Ahead of the 2026 Cousinz Festival, Cousinz co-founders Pusha T, FAM-LAY, and Antonio Dowe have announced the 2nd Annual CousinzCon, a free one-day pre-festival summit. CousinzCon is a community activation that bridges local, national, and global topics and panelists that are geared toward the multigenerational Cousinz Festival audience. This summit is designed to foster community connection, personal growth, and collaboration amongst attendees.
Taking place Friday, September 4, 2026, from 2PM–7PM at the Historic Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, VA, this year’s CousinzCon will focus on key themes such as financial literacy, health and wellness, education, civic engagement, and media and entertainment, offering valuable insights and resources to attendees.
“Last year, CousinzCon amplified social justice and civic engagement. This year we’re broadening our conversations, topics that directly affect our Cousinz community daily. We not only want panelists to have the conversations and attendees listen in, but we also want everyone to walk away with actionable ways to stay engaged in their communities – that’s what Cousinz has always been: community,” shares Cousinz Festival Co-Founder Pusha T.
By bringing together thought leaders and community members, CousinzCon aims to empower participants with practical skills and knowledge that enhance their lives, leaving a lasting impact that expands far beyond the festival weekend.
“Selecting national talent for the music festival side is both fun and entertaining. We wanted to keep that same energy for CousinzCon because we’ve always said that Cousinz is more than the music, it’s a lifestyle. We’re honored to host many local panelists–sprinkled in with several regional and national panelists–for what we hope will be a day of transformative conversations,” says FAM-LAY, Cousinz Festival Co-Founder.
The venue selection for this year’s CousinzCon was just as important as selecting the conversation topics. Opened in 1919, the Historic Attucks Theatre was designed by African American Harvey Johnson and is the oldest remaining theater in the United States that is completely financed, designed, constructed, and operated by African Americans.
