The 2026 Tucson Festival of Books this weekend will feature over 60 acts performing everything from opera arias to Irish jigs on stages big and small throughout the University of Arizona festival grounds.
The entertainment side of the annual Festival of Books has grown each of its 17 years, introducing festivalgoers to some of the region's best-known artists of all different genres.
Throughout the day Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, you'll find small musical groups playing the Canyon Stage, in the breezeway of the Student Union Memorial Center, while the large Klezmer and brass bands are on the West Food Court Stage in front of the union.
The Tucson flamenco fusion band Tesoro is headlining this year's Tucson Festival of Books entertainment lineup.
Ted Ramirez is among the musicians performing during this weekend's Tucson Festival of Books.
Singer-songwriters like Ted Ramirez, once dubbed "Tucson's Official Troubadour," are on the Tucson Folk Festival stage in front of Bear Down Gym. Buskers, the brainchild of longtime festival volunteer and entertainment committee co-chair David Nix, will roam near the Science and Chemistry buildings throughout the weekend.
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Las Azaleas, the all-female mariachi, was a big draw at last year's Tucson Festival of Books. They are on the main stage Saturday for the 2026 festival.
Nix also booked the Food Court Stage with a melting pot of Tucson's performing arts diversity, from folklorica dancers to R&B singers.
Entertainment co-chair and longtime Tucson concert promoter Jeb Schoonover curated the Vantage West Main Stage, in front of the UA Administration Building that's sandwiched between the Union and the Modern Languages building.
Schoonover, who has been booking shows for the festival for three years, decided to theme this year's Main Stage — Hispanic Culture on Saturday, Americana and pop on Sunday — after noticing a pattern in the acts applying.
"I saw that we had this great group of Hispanic acts and a wonderful group of Americana," he said. "I thought it would be fun to celebrate our Hispanic heritage and group these bands together. I'm trying to create some excitement."
The husband and wife duo of Roth DLux are on the Tucson Festival of Books main stage Sunday.
Admission to the Festival of Books and the music performances is free. Main stage music kicks off at 10 a.m. both days; some stages start earlier.
Vantage West Main Entertainment Stage
Saturday, Hispanic Heritage
10 a.m., awards ceremony for youth authors and youth artists contest winners
Singer/songwriter Belinda Esquer, right, teams up with Tucson bass player John D'Auria on the Tucson Festival of Books main stage Sunday morning. D'Auria also performs with Tesoro.
Noon, Mariachi Rayos del Sol de Tucson High
1 p.m., the female mariachi Las Azaleas
2 p.m., Flamenco-fusion band Tesoro
3 p.m., Latin-pop band Miana y la Musica
The Mike Heber Band shares the main stage Sunday with fellow blues rocker Heather Hardy.
4 p.m., Chalako the Band, which Schoonover said brings "the big pachanga" with its mix of salsa, Cumbia, bachata and boogaloo
The Americana/folk band Cat Mountain is known for clever lyrics and catchy melodies. They are on the book festival's main stage Sunday.
Sunday, Americana and pop
Tucson DJ Carl Hanni will perform between acts
10 a.m., pop stylings of Belinda Esquer Duo with John D'Auria
11 a.m., soul band Nia Elise & the Dreamers
Noon, Mike Hebert & Heather Hardy play old school blues
1 p.m., Americana husband and wife duo Roth D'lux
2 p.m., American-folk band Cat Mountain is known for its clever lyrics and catchy melodies
3 p.m., Tucson's popular indie pop band Miss Olivia & the Interlopers
4 p.m., surf rockers Desert Undertones
West Food Court Stage
Saturday: 9:30 a.m., “Books That Made Us Brave”; 10:30 a.m., Tucson Masterworks Chorale; 11:30 a.m., Goonsville; 12:30 p.m., Bracken School of Irish Dance; 1:30 p.m., Old Arizona Brass Band; 2:30 p.m., Tucson Desert Harmony Chorus; 3:30 p.m., Outer Horizon; 4:30 p.m., Momentum Dance Company
Sunday: 9:30 a.m., Klezmerkaba; 10:30 a.m., Compania de Danza Folklorica Arizona; 11:30 a.m., Permafrost Road; 12:30 p.m., Rezonators Brass Band; 1:30 p.m., The Wild Swans; 2:30 p.m., The New Devotion Motown Revue; 3:30 p.m., Tucson Scandinavian Dancers & Aurora Borealis Band; 4:30 p.m., Ballet Folklorico Tapatio
Children's Stage
Saturday: 10 a.m., Desert Museum "Animal Friends — Meet the Neighbors!"; 11 a.m., Tucson Girls Chorus Ladybugs Choir; noon, "Stories that Soar!"; 1 p.m., "Jazz Fly Storytime" with Matthew Gollub; 2 p.m., Mariachi Los Toritos de White Elementary School; 3 p.m., Chinese Lion Dance, Traditional Music & Dance; 4 p.m., Ballet Folklorico Los Mextucaz
Sunday: 10 a.m. Warriors for Justice African Dance; 11 a.m., Zin! Zin! Suzuki violins and friends; noon, Cuedas Guitar Ensemble; 1 p.m., Capoeira — Afro-Brazilian Martial Art, Dance & Music; 2 p.m., Drachman K-8 Music Program; 3 p.m., illusionist Michael Howell; 4 p.m., Celtic Steps Irish Dance Group
Tucson Folk Festival Songwriter Stage
Acts perform on the half-hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; last act on stage at 3:30
Saturday: Act 3; Jeff Bloomberg; Mark Bishop Evans; Ron Pandy & the Wildpitch Band; Bobbo Byrnes; String Creek; Annie Anna; Ted Ramirez; Lizzie Oakwood; Nancy Elliott; Lulybird
Sunday: Alivia Alexander; Saguaro Soland; Pat Kelly; Ghost of Caroline; Jerry Gilliam of Grand Dorado; Sue Schnitzer; Slim Edelman; Tom Poley; Eric Schaffer; Brett Dooley; Dave and Kara
The Canyon
Saturday: 9 a.m., Children's Storybook Parade; 10 a.m., The Balladeer; 11 a.m., All in Achord; noon, Joe Weinberg; 1 p.m., Luftbassoons; 2 p.m., Jerry Martin; 3 p.m., Brian Fate; 4 p.m., Dawn Krachey
Sunday: 10 a.m., Derdog; 11 a.m., Borogroves; noon, George & Georgia; 1 p.m., Spencer Vandevier; 2 p.m., Wendy Landers; 3 p.m., Gary Rodriguez; 4 p.m., John Hughes Music LLC
Circus Grounds
The Circus and Aerial Academy of Tucson presents “Peter Pan” at 11 a.m. and 1:30 and 4 p.m. each day.
Arizona Opera performs at 12:30 and 3 p.m. each day.
Buskers
Saturday: Lineup includes Lotus the Bubble Fairy, Marty Province, Tucson Barbershop Sunshine Chorus, Seneca Drive, Gwen Ryan, The Broke Down Boys
Sunday: Hat Trick, Kyle McCourt, TUKU — Tucson Ukulele Uprising, Clio, Marty Flashman, Transcend Strings
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Bluesky @Starburch
Cathalena E. Burch
Reporter
