Gasparilla Music Fest is back for 2026, and it's better than ever! From April 10-12, you jam out with some of the greatest musicians at an all-new venue this year—Water Street!
This music festival usually caps off Gasparilla season in Tampa Bay. And if you're looking for a list of updated happenings and things to do in the Bay area – Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater—look no further than our constantly updated Things to Do post!
<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>What is Gasparilla Music Festival?
The annual music fest is put on by the Gasparilla Music Foundation, a Florida 501(c)-3 non-profit corporation that supports music education through its Recycled Tunes program.
The mission of Recycled Tunes is to enrich the lives of underserved and impoverished children in Tampa Bay by ensuring access to musical instruments. They also give students performance opportunities on the festival stages in front of large crowds.
GMF kicked off in 2012 in Downtown Tampa and has been bringing great genres of music together! The 2025 festival was canceled, but now it's back and better than ever with a new home on Water Street, debuting at Meridian Fields.
The full lineup is set to be announced in January 2026, so stay tuned for more details regarding performers once the information is available.
What Can Kids Do at GMF?
Bringing kids along? While GMF may be geared more toward adults at night, kids can also enjoy the festival—especially during the GMF Kids’ Fest on Sunday.
While we are awaiting more details regarding this year's event, read below for details about years past.
Featured activities in the Kids Fest in years past included:
- Kids Fest Stage with children-focused DJ entertainment
- Kids t-shirt tie-dying
- Instrument Petting Zoo staffed by Hillsborough County Music Teachers
- Kumba Drummers hands-on tent
- Kids' Arts & Crafts featuring music-related items to take home
- Face painters
- Hula hoops
- Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (performing on Riverside Stage)
- Hillsborough County Schools Drumline and Flag Corp
Across from Kids Fest will be the Recycled Tunes area where you can check out a sculpture using old musical instruments created by a local artist.
Parking at Gasparilla Music Festival
Since Gasparilla Music Festival has a new home for 2026, we are still awaiting details on parking options. We will update this section once information is announced!
Where to enter Gasparilla Music Festival
We are also waiting for details regarding entrances for the festival, so keep this page bookmarked as your comprehensive festival guide once we receive all the details.
GMF 2026 Food Lineup
In addition to amazing musical acts, GMF will also have a fantastic lineup of some of Tampa's best restaurants to keep you going throughout the day at their Calle Cocina.
Since the 2025 festival was canceled, 2024 offered…
- Big Ray's Fish Camp
- Big Red BBQ
- Cafe Hey
- Cena
- Coppertail Brewing Co.
- Inside the Box
- Kona Ice
- Loli's Mexican Cravings
- Nebraska Mini Mart
- Shadrach's Firey Furnace
- Stuft Gourmet Empanadas
- Whatever Pops
Tickets + Details
GMF takes place April 10-12, 2026, and presale tickets are on sale now! You can purchase GMF merchandise here.
Here are a few specifics regarding tickets:
- Re-entry is allowed once you received your wristband.
- Wristbands are required to be worn at all times.
- Ticket and entry are voided if wristband is removed.
- Rain or Shine.
- No Refunds.
- All artists and times subject to change or cancellation.
Produced by the non-profit Gasparilla Music Foundation, GMF proceeds support music education in Bay Area schools.
Visiting from Out of Town?
Keep this page bookmarked for any hotel deals as they are announced. In years past, guests coming from out of town were able to book a room at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street for a special festival room rate.
Other nearby hotels include:
- Tampa Marriott Water Street
- JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
- Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Downtown
- The Westin Tampa Waterside
- Le Meridien Tampa
- The Floridan Palace Hotel
- The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
- Aloft Tampa Downtown
- Hilton Tampa Downtown
Visit gasparillamusic.com for all of the Gasparilla Music Festival information you need to plan a music-filled weekend!