the festivals welcome approximately 400,000 visits annually, generate an estimated $30 million in economic activity, support more than 250 jobs, and engage thousands of volunteers, artists, and small business vendors. 

Seattle Center Festál is presented in partnership between Seattle Center and 25 community-based organizations, with support from the City of Seattle, Seattle Center Foundation, and 4Culture's Sustained Support and Free/Reduced Access programs. Additional support for Festál 2026 is provided by 2025 charitable donations from the Snoqualmie Tribe, and ArtsFund's Community Accelerator Grant funded by Allen Family Philanthropies.

About Seattle Center — The Cultural Heart of the Pacific NorthwestSeattle Center is a 74-acre civic, arts, and cultural gathering place in the heart of Seattle and is home to more than 30 partner organizations, including Climate Pledge Arena, KEXP, Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP), Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, Pacific Science Center, SIFF, and many others.

Anchored by world-class attractions, historic venues, public art, and a dynamic calendar of free and affordable events centered around the iconic International Fountain, Seattle Center brings together arts, culture, sports, and community year-round.

As a department of the City of Seattle and anchor of the Uptown Arts and Cultural District, Seattle Center serves residents from across the Puget Sound region alongside visitors from around the world.

In partnership with Friends of Waterfront Park, Seattle Center provides operations, maintenance, and public safety services for Waterfront Park, while Friends leads park experience, programming, and stewardship along Seattle’s downtown waterfront.

Seattle Center welcomes nearly 12 million visits annually, generating nearly $3.3 billion in total economic activity, supporting 19,400 jobs, and producing more than $37 million in local tax revenue for the City of Seattle.

With the support of its official partners—Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, Pepsi, Symetra, T-Mobile, and WaFd Bank—Seattle Center is the most-visited arts and cultural destination in the Pacific Northwest.