Chreece announces first women headliners for 2026 festival

State of play: Chreece — a mashup of "cheers" and "peace" that's pronounced like "treese" — announced its 2026 lineup Friday, featuring more than 70 local and national acts who will perform across eight venues.

• It's headlined by Brooklyn-born rapper Rico Nasty, who made a major impact when her debut album "Nightmare Vacation" dropped in 2020 alongside a platinum single and is expanding to acting with a role on Apple TV's "Margo's Got Money Troubles."
• Also getting top billing is Michigan City native Jorjiana. The Hoosier emcee with the unorthodox flow was named an artist to watch by Billboard 2025.

New this year is The People's Village, a free, all-ages public space featuring live performances, vendors, shade and family programming.

• It was designed to make Chreece accessible to everyone, not just ticket holders.

Flashback: Founded in 2015, the inaugural event was a fundraiser for nonprofit Musical Family Tree. The first headliner was Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins.

• Chreece grew year over year, reaching a peak in 2019 with a sold-out festival headlined by Talib Kweli, Griselda Records and Fat Tony.

What they're saying: Mayoral candidate state Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis) said the magic of Chreece wouldn't exist without the work of founder and musician Sean "Oreo" Jones, saying experiences like this "root us in legacy and connect us to community."

• "The heart of hip-hop has always been about speaking truth to power, and now more than ever we must support, celebrate, and invest in our artists," Hunley said in a statement. "Chreece is a movement helping put Indianapolis' arts and culture scene on the map, and our city is better because of it."

For Jones, the festival stands as proof that culture grows when a city invests in its people.

• "We carry forward the legacy of Black music in Indianapolis while building something new for the next generation," he said.

What's next: Chreece takes place on Aug. 29.

• Tickets start at $60.