NEW CELEBRATION: Of gospel music’s history and culture commences in 2025 with the first Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational, followed by free concerts throughout Miami-Dade County and culminating with Gospel Fest Miami Weekend in June; including a weekend of free concerts, workshops, a film screening, gospel conversations and a finale concert featuring national and local gospel acts. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX MARKOW

(Black PR Wire) Miami, FL – The Adrienne Arsht Center (@arshtcenter) has announced the inaugural Gospel Fest Miami, a new six-month celebration of gospel music’s rich history and vibrant culture.

From January through June 2025, the Arsht will invite audiences to enjoy free community concerts around town, a film screening, workshops and performances at the Arsht, all leading up to a show-stopping finale concert featuring national gospel stars alongside local artists.

More information about participating artists, performances and a schedule of events will be announced soon.

The celebrations will kick off on Jan. 18, 2025 with the first annual Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational, a free choral competition where collegiate, community and church choirs from across Florida are invited to compete for a cash prize and the opportunity to perform at the Arsht’s first annual Gospel Fest Miami Weekend, scheduled for June 21-22, alongside headliners to be announced soon.

The festival will also feature free seminars and panel discussions exploring the history of gospel music, vocal clinics, choir workshops and more.

"Gospel Fest Miami is an evolution of the Arsht Center’s fan-favorite Free Gospel Sundays series, which showcased the rich gospel music in Miami for 15 seasons," said Jairo Ontiveros, executive producer and Dorothea Green Chair of Education & Community Engagement at the Arsht Center.

The inaugural season of Gospel Fest Miami includes:

ARSHT GOSPEL CHOIR INVITATIONAL

Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Knight Concert Hall Free First Access Passes available starting Dec. 3 The Arsht invites South Florida Gospel music lovers to enjoy a day of gospel music performances by collegiate, community and church choirs from across Florida as they compete for a $5,000 grand prize – and a chance to perform onstage at Gospel Fest Miami in June. Audiences are encouraged to cheer for their favorite choir, sing along to gospel classics and experience the power of gospel music on one of the country’s biggest stages. The evening will feature the best top choirs in each category, with special performances by the “How Sweet the Sound” Award-winning Florida Fellowship Super Choir and Florida Memorial University’s Ambassador Chorale. The invitational will be hosted by gospel singer, songwriter and producer Corey Edwards.

All choirs interested in competing in the Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational can find more information and apply at arshtcenter.org by Dec. 18.

First Access Passes for the Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational will become available to the public at arshtcenter.org starting Dec. 3.

GOSPEL ON THE ROAD

February-May 2025 The spirit of gospel will fill the streets of Miami with four pop-up performances throughout Miami-Dade County, featuring the best local acts spreading joy, unity and inspiration, free and open to the public, no reservations needed. Pop-up locations, dates and times to be announced.

GOSPEL FEST MIAMI

June 21-22, 2025

Knight Concert Hall

A two-day celebration of faith, culture and community at the inaugural Gospel Fest Miami weekend will feature a free film screening on the history and roots of gospel; preshow artist conversations with historians speaking on the rich history of gospel music, its connection to the Civil Rights Movement and its influence on secular music; clinics and choir workshops for vocalists of all skill levels; a free performance by some of Miami’s best gospel acts, and more – culminating with a star-studded concert featuring national headliners alongside local acts and the winners of the Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational.

Detailed information about the lineup, ticket prices and on-sale dates and free First Access Passes will be announced.

Gospel Fest Miami is one of the 12 ongoing Arsht Impact programs that create magical experiences and enrich the lives of more than 120,000 people of all ages in Miami, for free.

All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Visit arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information.