J. Cole‘s Dreamville Festival may be coming to an end, but the spirit of the event will continue in Raleigh, North Carolina. Although the 2025 edition was announced as the final installment of the Dreamville Festival, fans can look forward to a reimagined version of the event under a new name.
The Future of Large-Scale Music Events in Raleigh
At a press conference on April 3rd, Sascha Stone Guttfreund, a Dreamville and Roc Nation promoter, confirmed that large-scale music events would persist in Raleigh as part of a multi-year deal. “We’re going to be here for years to come,” he said. “We’re so excited to be working with the city of Raleigh on something new and exciting, continuing to build on this incredible thing that we’ve done over the years.”
J. Cole’s Ongoing Involvement
While the new festival will no longer carry the Dreamville name, J. Cole will remain an integral part of the event. Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams-David explained, “We’re using the Dreamville label to a certain extent, he [Cole] will obviously be involved. Whether or not he headlines, that’s probably not going to be an occurrence, but he is a local resident. He is totally committed to this community, and he is totally committed to this festival.”
A Festival Rooted in Community
Ib Hamad, J. Cole’s long-time manager, emphasized the importance of community in the festival’s evolution. “We wanted to keep the feeling of just the community. We call it our family reunion,” he said. “People from all over the world and all 50 states come in, and it’s good to be able to do it here in North Carolina.”
A New Venue and Future Plans
The reimagined festival will take place at Dorothea Dix Park for at least the next four years. This year’s Dreamville Festival will feature major performances by J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Erykah Badu, 21 Savage, and many more, ensuring the event continues its tradition of star-studded lineups and unforgettable performances.
