O
fficials announced the entertainment lineup for the 2026 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta on Monday, highlighting a mix of national acts set to perform during the four-day event.
Regatta board members were joined by city and county representatives, including Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango and Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin, during Monday's announcement.
According to officials, this year's performers include:
- Thursday, July 2: Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge
- Friday, July 3: Montell Jordan, Bow Wow and Bobby Brown
- Saturday, July 4: America’s 250th birthday celebration featuring Lita Ford and Bret Michaels
- Sunday, July 5: Tonic and Vertical Horizon
The 2026 Sternwheel Regatta, which is scheduled for July 2-5, coincides with celebrations marking the nation’s 250th birthday. On Monday, officials announced that this year, there would be three July Fourth firework displays launched simultaneously from three different locations around the capital city, including at the State Capitol Complex, Haddad Riverfront Park, and Magic Island.
Event’s return and growth
The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta returned in the summer of 2022 and has quickly become a premier summer event for the region. The event received the 2022 Mountain State Award from the West Virginia Department of Tourism, recognizing it as a standout festival.
Since its return, the Regatta has featured a wide range of activities, including concerts, a drone show, races and parades. The event has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city’s riverfront, according to organizers.
City officials previously said the 2025 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta generated a $40.1 million economic impact on the region.
According to CVB data, an estimated 225,000 people attended last year's Regatta. More than 26 percent traveled more than 50 miles, and 78 percent of attendees came from out of state, according to data.
