Smokey Robinson, whose decades-long career helped shape the sound of Motown, will headline Omaha’s Memorial Park Concert on June 26.
By Hola Nebraska
The free community event returns June 26 with live music and fireworks at Memorial Park.
Omaha’s annual Memorial Park Concert will return Friday, June 26, 2026, with Smokey Robinson as the headliner and CAKE as the special guest. The event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required.
The concert is organized in partnership with the City of Omaha and produced by the Omaha Parks Foundation.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with the national anthem and welcome. CAKE will take the stage at 6:45 p.m., followed by Smokey Robinson at 8:30 p.m. The night will close with a fireworks show scheduled for 10 p.m.
Throughout the day, videos from local bands will play on large screens across the park.
A summer tradition returns to Memorial Park
City officials described the concert as part of a long-running tradition that brings residents together each summer. Mayor John Ewing encouraged people to plan ahead and attend with friends and family.
“There’s nothing quite like live music under the summer sky with the best community around,” Ewing said in a statement.
Jake Lindner, interim parks director, said the event continues to rely on coordination across multiple city departments, including parks, police, fire and public works, to prepare the site each year.
Smokey Robinson brings decades of music history
Smokey Robinson’s career spans more than four decades. Born in Detroit, he founded The Miracles while still in high school and became one of the defining voices of the Motown era.
His songwriting includes hits such as “Shop Around,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” and “I Second That Emotion.” He also wrote and produced songs for artists including The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells.
Robinson has received honors including the GRAMMY Living Legend Award, the NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts. He is also a member of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
CAKE joins as special guest
CAKE, known for its genre-blending sound and distinctive style, will perform as a special guest at Omaha’s Memorial Park Concert on June 26.
CAKE, formed in California in the early 1990s, will perform as the opening act. The band is known for blending multiple genres into a distinct sound, with songs such as “The Distance,” “Short Skirt / Long Jacket,” and “Never There.”
Their album Showroom of Compassion debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The band is currently working on its ninth studio album, expected later this year.
Local artists can still be part of the event
Organizers are continuing a long-standing feature of the concert by including local musicians through video submissions shown between sets and earlier in the day.
Applications are open through April 3. Artists can submit an existing video or request studio time through KPAO Public Television to record one.
Park access, rules and weather plan
Memorial Park will open at 5 a.m. on the day of the event for attendees who want to reserve a spot. The city does not allow tarps or stakes on the ground and recommends using blankets with small weights.
If severe weather affects the event, the concert will be canceled and will not be rescheduled.
The fireworks show, produced by J&M Displays, will take place immediately after the performances and is expected to serve as an early lead-in to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
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