Newport News’ major upcoming music festival is set to be one of the city’s largest investments in tourism.

Here’s what we know so far.

City Council approved a roughly $3 million grant from a year-end surplus this month to help launch the event over Memorial Day weekend next year. Newport News is partnering with local nonprofit Port Warwick Foundation and promoter Global Music Touring, which produced the Cousinz Festival with rapper Pusha T in Norfolk, to pull off the event.

Mayor Phillip Jones has been tight-lipped about details for the festival, but has promised “internationally recognized” musicians, business and technology presentations, as well as local speakers.

“We need something to supercharge downtown and the entire city,” Jones said at a council gathering this month. “We are going to have a world-class concert series, so stay tuned.”

According to the contract between the city and Port Warwick Foundation, the grant is to be used for expenses such as artist fees, equipment rental, marketing and insurance.

The first $2 million was released to the foundation to support its talent search, according to the contract. The remaining $1 million will be made available within seven business days of ticket sale commencement. Any money left over will be returned to the city, and Newport News will donate $30,000 to the foundation following the event.

The financial commitment differs from how Virginia Beach provided support for the Something in the Water festival in 2023. Virginia Beach agreed to offer up to $2 million in support — at that time the most the city had ever agreed to spend on festival sponsorship — based on tax revenue generated during the three-day festival. Ultimately, weather disrupted that year’s event and the final day of the event was canceled. The city’s sponsorship cost was $970,000. However, other in-kind expenditures brought the city’s total spending up to $1.7 million.

Port Warwick must have deposits and commitments down from key artists and vendors by Jan. 31, and the festival’s lineup announced by no later than March 6, according to the contract. Any breach that isn’t resolved within 10 days will result in the foundation returning any funds that aren’t already expended to non-refundable sources to the city.

Tickets are required to go on sale no later than March 20. Otherwise, the city is not obligated to release the second chunk of the grant payment.  It’s unclear how many will be available.

The contract states Port Warwick will be responsible for acquiring all artists, security and medical personnel necessary for a “safe and effective” event, as well as any necessary permits, insurance or licenses. It also will be liable for any mishaps. In turn, the city will provide the land, assist with traffic control and help market the event.

In a statement announcing the event, Port Warwick Executive Director Laura Fisher said the festival will be designed to open doors for Newport News as a regional tourism destination.

“We’re proud to support the city’s vision and to play a role in bringing this festival to life for the people of Newport News,” Fisher said in the statement. “Our goal is to help create a platform where residents, artists, and innovators can come together in meaningful ways.”

Fisher did not respond by deadline to multiple requests for further comment.

Port Warwick has been at the helm for several smaller events in Newport News, including its Art & Sculpture Festival, Summer Concert Series and Holiday Tree Lighting. It’s unclear the annual cost for those events.

In addition to the Cousinz Festival, Global Music Touring CEO Antonio Dowe is responsible for founding Norfolk’s R&B Block Party, which held numerous events at Scope. He also helped create Portsmouth’s High Tide Cannabis Summit in 2022, which brought together artists and policy advocates surrounding the plant.

Jones added that extraneous income from gas, food, hotels and sponsorships will ultimately be a “net positive” for the city’s budget cycle moving forward. He said the festival is an opportunity for Newport News to position itself next to cities like Norfolk and Virginia Beach as regional entertainment destinations.

“I grew up in the city. I love the city. For a long time, people have said all the fun and all the culture happens on the southside,” Jones said. “This is the Peninsula. We have world class athletes and artists and culture, and we want the world to see that.”

Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/27/newport-news-festival-contract-details/