A promotional studio portrait of country music artist Thomas Rhett. They have dark curly hair and a full beard, looking directly at the camera with a calm expression. They are wearing a shiny dark red satin bomber jacket with white striped ribbing at the collar and a white undershirt with a silver pendant necklace. The background is a simple, neutral-toned fabric, and the lighting is bright and warm, creating soft shadows. — Thomas Rhett Credit: c/o Crackerjack Media

Tampa Pig Jig started as a backyard barbecue to help a buddy fight his rare kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). A decade-and-a-half later, the nonprofit has raised over $15 million for other nonprofits like Nephcure—which has worked tirelessly for a cure—and finds itself celebrating after the FDA approved a new drug, sparsentan (Filspari, stylized all-caps), as the first-ever approved treatment for FSGS.

Tampa Pig Jig, which has since expanded to other markets, marks this milestone (and its own 15th anniversary) with the announcement of its 2026 lineup featuring country superstar Thomas Rhett alongside other genre favorites Midland and emergent “Giving You Up” songwriter Kameron Marlowe. Gainesville soft-rock staple Sister Hazel and North Carolina’s Cassidy Daniels round out the Tampa Pig Jig 2026 lineup coming to downtown Tampa this fall.

Tampa Pig Jig 2026: Thomas Rhett w/Midland/Kameron Marlowe/more

Time Sat., Oct. 17, 1 p.m.

Location Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, 1001 N Boulevard, Tampa

Will Wellman, that Tampa man whose disease sparked Pig Jig’s inception, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he’s always thought of the festival as a tangible sign of the Bay’s support for patients and families navigating FSGS.

“And now with the first FDA approved drug for FSGS we’re seeing that support literally materialized,” Wellman, who’s since moved to Nashville, added. “This drug will not only help countless patients, but it will lead to the development of other drugs and treatments. We’ve always worked hard to put an incredible event together and raise a ton of money to support vital research, and this year, our 15th, we get to celebrate a gigantic step in this continuing journey toward a cure.”

The festival, set for October, has become famous for its giant BBQ pit where Tampa Pig Jig has invited teams to compete in four main categories—ribs, brisket, pork butt/port, and a wild card—while bands play on the mainstage.

Past Tampa Pig Jig headliners include Megan Moroney, Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, and Sam Hunt. In the past, Pig Jig has also hosted sleeper indie favorites like Amanda Shires, Dr. Dog, Matt Nathanson and others.

Tickets for Tampa Pig Jig happening Saturday, Oct. 17 at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa go on sale to the public on Friday, April 24—ticket prices have yet to be announced.