Greensboro’s Inaugural CultureWorks Festival Set for May 23 — A One-Day Celebration of Art, Music, and Community
GREENSBORO, NC (April 28, 2026) – Creative Greensboro is proud to announce the inaugural CultureWorks Festival — a first-of-its-kind, one-day celebration of art, music, fashion and creative expression taking root in the heart of Greensboro’s Cultural District. Set for May 23, 2026, the festival will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., activating multiple venues for a fully immersive day unlike anything Greensboro has seen before.
As part of Creative Greensboro’s mission to support, celebrate and strengthen the city’s creative community, CultureWorks is designed to spotlight local artists, entrepreneurs and cultural leaders while creating new opportunities for connection and economic growth across Greensboro’s thriving arts scene.
A major highlight of the inaugural festival is the CultureWorks Fashion Experience, curated by Greensboro-based fashion artist Sasha Woods, also known as Queen Junki, and featuring runway presentations from some of North Carolina’s most dynamic designers, including Kiarah Peoples of JAVONNE, Brian Atkins of Studio B, Jasmine Rhodes of Kitty and Rhodes, Latressa J. Miller, Binay Geathers, Angel Saint Martin, and more. From luxury garments and statement accessories to sustainable fashion and avant-garde textile design, the showcase reflects the bold creativity and diverse perspectives shaping the region’s fashion community.
Further elevating the day is a keynote artist talk from Ruth E. Carter, the trailblazing two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer behind films including Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Sinners. Carter made history as the first Black person to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design and the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category. Her work has helped redefine costume design as a powerful form of storytelling, representation, and cultural preservation.
Beyond fashion, the inaugural CultureWorks lineup features vendor fairs, live art installations, artist talks, a podcast pavilion, line dancing, live DJs and a closing live music concert — all spotlighting some of Greensboro’s most dynamic and boundary-pushing creatives. From visual arts and storytelling to fashion and performance, the festival is a true cross-disciplinary celebration that reflects the full depth of the city’s thriving creative community.
Festival programming throughout the day includes:
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Vendor Fair and Outdoor Art Show
11 a.m. – 1:00p.m. Creative Kids Korner
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Local Artist Talk
12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Art Battle
1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Podcast Pavilion
1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m. Fashion Show
2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Fashion Show
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Line Dancing and DJ
4:00 p.m. Keynote Artist Talk with Ruth E. Carter
6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Live Music Concert
“CultureWorks is more than a festival — it’s a statement about who we are as a city,” said Jocquelyn Boone, Chief Creative Economy Officer for the City who leads Creative Greensboro. “This inaugural event is the foundation for something lasting. We’re building a space where art, culture, and community converge, and we can’t wait for Greensboro to experience it for the first time.”
Additional artists, experiences and activations will be announced in the coming weeks. As the first edition of what promises to become a signature Greensboro tradition, this is one event that art lovers, culture seekers, and the simply curious won’t want to miss.
CultureWorks is free and open to the public. For the latest lineup announcements and event details, visit creativegreensboro.com and follow @CreativeGSO on all social media platforms.
About Creative Greensboro
Founded in 2019, Creative Greensboro provides support for, ensures access to, and drives awareness of Greensboro’s creative community. Through a range of programs, services, and partnerships, Creative Greensboro supports the development of a vibrant city. For more information visit creativegreensboro.com. For more information about CultureWorks contact at (336) 373-7998 or email [email protected].