WATERFRONT HALL — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1230 Water Street, Wheeling, WV 26003 · July 6, 2026
31 Acts, 25 States: Heritage Music BluesFest Returns as Wheeling’s Biggest Music Festival Ever Under Waterfront Hall
The 25th-anniversary edition brings 31 acts across two stages to Wheeling’s waterfront Aug. 7–9 — drawing fans from 25 states for a long August weekend.
WHEELING, WV — When Heritage Music BluesFest presented by Modelo returns to Wheeling Heritage Port on August 7, 8 and 9, it will do so as the largest multi-day music festival the city of Wheeling has ever hosted: 31 acts across two stages, with live music running from 5pm on Friday to 6:30pm on Sunday. Ticket data shows fans traveling in from 25 states and 83 different area codes — a 25-year Wheeling tradition that has grown into a national draw.
“This festival is in its 25th year, but it is Waterfront Hall’s first attempt, so we are pushing ourselves to make a great first impression,” said Dan Milleson, owner of Waterfront Hall and the festival. “So we tried to create a ‘wall of music’: 31 acts, two stages, three days, and even a DJ spinning vinyl records throughout the weekend on the main stage between acts. For $145, that’s 31 performances — less than five dollars a band. We feel this is a destination weekend at an affordable price.”
Founded in 2001 by Bruce Wheeler, Heritage Music BluesFest is the only West Virginia festival to earn the Blues Foundation’s prestigious “Keeping the Blues Alive” award, and has been named one of the best blues festivals in America. Wheeler and family built it — and passed the torch to the team behind Waterfront Hall, which is putting their fingerprints on the festival going forward.
One of the changes is an expanded second stage — the YNST Magazine Stage — featuring 15 regional bands spanning ten additional genres, from jazz and jamtronica to hip-hop and mountain gothic, showcasing talent across West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The 2026 main stage is headlined by St. Paul & The Broken Bones (Fri), JJ Grey & Mofro (Sat) and Eddie 9V (Sun), on a bill stacked with Grammy pedigree. Eric Gales is a 2026 Grammy winner for his work on the Sinners soundtrack and a two-time Grammy nominee as a solo artist; Judith Hill is a Grammy winner for the documentary “20 Feet from Stardom” and a Michael Jackson and Prince collaborator. Slide-guitar legend Sonny Landreth — a two-time nominee featured on the Grammy-winning “A Tribute to the King of Zydeco” — ten-time Grammy nominee Luther Dickinson, New Orleans icon Anders Osborne and many more round out the weekend.
That national lineup pulls a national crowd. Roughly six in ten ticket buyers are expected to travel in from beyond the Wheeling tri-state area — with fans flying in from as far as Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Austin and Portland, Oregon. These visitors will flow into area hotels, restaurants and shops.
Three-day general-admission passes are $145, with single-day, Terrace VIP and Backstage VIP options available now at HeritageMusicFest.com. Backstage and Terrace VIP passes are nearly sold out, and all ticket prices increase at the festival gates — making now the best time to buy.
Milleson is available for interviews throughout the week of July 6. High-resolution press photos are available on request, or at HeritageMusicFest.com and on Facebook and Instagram (@bluesfest.whg).
# # #
Media Contact: Dan Milleson · Waterfront Hall · dan@waterfronthall.com
