An old-school KEXP summer tradition, the KEXP BBQ is coming back this August, with a day filled with music and good company at Seattle Center.
KEXP is thrilled to announce the return of the KEXP BBQ, a vibrant all-ages summer event taking place on Friday, August 15th, 2025, from 2 PM to 9 PM in the courtyards by KEXP at Seattle Center. After a 13-year hiatus, the BBQ is back with live performances on two stages, live sets and meet-and-greets with beloved KEXP DJs, family-friendly games and activities, 21+ bar and beer garden, and a must for any BBQ — great food!
We planned this event to offer a fun and affordable way for the community to gather and celebrate music. All who come can expect an exciting lineup of live performances, delicious food and beverage options from local partners, and opportunities to connect with the KEXP community of artists and music lovers. Plus, we're giving you a great excuse to cut out of work early on a Friday in August!
“We’re so excited to revive the KEXP BBQ! This event is a throwback to simpler times,” says Tilly Rodina, KEXP’s Director of Community Engagement. “We can’t wait to hang with the community, soak in some awesome live music, and make it a day nobody forgets.”
Tickets for the KEXP BBQ will go on sale to the general public on Friday 6/20 at 10 AM Pacific. A limited number of early bird tickets are just $35 with no additional fees, while supplies last. Kids 12 and under get in free! Are you a KEXP donor? You will receive early access later this morning — watch your inbox! If you haven’t received it by late morning, reach out to Donor Services for a special ticket link - donorservices@kexp.org.
Along with the BBQ, we’ll be hosting free music events throughout the summer, including free viewing for Live on KEXP performances in the Gathering Space and Live Room Viewing Gallery. Also on Friday August 15th — our annual Kids in the Booth day on the Morning Show! And just announced — the return of our free public tours program, offering studio tours at no charge every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon.
While we couldn’t be more excited about our plans for Summer ‘25, we also had to make some sacrifices, including a choice to pause our annual Concerts at the Mural series for at least this year. We’ve had an amazing time with listeners at Concerts at the Mural over the past few years, but it has become increasingly difficult to make the event series both financially viable and a great experience for music fans. Making sure everyone involved in putting on our events — including artists, production contractors, and our own events staff - is compensated fairly for their work is a top priority for us. With this new model of a single event with a modest ticket price, we’re hopeful that we can deliver a great time for our listeners.
Stay tuned for the full lineup announcement for the KEXP BBQ and further details on all of the fun partnerships and activities we are putting together for the event. See you at the BBQ!
