A brand-new music festival, Planet Brooklyn, is making its debut this summer with a mission to spotlight the rich cultural fabric of Brooklyn through live performances, food, and local art. The two-day, multi-venue event will take place on August 23 and 24 across Downtown Brooklyn, marking what organizers are calling a “first-of-its-kind” experience tailored specifically to the borough.
Hosted by BSE Global — the parent company behind the Barclays Center, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Liberty — the event aims to connect locals and visitors to Brooklyn’s vibrant identity.
Not Just Another Music Festival
“This is not about it being a hip-hop festival or a rock festival,” said DeJuan Wilson, Chief Products and Experiences Officer at BSE Global. “This is really about getting to the cultures that really make Brooklyn unique and special that differentiate it … I just think the mix of artists and performances you’re going to see … you’ve never seen a lineup like it before.”
While the artist lineup is still under wraps, Wilson teased a range of performers that represent the borough’s diversity not just in ethnicity, but in musical style.
Iconic Venues Set the Stage
Planet Brooklyn will utilize three landmark venues for its performances, which Wilson said are all iconic in their own right:
- Barclays Center – home to Brooklyn’s two professional basketball teams and a major concert destination.
- Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) – one of the oldest performing arts institutions in the country.
- Brooklyn Paramount – a newly restored historic theater bringing vintage glamour back to the borough.
Pay What You Want: Flexible Ticketing Model
Unlike many traditional festivals that require expensive all-access passes, Planet Brooklyn offers individual tickets for each performance, allowing attendees to pick and choose the shows they want to see.
“This is about giving Brooklynites and people who love Brooklyn, whether they’re locals or visitors, a way to access and be engaged in Brooklyn culture through music and food and marketplaces and performances,” Wilson said. “It’s just going to be an exciting two-day experience.”
Free Two-Day Block Party for the Community
One of the most exciting aspects of Planet Brooklyn is its free two-day block party, which will take over the streets around the venues.
Designed to reflect Brooklyn’s love for street fairs and summer block parties, the event will feature local food vendors and artisans, small stages with live performances by emerging artists, and interactive activities and community spaces.
Applications are still open for local businesses hoping to take part in the celebration.
A Bold New Format for Festivals
According to Wilson, Planet Brooklyn is redefining the festival experience by mixing indoor performances at historic venues with outdoor community-centered activities. The format allows festivalgoers to explore the borough’s culture both inside and out.
“I love the fact that we do have a mix of free and ticketed offerings for people, since this is about accessibility,” Wilson said. “Making sure everyone has a way into it.”
The official performance lineup will be revealed in the coming weeks, with tickets scheduled to go on sale online next month.
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