Anthony Hamilton Returning to Charleston as 2026 Lowcountry Jazz Festival Headliner
Grammy Award-winning soul singer Anthony Hamilton is returning to Charleston, this time as one of the marquee performers for the 2026 Lowcountry Jazz Festival.
Hamilton will headline the festival’s Saturday-night concert on September 5 at 7 p.m. inside the Charleston Gaillard Center. The evening will also feature six-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and contemporary jazz guitarist Peter White. Tickets currently start at $80.
Anthony Hamilton Moves Into the Headlining Spot
Hamilton’s return comes after he appeared alongside Fantasia at the North Charleston Coliseum in April 2025. That concert was expected to draw a capacity crowd, reflecting the strong local demand surrounding both artists.
This time around, Hamilton will move downtown and take center stage as the closing performer for the first full concert night of Charleston’s signature Labor Day weekend jazz festival.
Known for blending Southern soul, gospel, R&B and jazz influences, Hamilton has built a career around emotionally charged records including “Charlene,” “The Point of It All,” “Best of Me” and “Comin’ From Where I’m From.”
Saturday Night’s Full Lineup
The September 5 program will open with Lakecia Benjamin, an alto saxophonist, bandleader and six-time Grammy nominee recognized for combining jazz with funk and soul.
Peter White will also perform, bringing more than three decades of smooth-jazz guitar experience to the Gaillard Center stage.
Hamilton will close the evening with a headlining performance that festival organizers describe as a blend of jazz, soul and R&B.
The Lowcountry Jazz Festival Returns for Three Nights
The complete Lowcountry Jazz Festival will take place September 4–6, 2026, with three nights of live music scheduled at the Charleston Gaillard Center.
The weekend lineup includes:
Friday, September 4:
The sold-out All White Party featuring Vincent Ingala
Saturday, September 5:
Lakecia Benjamin, Peter White and Anthony Hamilton
Sunday, September 6:
Keiko Matsui, Jonathan Butler, and RnR featuring Rick Braun and Richard Elliot
VIP packages are also available with premium seating, early venue access, select artist meet-and-greet opportunities and hotel options. Festivalgoers purchasing tickets for all three days in the same transaction can receive an automatic 10% discount.
Music With a Larger Purpose
The Lowcountry Jazz Festival is presented through a partnership between the Charleston Gaillard Center and Closing the Gap in Health Care.
Beyond the concerts, the festival serves as the primary fundraiser for Closing the Gap in Health Care, a nonprofit organization working to reduce health disparities and improve health education in underserved communities.
Festival proceeds also support the Thaddeus John Bell, M.D. Endowment Fund, which assists students pursuing health-science degrees and supports efforts to increase the number of African American healthcare providers in South Carolina.
Anthony Hamilton at the Lowcountry Jazz Festival
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Charleston Gaillard Center
Address: 95 Calhoun Street, Charleston
Also performing: Lakecia Benjamin and Peter White
Tickets: Starting at $80 through the Charleston Gaillard Center
Anthony Hamilton’s return gives Charleston another major R&B and soul concert to anticipate this fall—and this time, he will be the main attraction.
