Block Party 2026: Meet This Year’s Artists
Article by Natalie Fuscaldo, University Union Editorial Board
Assistant Director | Graphic by University Union Design Board
University Union is bringing energy to its annual Block Party concert on campus. Held annually at the JMA Wireless Dome, the programming board will be hosting headliners The Driver Era and Ravyn Lenae on Syracuse University’s campus on April 24th. With a lineup that blends indie pop and smooth R&B, this year’s headliners each bring a distinct sound to the stage.
The Driver Era is an alt/indie band based in Los Angeles, California, featuring brothers Rocky and Ross Lynch. The pair have made a name for themselves with a genre-blending sound that mixes indie, pop, rock, funk, and R&B. Released in April 2025, their most recent album “Obsession” features standout singles like “You Keep Me Up at Night” and “Don’t Walk Away,” followed by an extensive world tour. It’s been almost a year since The Driver Era last took the stage for a major show, closing out their world tour in July 2025. With months off from live performances, students are especially excited to see the duo bring their high-energy show to Block Party this spring. Melisa, a freshman at Syracuse University, is excited to go to her first Block Party. She mentions that she was unable to see The Driver Era on their past tour due to prices being out of reach, and that she is “glad that University Union’s Block Party provides an affordable ticket process, so SU and ESF students can still get the chance to see amazing artists they’ve been big fans of live in an accessible and budget-friendly way.”
Block Party’s second headliner is Ravyn Lenae, an R&B artist who draws on soul and experimental sounds. Lenae’s song, “Love Me Not”, went viral on TikTok and hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This overnight success has led her to score performances at major events like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Jingle Ball. Most recently, she brought her dynamic energy to SXSW, where a student in the Bandier Program, Catherine Farrell, was lucky enough to catch the performance. Catherine shared how thrilled she was to see Lenae on this year’s Block Party lineup and is “looking forward to seeing her bring the same energy to Block Party.”
Before the headliners hit the stage, students can expect an exciting opening act to kick off the night. This year, University Union is bringing Snow Strippers, an electronic music duo, to SU’s campus. Having collaborated with artists like Lil Uzi Vert twice, they’ve played sold-out shows across North America and Europe, building a devoted following for their rave-like performances.
Sophomore at SU, Lucy, shared her excitement about this year’s lineup, saying she “loves the diverse range of genres for Block Party and there’s truly something for everybody to enjoy.” From electronic to indie pop to R&B, University Union’s 2026 Block Party will be a night full of energy and unforgettable performances.
