Rise and Remember Festival Returns May 23 to 25 to Honor George Floyd's Legacy With Community, Healing and Action
The Rise and Remember Festival returns to George Floyd Square in Minneapolis from May 23 to 25, 2026, for its sixth annual gathering under the theme The Blueprint is Us: No Permission Needed, featuring a Night of Honor awards ceremony, a Perry Talks Symposium on racial justice and First Amendment rights, and a Self-Care Fair focused on community healing.
Six years after the murder of George Floyd, the community is being called to rise again.
The Rise & Remember Festival returns to George Floyd Square in Minneapolis from May 23 to 25, 2026, for its sixth annual gathering. This year’s theme, The Blueprint is Us: No Permission Needed, is a declaration rooted in the power and vision of the community itself.
“We didn’t need permission to build George Floyd Square. We set that blueprint. Now it’s time to start restoring and rebuilding,” said Angela Harrelson, aunt of George Floyd and board co-chair.
The festival exists to hold in remembrance George Floyd and all those lost unjustly to the pervasive impacts of systemic racism. Activities across the three-day weekend focus on education, empowerment, healing, celebration, and the collective pursuit of racial justice and equity.
Night of Honor
Friday, May 23 | 7-10:30 p.m. (Doors at 5:30 p.m.) 5418 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley, MN 55416
The weekend kicks off with the Night of Honor, a special awards ceremony celebrating the contributions of people doing the work toward racial justice. The evening will include live performances and recognition of community awardees selected by the Rise & Remember Board from public nominations. Space is limited.
Nominate someone deserving of an award at https://m.shortstack.page/Wvnxb5
Get tickets at https://riseandremember.org/night-of-honor-2026/
Self-Care Fair
Saturday, May 24
The annual Self-Care Fair returns as part of the festival weekend, brought to you by the Twin Cities Restorative Wellness Response Project. Born out of the traumatic 2020 murder of George Floyd, this collaborative healing project recognizes that compound trauma takes a toll on the human spirit, physical health, and community. This year’s fair will integrate wellness vendors alongside practitioners, offering free wellness services and connecting community members with integrative health resources available year-round.
Perry Talks Symposium
Sunday, May 25
The 2026 Perry Talks symposium will engage the intersection of the fight for racial justice and First Amendment rights. Held near George Floyd Square at Christ Church International in South Minneapolis, the event begins at 2 p.m. with inspirational short stories of people and organizations continuing the work. A keynote address at 3 p.m. will be followed by a professional panel conversation and Q&A, with the program wrapping by 4:30 p.m.
For more information on all Rise & Remember Festival events, visit riseandremember.org.