What changes for Madison residents this weekend: La Fête de Marquette runs July 9–12 at McPike Park with an expanded lineup that now includes Madison Irish Fest and extra electronic stages. That growth means more stages, later-night sets and a broader mix of national acts and local favorites across the midsummer festival footprint.
La Fête de Marquette grows, adds Irish Fest and more electronic programming
La Fête de Marquette — one of Madison’s midsummer music landmarks — takes place July 9–12 at McPike Park. Organizers have added Madison Irish Fest to the festival lineup, bringing performances by Conor Mallon & the Unearthed, Ger O’Donnell and local group Lochanside.
The festival’s electronic programming, billed as Musique Electronique, returns with three days of electronic artists and features headliners Special Request and Sterac. The schedule includes traditional late-night shows at High Noon on July 10–11.
"La Fête de Marquette is, improbably, even more packed with music in 2026 with the addition of Madison Irish Fest,"
Festival stages will also host two concerts by longtime act Los Lobos, Cajun and zydeco performers Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band and Rockin' Dopsie & the Zydeco Twisters, plus Madison acts such as The Earthlings, VO5 and Mr. Chair. For the full schedule, organizers direct attendees to wil-mar.org.
Gallery and literary offerings around the city
Art and poetry events complement the festival weekend. At the James Watrous Gallery, two Wisconsin artists exhibit through July 12.
- Romano Johnson presents "Gospel Love Heart," featuring large-scale, glitter-infused imagery including angels and racing cars.
- Tom Antell shows "Democratic Vistas," which pairs playful imagery with darker themes about Indigenous history and colonization.
The gallery is open regular hours, noon–5 p.m. Thursday–Sunday.
Poetry reading at Mystery To Me
On Thursday, July 9, Mystery To Me hosts a Wisconsin Women’s Voices poetry evening beginning at 6 p.m. The two-night event features eight Wisconsin writers; the July 9 participants include Cathryn Cofell, Emilie Lindemann, Wendy Vardaman and Lisa Vihos.
Attendees are asked to RSVP at mysterytomebooks.com. The bookstore also offers a livestream link for those who cannot attend in person.
| Event | Date(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| La Fête de Marquette (incl. Madison Irish Fest) | July 9–12 | McPike Park |
| James Watrous Gallery exhibitions | Through July 12 | James Watrous Gallery |
| Wisconsin Women’s Voices reading | July 9 (6 p.m.) | Mystery To Me (and livestream) |
Madison residents planning to attend should consult event organizers' sites for ticketing details, set times and any changes to schedule or venue information. For La Fête de Marquette specifics, the festival’s full schedule is available at wil-mar.org; for the poetry reading RSVP and livestream information go to mysterytomebooks.com.
