Wild West Music Fest will return to Copper Sky Regional Park next spring, bringing three days of live entertainment, carnival rides and family activities to one of Arizona’s fastest-growing cities, officials announced Friday.

The festival, produced by the City of Maricopa and Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations, is scheduled for March 27–29, 2026. Now entering its third year, organizers say the event continues to strengthen Maricopa’s tourism economy while drawing visitors from around the region.

“The economic impact of these large-scale events is truly remarkable,” Mayor Nancy Smith said in the announcement. “Last year’s Wild West Music Fest generated an estimated $2.84 million in economic activity. People are staying in Maricopa to have fun — or coming here from other communities — and supporting our local businesses in the process.”

Steve LeVine, CEO of SLE, said the festival has quickly become one of the city’s signature celebrations.

“Bringing top-tier talent, full-scale carnival rides and a true festival atmosphere to this incredible city is something we’re proud to be part of,” LeVine said. “This event continues to grow because Maricopa shows up, and we’re thrilled to deliver another year of unforgettable moments.”

The financial report from this year’s festival showed Wild West Music Fest became profitable for the first time. According to city data, the April 2025 event generated $466,000 in revenue against $463,000 in expenses, leaving a $2,700 surplus for the event producer. The improvement marks a $253,000 year-over-year swing from 2024, when the festival operated at a six-figure loss.

City officials credited the turnaround to streamlined operations, reduced infrastructure costs, revamped vendor agreements and a scaled-down entertainment budget. The 2025 event drew roughly 9,500 attendees and filled hotels and short-term rentals throughout the area, according to the city. Organizers also navigated a last-minute headliner change when Sean Kingston was replaced by Baby Bash just days before the show.

In its inaugural year, the festival drew an estimated 15,000 people but cost more than $1 million to stage, ending with a $251,448 deficit absorbed by Steve LeVine Entertainment. City leaders defended the investment at the time as essential to building a long-term tourism brand.

While the dates are set, officials have yet to announce the 2026 lineup, ticket sale timelines or details on planned additions to the festival footprint. The city has approved $265,000 in funding for next year’s event, drawn primarily from bed-tax revenue, but organizers say programming, booking and marketing decisions are still underway.

Past festivals have featured artists such as Baby Bash, Flo Rida, LeAnn Rimes, Nelly, Twista and Uncle Kracker. Organizers say details for 2026 will be released in the coming months.

More information is available at WWMFest.com, and festival updates can be found on Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok at @WWMFest.