Charlotte will host a packed Gospel music weekend from 12–15 August as organisers stage the inaugural Stellar Plus Experience ahead of the 41st annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
Festival format and focus
The three-day Stellar Plus Experience, scheduled at the Omni Charlotte (132 E. Trade St.), will offer a blend of live performance, industry-focused sessions and community activities leading into the awards finale on 15 August. The programme is billed as a fan-facing extension of the awards, designed to showcase the culture around contemporary gospel music while providing opportunities for networking, education and local commerce.
Events across the weekend include concerts, masterclasses, panel discussions, fitness activities, songwriter sessions and a marketplace of vendors. Many sessions are planned for uptown Charlotte venues within and around the Omni.
Highlights and headline acts
Organisers say the weekend will culminate with the awards show itself on 15 August — the main ceremony features a red-carpet reception and will be presented by gospel star Kirk Franklin. Ahead of that, the festival’s late-night comedy showcase on 14 August will be headlined by Lil’ Rel Howery, accompanied by comedians Kelly Kellz, Damon Williams and Rhyeem Johnson. The comedy portion runs from 9pm to midnight at the Omni.
“Stellar+EXP enhances the star-studded Stellar Awards celebration by inviting fans to experience the music, culture and community that make gospel music so powerful,” said executive producer Rhonda Sams in a statement.
Access, prices and free attractions
Tickets for the comedy show are listed at $43.30 and are available via Eventbrite. A central public element of the weekend is the Stellar Marketplace, a free event running from 10am to 4pm on 13–14 August at the Omni, showcasing vendors and creatives. The marketplace requires no ticket or advance registration.
Programming opens on 12 August with community-focused events, including the podcast event "From the Pew". The following day, 13 August, is scheduled to include masterclasses, a "Stellar Talks" fireside chat, a fitness dance party and a networking social, along with "Stellar Unplugged" live music sessions. On 14 August there is a scheduled walk/run event, a songwriters symposium, a pre-show and the comedy night preceding the awards ceremony weekend finale.
Context and consequences
Bringing the 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards to Charlotte for the first time signals an attempt to broaden the ceremony’s footprint beyond its traditional locations and to deepen engagement with audiences through an expanded festival format. The Stellar Plus Experience aims both to enhance fan participation and to create professional development opportunities for artists and industry professionals through panels and masterclasses.
For Charlotte’s cultural calendar the weekend represents an influx of performers, industry delegates and visitors, with potential benefits to local hospitality and retail businesses — particularly through events such as the free marketplace intended to highlight entrepreneurs and creatives.
Organisers describe the expanded format as a way to make the awards weekend more participatory and to celebrate gospel music not only as a televised awards event but as a broader cultural community.
- Dates: Stellar Plus Experience 12–14 August; Stellar Awards 15 August.
- Location: Omni Charlotte (132 E. Trade St.) — main festival hub and some uptown venues.
- Tickets: Comedy show $43.30 via Eventbrite; Stellar Marketplace free (no registration).
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stellar in Community / "From the Pew" | 12 Aug | Festival opener |
| Masterclasses / Stellar Talks / Networking | 13 Aug | Includes Stellar Marketplace (10am–4pm) |
| Walk/run / Songwriters symposium / Comedy | 14 Aug | Comedy 9pm–12am, headlined by Lil’ Rel Howery |
| 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards | 15 Aug | Red carpet and awards hosted by Kirk Franklin |
The Stellar Plus Experience appears designed to knit together fans, creatives and industry professionals in a single weekend of activity. Whether the model will be adopted for future awards cycles will likely depend on ticket sales, attendee feedback and the logistical lessons learned from this first presentation in Charlotte.
