Live Nation Urban and the Student Freedom Initiative are bringing some of R&B and soul’s most celebrated voices to Atlanta next spring for the inaugural HBCU Awarefest—an all-new fundraiser designed to tackle student loan debt for students attending HBCUs.
The event, announced on Monday, November 17, will take over State Farm Arena on March 26, 2026, with tickets going on presale on November 19 at 10 a.m. ET before the general sale opens on November 21.
The one-night festival is shaping up to be a significant moment for both music and education. Jill Scott, John Legend, and Earth, Wind & Fire lead a stacked lineup centered on R&B, soul, and gospel, with additional performances from Common, Coco Jones, PJ Morton, Mickey Guyton, Tems, Travis Greene, and Yolanda Adams.
Hip-hop and production heavyweights—including Jeezy, GloRilla, Metro Boomin, and Adam Blackstone—round out the slate. Cast members from Alicia Keys’ Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen will also take the stage.
Beyond the performances, Awarefest doubles as a national call to action. The event supports the Student Freedom Initiative’s efforts to ease financial strain on HBCU students through the Student Freedom Loan Agreement, an income-contingent alternative to the high-interest Parent PLUS Loan program.
“We are incredibly excited about the coalition and movement that we are building to end the student loan debt crisis for our nation’s HBCU students,” SFI president and CEO Keith Shoates said in Monday’s announcement. He added that Awarefest Ambassadors—representing a vast network of aligned partners—will help carry the message forward.
The festival will also feature speakers from across sports, entertainment, and business who are lending their visibility to the cause. Mayor Andre Dickens, Chris Paul, Angel Reese, Big Boi, Larenz Tate, Robert F. Smith, Ryan Clark, and 2 Chainz are among those scheduled to appear, with more names expected to join.
Workshops and panel discussions will run alongside the musical programming, spotlighting the economic and cultural impact of HBCUs and outlining long-term solutions to close the racial wealth gap through education.
According to organizers, the goal is to raise national awareness about the financial hurdles many Black students face, while mobilizing broader support for sustainable, affordable higher-education pathways.
