Today’s free-admission event kicks off four days of music starring For King & Country, Crowder, We Are Messengers, Tenth Avenue North and more. View the details and schedule.
Bringing the Crowds: Unity Fest returns to Muskegon’s Heritage Landing today. (Courtesy Photo)
SCROLL DOWN FOR FESTIVAL SCHEDULE, MUSIC VIDEOS
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Matt Newton has had an inside look from the beginning of the annual Unity Christian Music Festival.
“I was 7 years old at the first one,” recalled Newton of that 2001 kick-off year at Muskegon’s Heritage Landing.
The up close view came from his father, Kevin, the festival’s co-founder and executive director.
“Those first couple of years I helped the site team put up fence … things like that,” he said.
Gradually Newton, now 32, assumed more responsibilities and watched as Unity grew to be the largest ticketed event in Muskegon County and the state’s top-drawing Christian music festival.
After partnering with Kevin in the non-profit event’s business decisions for almost a decade, Matt assumed the director’s title last year when his father stepped down. “There are no big waves with our transition,” he assured.
Matt Newton (Courtesy Photo)
For a quarter-century, the ambitious festival has developed a dependable platform – drawing numerous of Christian music’s top artists and tens of thousands of fans each year over the four days.
The 2026 festival follows the tradition, with a headlining roster of Tenth Avenue North, For King & Country, Crowder and We Are Messengers.
Set for Friday (Aug. 7), David Crowder is a notable addition – the veteran artist suddenly canceled last year’s appearance due to surgery on a broken leg.
Matt had to scramble to secure a suitable substitute. “That (situation) is not something I’d recommend – it was a stressful couple of days,” he recalled before adding singer-songwriter Matt Maher.
Crowder’s catalog includes Christian radio staples such as “Good God Almighty” and “Grave Robber.”
Four-time Grammy winning For King & Country, a pop-rock duo anchored by brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone appearing Thursday (Aug. 6), is holding a new album set to release this fall. Last year’s hit with West Michigan hip-hopper Steven Malcolm (“Yes”) has been nominated for a 2026 Dove Award. (Scroll down for video.)
The band has already scheduled a Dec. 13 Christmas concert for Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
Rounding out the headliners are the re-formed Tenth Avenue North (Wed. Aug. 5) and We Are Messengers (Aug. 8) featuring Irish lead singer Darren Mulligan and their brand new song “Room For You.” (Scroll down for music video.)
A LINEUP WITH ‘REAL TALENTED ARTISTS BEHIND THE HEADLINERS’
“Really, I’m excited about this year’s line-up, and there’s real talented artists behind the headliners as well,” Newton offered.
For King and Country (Courtesy Photo)
One of the newcomers is the band Hopeful, a southern California-bred, indie alt/rock band which just released its debut album.
“They found their way onto my playlist,” Newton said of the group which reminds him of Switchfoot which came from the same “so-cal” milieu.
Also scheduled are Sam Wesley (son of MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard), singers Leanna Crawford and Megan Woods, and the returning Cochren & Co.
The festival will once again be emceed by hip-hop artist Sean Rodriguez, who also performs today (Aug. 5).
“We have lots of different styles but we listen to our ticket-buying public, most of whom are contemporary Christian music fans,” Newton added of their search for performing artists.
Newton said the non-profit agency/ministry displays will be grouped together under larger tents this year. They’ve also revamped the children’s activity/games area. Nearly all the food vendors are back.
“Thankfully, we’ve secured all our volunteers for this year, with four to five hundred – some working more than one shift or one day,” he said of the crew it takes to produce the entire festival experience. In several past years, the estimated crowd has surged above 45,000 over the four-day event.
“We take precautions, we have a security team, police presence on-site … and we pray a lot,” he noted.
UNITY CHRISTIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026: THE ESSENTIALS
Heritage Landing (Courtesy Photo)
WHERE: Heritage Landing, 1050 W. Seventh St., Muskegon
WEBSITE: http://www.unitymusicfestival.com/
GATES OPEN: 4 p.m. Wednesday; 1 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
HEADLINERS: Tenth Avenue North, For King & Country, Crowder, We Are Messenmgers
ALSO: Family Fun Zone featuring free games and activities; toddlers’ and kids’ areas
TICKETS: Wednesday is free. Thursday-Saturday one-day pass $73.45 plus fees, three-day pass $119.80 plus fees. Kids under age 5 free; tickets available online here: https://www.unitymusicfestival.com/2026-tickets (Tickets slightly higher during the festival online and at the gate).
TIPS: Bring your own chairs or blankets. (Coolers not allowed).
PARKING: Parking fee in adjacent lots, handicap spaces available. Shuttles provided for accessible parking areas. There are alternate parking options in nearby private lots and on-street.
THE 2026 SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY (AUG. 5: Free Admission Day)
5 p.m. – Grace + Max
6 p.m. – Natural State
7:10 p.m. – Sean Rodriguez
8:10 p.m. – Speaker: Mike Donehey
9 p.m. – Tenth Avenue North
THURSDAY (AUG. 6)
2:45 p.m. – Thunderstorm Artis
4 p.m. – Hopeful.
5:40 p.m. – Rachel Purcell
7 p.m. – Cochren & Co.
9 p.m. – for KING & COUNTRY
FRIDAY (AUG. 7)
2:45 p.m. – Scout and the Saints
4 p.m. – COQUI
5:10 p.m. – Josh Wilson
7 p.m. – Megan Woods
9 p.m. – Crowder
SATURDAY (AUG. 8)
2:45 p.m. – Joe & Beth
4 p.m. – Christian Anderson Band
6 p.m. – Sam Wesley
7:20 p.m. – Leanna Crawford
9 p.m. – We Are Messengers
(All times are approximate and artists roster subject to change)
VIDEO: Steven Malcolm, For King & Country, “Yes”
VIDEO: We Are Messengers, “Room for You”
Copyright 2026, Spins on Music LLC
