The Ballard SeafoodFest is returning in 2026 with a new name: It’s now called the Ballard Music & Seafoodfest.
Now in its 52nd year, the festival has grown from its days as a neighborhood salmon barbecue and fundraiser into a three-day music festival. The seafood element is still front and center, but the name change highlights the festival’s emphasis on live music throughout the three-day event.
“It was time for a name that captures the full energy and fun of what we’ve become, while keeping the heart and identity of our community spirit front and center,” Ballard Alliance Executive Director Mike Stewart said in a statement.
This year’s festival is happening July 10-12. The event is free and all-ages, but it also raises money for neighborhood improvement projects through the salmon barbecue cookout tickets.
The Ballard Alliance says they’ll announce the music lineup in early spring. All musical performances will happen on the Blundstone Main Stage, right in the middle of Ballard Ave near the bell tower.
The festival kicks off Friday, July 10, with a block party with live music, a beer garden, and food trucks. Full festival programming runs Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11 a.m., including live music, a beer and cocktail garden, food vendors, the salmon BBQ, and an arts and crafts market. Families can also enjoy the “Kids Deck,” bouncy houses, and the giant purple slide throughout the weekend, with activities scheduled across both days.
A full schedule of other events is online.
Photo: Ballard Alliance