THOP Fest 2026 Returns with Kota The Friend, Ras Kass, and a Stacked Lineup at New Fontana Home
The Happiness of Pursuit Festival is back after a year off, and the ninth annual celebration is bringing its biggest lineup yet to a brand-new home. THOP Fest 2026 goes down Saturday, October 3 at Stage Red in Fontana, California, headlined by Brooklyn’s Kota The Friend — one of today’s most respected independent artists — alongside West Coast legend Ras Kass, who will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of his classic debut Soul on Ice. The bill also features DJ Rhettmatic of the world-renowned Beat Junkies, K.A.A.N. & DJ Hoppa, and A-F-R-O & 60 East performing together as At The Sideshow, with additional sets from Intuition & Equalibrum, Trizz & Friends, and more artists from Southern California and beyond.
The festival offers a full day of Hip-Hop culture, visual art, skateboarding, local vendors, food, and community activations, all built around discovering emerging independent talent. Presented by 60 East and The Happiness of Pursuit Arts Foundation, THOP Fest has provided a platform for more than 300 artists since 2017, and this new chapter promises to be its most ambitious yet. Visit thopfest.net for more info and tickets.
