Hot 97 frames Summer Jam 2026 as the ultimate celebration of hip-hop culture, with Kudjo Sogadzi calling it 'the heartbeat of New York.' The lineup supposedly bridges legends and next-gen talent — but let's see who's actually driving ticket sales.
French Montana and Max B haven't been on stage together in years after their very public falling out. Their joint project Wave Gods 2: Cosmos Brothers dropping May 22 — same day tickets go on sale — feels less like coincidence and more like a coordinated rollout designed to maximize buzz for the July show.
Event details confirmed: Summer Jam takes place July 24 at New Jersey's Prudential Center. Tickets hit Ticketmaster May 22 at 10 a.m. ET. DaBaby brings his Billboard Hot 100 hit 'Pop Dat Thang,' currently sitting at No. 27 on the chart.
Mark your calendars for May 22 — that's when both tickets drop AND French Montana and Max B's Wave Gods 2: Cosmos Brothers drops. Coincidence? In hip-hop, nothing is accidental.
Hot 97 just dropped the first wave of artists for Summer Jam 2026, and the lineup reads like a greatest-hits mixtape of hip-hop royalty with enough drama built in to keep gossip blogs fed through July. The headliners are Fetty Wap, French Montana & Max B (together on one stage — more on that later), Ice Spice, Rick Ross, and DaBaby. The event is scheduled for July 24 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey — a venue that's become Summer Jam's home base after years of bouncing between venues.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 22, at exactly 10 a.m. ET. But here's where it gets interesting.
French Montana and Max B are co-headlining as a duo, which is notable because their relationship has been complicated to say the least. The two have had a very public falling out over the years — we're talking about rap beef, diss records, the whole shebang. Now they're back together for Summer Jam AND dropping their joint project Wave Gods 2: Cosmos Brothers on May 22, which just happens to be the exact same day tickets go on sale.
That's not synergy, that's a strategy. DaBaby is also bringing his Billboard Hot 100 hit "Pop Dat Thang" to the stage — currently sitting at No. 27 on this week's chart. The Charlotte rapper has had his own turbulence over the past few years after controversial remarks derailed some momentum, so performing at Summer Jam represents another step in his comeback tour.
The supporting acts are equally stacked. The 7 p.m. stage features Stove God Cooks, Conway the Machine, Roc Marciano, Nems, 38 Spesh, Albee Al, and Diany Dior. The 8 p.m. stage brings Cash Cobain, G Herbo, Zeddy Will, Omah Lay, Honey Bxby, Sleepy Hallow, and 41.
More artists will be announced on June 5 — because apparently the first wave wasn't enough. "Summer Jam continues to be the ultimate celebration of Hip Hop culture and the heartbeat of New York," said Kudjo Sogadzi, EVP Content & Growth at MediaCo. "This year's lineup reflects the sound of the moment while honoring the artists and communities that continue to move the culture forward.
From legends to the next generation, Summer Jam 2026 is built to create unforgettable moments." The bar has been set high by last year's show, which featured Gunna as headliner alongside A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, GloRilla, Muni Long, and more. Whether this lineup can top that remains to be seen — but with Fetty Wap's homecoming, the French Montana-Max B reunion, and Ice Spice holding it down for New York's current generation, Summer Jam 2026 is already shaping up to be must-attend.