39th Annual King Biscuit Blues Festival · October 8–10, 2026
Festival Events
The Biscuit is more than the main stages — Bit O’Blues youth presentations, a VIP party, a Saturday morning 5K and bike ride, a Bloody Mary & Biscuits bar, and a cornhole tournament all fill the festival weekend. Times and details below reflect the official 2026 festival schedule.
Annual King Biscuit Blues Festival (KBBF) Blues Symposium
Thursday, October 8, 2026 — 10:00am
Beth El Heritage Hall, 406 Perry Street, Helena, Arkansas 72342
Admission is free and the public is welcome. It’s The Biscuit, Baby — Nothin’ Like the Real Thing. Jointly sponsored by the Sonny Boy Blues Society (SBBS) and the Delta Cultural Center.
Details & RegistrationBit O’Blues Youth Presentations
Friday, October 9 & Saturday, October 10, 2026
Main Stage
Blues-in-Schools youth presentations on the Main Stage — Abee “Delta Blues Princess” Hudson and the Delta Blues Museum Band on Friday, The Spa City Youngbloods on Saturday.
Details & RegistrationVIP Party
Friday, October 9, 2026 — VIP Party in the VIP Tent, 5:30pm
The VIP Tent, 116 Cherry Street, downtown Helena
The official VIP Party in the festival’s VIP Tent — an evening of music, food, and drinks for VIP wristband holders and sponsors, right beside the Main Stage.
Details & RegistrationBlues, Bloodys & Biscuits Bar
Saturday morning, 10am–12pm
VIP Tent, 116 Cherry Street (VIP entrance)
Admission is $15 cash only and includes one Bloody Mary and one biscuit. No wristband required — just bring your ID.
Details & RegistrationFlour Power 5K Run
Saturday — packet pickup 6:30–7:30am, race at 7:30am
Start line on Cherry Street, in front of the Phillips County Courthouse
A run down the beautiful Mississippi River and through historic downtown Helena, held in memory of longtime race director Kenneth Freemyer.
Details & RegistrationTour da Delta Bike Ride
Saturday, 9:30am start
Thrive Warehouse, 415 Ohio Street, Helena
Ride the Delta and hear the blues — a roughly 25-mile group gravel ride through the Saint Francis National Forest, now in its 20th year.
Details & RegistrationCornhole Tournament
Saturday, 3:00–7:00pm
Phillips Street, between the King Biscuit office and Biscuit Row BBQ
Open to anyone — bring your tossing arm and play right in the heart of the festival footprint.
Details & RegistrationMusic From the Main Stage
All three days, October 8–10, 2026
Main Stage — the levee-top amphitheater
Music from the Main Stage runs Thursday through Saturday, from the afternoon openers to the 10 o’clock close — see the full set times on the Lineup page.
Details & RegistrationDelta Roots Merch Giveaway
Register below for the DELTA ROOTS merch giveaway, drawn at the end of the 39th Annual King Biscuit Blues Festival. No purchase needed to enter.