2026 Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival
Every October, Pensacola becomes a stage for the people behind the songs you know and love. The Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival returns October 1–11, 2026, bringing more than 150 songwriters to venues across the area for two weekends of live music, storytelling, and a chance to hear the stories behind the songs.
Featuring Grammy Award winners, multi-platinum hit songwriters, rising national artists, and local favorites, the festival gives audiences a closer look at the craft of songwriting and the people who turn stories into music.
When & Where
The 2026 Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival takes place October 1–11, with the festival split between two areas:
October 1–4: Downtown Pensacola
October 8–11: Pensacola Beach
The first weekend brings performances to downtown venues including The District, The Fish House, Lucy’s in the Square, and Calvert’s in the Heights. The second weekend moves to Pensacola Beach, with announced venues including Flounder’s Chowder House, Salty Rose at The Pensacola Beach Resort, The Landing at Red Fish Blue Fish, Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach, and Hilton Pensacola Beach.
For additional venue information, tickets, performance schedules, and the latest festival updates, visit the official Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival website.
What to expect
The Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival isn’t just about hearing live music. It’s an opportunity to meet the writers behind familiar songs, hear the stories and inspiration that shaped them, and discover artists whose names may not be as familiar as the songs they’ve written.
More than 150 songwriters are expected to participate across multiple venues, ranging from Grammy Award winners and multi-platinum writers to rising national artists and local favorites. Performances take place in smaller venues throughout downtown and Pensacola Beach, creating an intimate setting where the stories behind the lyrics are part of the show.
Where to stay on pensacola beach
Planning to make a weekend out of the Pensacola Beach portion of the festival? Several Pensacola Beach hotels are offering special rates or room blocks for festival guests, making it easy to stay close to the second weekend’s performances.
Hilton Pensacola Beach
A festival room block is available for October 9–11. Rates start at $219 for two queen beds, $249 for a king deluxe view room, and $289 for a two-queen junior suite with a Gulf view. Guests needing dates outside the room block can contact Group Reservations and mention discount code 924.
Hampton Pensacola Beach
Festival rates are available for October 8–11, starting at $169 for inland-view king or two-queen rooms and $199 for Gulf-view king or two-queen rooms with balconies.
Surf & Sand Hotel
Special festival rates are $89 Sunday through Thursday and $129 Friday and Saturday.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Pensacola Beach
A special group rate of $199 per night is available for the festival, with the room block covering October 1–12. The last day to book the group rate is September 7, 2026.
Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach
Rooms are currently blocked at a $249 festival rate. Guests can use the festival booking link or call the hotel and mention group code SFR to reserve at the group rate.
Experience the stories behind the songs
The Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival offers something a little different from a traditional concert. Instead of only hearing the finished song, you get a glimpse into where it started, what inspired it, and the songwriter who brought it to life.
With two weekends, more than 150 songwriters, and venues stretching from downtown to Pensacola Beach, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a performance during the 2026 festival. Check the official festival schedule as October approaches, find the performances you don’t want to miss, and make a weekend of it.
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