Ludacris to headline free World Cup festival at Piedmont Park
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Ludacris performs during the 2026 BottleRock festival in Napa, California. Photo: Courtesy of Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Atlanta will host the last of its eight matches for the FIFA World Cup next week, and the city will close out the weekslong event with a free festival at Piedmont Park.
The latest: A Celebration of Soccer & Sound runs from 11am to 8pm Sunday, July 19, at the park.
- Produced by ONE Musicfest and Showcase Atlanta, the show will be headlined by hip-hop artist Ludacris. He will be joined by other local and international musicians, with live sets from DJs throughout the festivities.
- Admission is free, but you're encouraged to RSVP.
Zoom in: Make sure you bring your chairs or blankets because at 3pm, the city will screen the World Cup's final match.
Yes, and: Also bring your appetite because you'll have your pick of international food vendors to satisfy your hunger.
- If you're looking for gifts, a market featuring arts and crafts, local businesses and other vendors will also be on hand.
- A children's area will be set up for little ones to explore.
Zoom out: The festival tops off a month of events designed to give residents who can't afford World Cup tickets a chance to take part in the experience.
- Most of the gatherings have centered around Downtown, including the FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park and the Global Grub Alley.
State of play: Organizers said the Fan Festival has attracted more than 453,000 visitors since opening June 11, and operating hours will be extended during its final two days.
- On Tuesday, July 14, the festival will be open from 1-10:30pm. Ludacris will also perform before the semifinal match that will be played in Dallas.
- The celebration continues after the game wraps up with live music and other festivities.
- The following day, the festival opens from noon to 10:30pm so fans can gather around to watch the semifinal match that will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium starting at 3pm.
- A closing celebration begins at 6pm and will include special guests and "exclusive entertainment," organizers said Wednesday.
- The times and performance lineup for both days will be unveiled July 13.
The fine print: A limited number of general admission tickets for the evening events will be released Friday, which will allow entry to the Fan Festival starting at 6pm. They'll be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- General admission for the rest of the day is sold out, but determined fans who want to be part of the experience can purchase GA+ pass or VIP tickets.