The Levitt Family Foundation recently kicked off the new year with not one, but two dynamic gatherings of Levitt venue nonprofits and music series grantees, during which we welcomed over 200 members of the Levitt network to Los Angeles for the 2026 Friends of Levitt Convening and the 2026 Levitt Music Series Learning Conference! Over five inspiring days, changemakers from Maine to Puerto Rico, North Dakota to Louisiana, California to Pennsylvania, and everywhere in between, gathered with their Levitt venue and music series peers for in-depth panels, interactive workshops and breakout discussions, and meaningful connection.

Beyond the robust shared learning, both gatherings featured joyful outings and social activities in the heart of Los Angeles’ downtown cultural corridor, sparking creativity and collaboration in building momentum across America for free, outdoor concerts as the heartbeat of healthy, vibrant communities. Scroll down to learn (and see) more!

 

Friends of Levitt Convening

Since the opening of the first Levitt Pavilion in 1974, Levitt venues—each independently managed, programmed, and supported by a local Friends of Levitt nonprofit—have formed the bedrock of the movement to build community through music. This year’s Friends of Levitt Convening brought together executive directors, board members, and staff from Levitt Pavilion Arlington, Levitt Pavilion Dayton, Levitt Pavilion Denver, Levitt Shell Sioux Falls, and Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks—as well as developing venues in Houston, New Orleans, and San Jose—to exchange knowledge and explore ideas on how to broaden reach and deepen impact in their communities.

Through a full-day, expert-led fundraising session, Friends of Levitt board members and executive directors gained new strategies and actionable insights, empowering these leaders to share their Levitt story with confidence and build lasting relationships with donors. While Friends of Levitt staff took part in their own interactive and dynamic sessions, exchanging successes and challenges, and collaborating with their counterparts from across the country.

At Sunday’s closing Friends of Levitt session and farewell brunch, attendees gathered to share reflections from the weekend’s sessions. Among the many seeds of inspiration were those planted by Levitt peers. These included Levitt Arlington’s engaging program that spotlights performances by local youth talent; Levitt Denver’s creative tools for audience data capture, supporting revenue projections and donor base expansion; and Levitt Sioux Falls’ community-driven ADA 35 Festival, featuring live music, theatre, and art activities by and for people of all abilities, to name a few. Together, these share-outs showcased the innovation of the Levitt network and the power of learning, leading, and creating impact—side by side.

 

  • After arriving in Los Angeles, Friends of Levitt Convening attendees set off to explore two of the city's must-see arts destinations, The Broad and the GRAMMY Museum.

 

After bidding farewell to our Friends of Levitt partners, the Foundation welcomed another dynamic group of Levitt network members: the new cohort of 2026-2028 Levitt Music Series grantees, arriving in Los Angeles from 30+ towns and cities across the country for the Levitt Music Series Learning Conference!

 

Levitt Music Series Learning Conference

Excitement filled the air as 100+ changemakers from rural communities to large metro areas were introduced to their new Levitt peers and shared with each other why they applied for a Levitt Music Series grant—from local Main Street and downtown organizations leveraging the power of free, outdoor concerts to boost economic impact, to parks and recreation agencies partnering with their cities to revitalize underused public green spaces, to arts nonprofits whose music series will launch as a complement to other arts offerings in their communities.

Conference sessions covered the layers of producing a joyful, inclusive, and impactful Levitt Music Series, from artist booking and community co-curation, public safety and security, and cultivating relationships with sponsors and donors to generating buzz and amplifying reach through effective marketing strategies, building community engagement and positive impact through creative lawn activation experiences, and the power of partnerships in all aspects of the concert series. Foundation staff and Levitt network consultants shared practical tools and insights, and actionable takeaways through real-world examples were presented by Levitt Grantee Ambassadors hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee; Colusa, California; Oakland, California; Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia; and Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

 

  • The 2026 Levitt Music Series Learning Conference welcomed new grantees from dozens of communities across America, including Minot, North Dakota!

 

You may ask, what was the best part of the Friends of Levitt Convening and Levitt Music Series Learning Conference? Without a doubt, it was the power of community—partners and changemakers coming together to share ideas, build relationships, and strengthen the collective impact of free live music. As the 2026 Levitt concert season gets ready to launch this spring, with more than 900 free concerts in 90+ towns and cities nationwide, we’re excited to see how the inspired ideas from these gatherings come to life on Levitt lawns coast to coast. Stay tuned for concert dates, artist lineups, and more!