The North Carolina Azalea Festival, April 8 – 12, 2026, has been throwing the best party in the south for 79 years!
The Festival celebration features concerts, a street fair, big-name entertainment, a parade and more.
The festivities kick off with a royal affair on Wednesday, April 8 with the Queen’s coronation, held at Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
Kickoff Azalea Festival week with the Queen’s Coronation! Queen Azalea is officially coronated, and our Invited Guests and local dignitaries are introduced!
Celebrity Reception
Be one of the first to greet all the visiting Invited Guests and welcome them to this year’s North Carolina Azalea Festival! The Celebrity Reception is a private function for partners and sponsors of the Azalea Festival.
Cape Fear Garden Club’s Azalea Garden Tour
The Cape Fear Garden Club’s 2026 Azalea Garden Tour, April 10th through 12th, will open at 10am – 5pm each day.
Airlie Gardens will be open on Saturday and Sunday only during the tour. Proceeds from the Azalea Garden Tour will be given away as grants to local nonprofit organizations for beautification, conservation and educational projects in New Hanover County.
Since 2003, over 1.4 million dollars has been awarded to the local community from the Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour©.
Please visit https://www.capefeargardenclub.org/ for more information.
Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased at the Festival Ticket Office:
5725 Oleander Dr. Unit B7, Wilmington, NC 28403
Azalea Festival’s Concerts
For those who enjoy music, the Azalea Festival’s concerts have become big events. In previous years, artists like The Avett Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Duran Duran, Hank Williams Jr., and REO Speedwagon graced the festival stage.
This year’s concerts include Lil John – April 9th, 2026 and Dustin Lynch – April 10th, 2026. Both shows will be held at the Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan St., Wilmington, NC.
Azalea Festival Parade
Bands, floats, and Shriners will bring fun and fanfare as they participate in the 78th North Carolina Azalea Festival Parade. Crowds will gather along S. 3rd Street to watch the event. The North Carolina Azalea Festival Parade will take place Saturday, April 5th, 9:30 AM – 11 AM.
Parade Bleacher tickets on sale NOW! 🌺
Azalea Street Fair
The 2026 North Carolina Azalea Festival Street Fair will take place April 10th – April 12th in Historic Downtown Wilmington! 🌺
Hours of operation are as follows:
April 10th – 6pm to 10pm
April 11th – 10am to 10pm
April 12th – 10am to 5pm
Please Note: Vendor Applications are now closed.
Tickets and more information can be found on the Azalea Festival’s website www.ncazaleafestival.org
| The North Carolina Azalea Festival P.O. Box 3275 Wilmington, NC 28406 Phone: (910) 794-4650 Visit NC Azalea Festival websiteE-mail: info@ncazaleafestival.org |
