Your guide to Indiana Black Expo's 2026 Summer Celebration
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Montell Jordan is coming to Indy to get "This How We Do It" stuck in every Hoosier's head during IBE's 2026 Summer Celebration. Photo: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images
One of Indiana's largest cultural events returns to downtown Thursday with an expanded focus on community health and a refined vision for the future.
Why it matters: The Summer Celebration is both Indiana Black Expo's flagship fundraiser and 11 days of civic events designed to make an impact year-round.
Driving the news: With the theme of "Our Legacy. Our Influence. Our Future," this year's event will host the 40th anniversary of the Summer Celebration Health Fair.
- This is the first time the organization is producing the long-running fair independently, which is poised to provide attendees with more than $4,000 in free health screenings and services.
- Mental health will also get the spotlight during a mental health symposium featuring basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes and a panel discussion centered on wellness and mental health in the Black community.
- The health fair takes place from July 17–19 in the Indiana Convention Center. A special seniors' night will take place from 4–8pm on July 16.
State of play: The Summer Celebration lineup represents an organizational strategy of staying laser-focused on existing programs and improving them rather than creating new ones.
- Decisions like doubling down on Black wellness at the health fair and giving young Black entrepreneurs-in-training another opportunity to hone their skills during the two-day IBX Youth Entrepreneur Series exemplify that approach.
What she's saying: "Sometimes you can extend yourself too wide," president and CEO Alice Watson said in May. "That's what we learned out of (an) assessment. Do it better. Do it bigger. So that's what we're really doing."
- "It was really kind of the position that I took (with the health fair). We can do it better, we can touch more who are in need. And the need is greater than ever before."
If you go: The 2025 IBE Summer Celebration runs through July 19. The full list of events can be found here.
- Here are some can't-miss highlights.
⛪ The Ecumenical Service on Thursday night kicks off Summer Celebration at Grace Apostolic Church with a keynote message from the Rev. Raphael Warnock, U.S. senator from Georgia.
📽️ The Black Film Festival in IBE's Black Box Theater on Saturday will feature a partnership with the Alzheimer's Association to screen "Unforgettable," a story of a family navigating the disease.
💼 Monday and Tuesday's Business Conference at the Indiana Convention Center will offer free workshops for small businesses on topics like navigating procurement processes, building strategic partnerships and scaling their businesses.
📚 Next Thursday's Education Conference will focus on tips to strengthen educators so they can continue transforming lives and communities.
🏆 The Pacers Sports & Entertainment luncheon on July 17 will honor people like Anthony Anderson, Delroy Lindo, Terri Carmichael Jackson and pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson Sr.
🎵 IBE's Music Heritage Festival outdoor concert returns to Carroll Stadium July 17 with KEM, October London, King George and Midnight Star taking the stage.
🎤 Montell Jordan, Scarface and LEON will be in the house for IBE's All White Affair Concert July 18 at the Indiana Convention Center.
🎼 IBE's Gospel Explosion will close things out on July 19 with gospel recording artists J.J. Hairston, Judah Band and more.