The Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival brings together musicians and audiences across two weeks in July and August, spanning Lincoln and Omaha with performances in museums, galleries, parks, and concert halls. Since its founding in 2019, the festival has celebrated the cultural groups that call Nebraska home, presenting world-class performances, workshops, and jam sessions featuring everything from classical chamber music to hip-hop, jazz, indie-electronic, and Hindustani classical.

The 2026 edition showcases the festival's expanded vision through major programming initiatives. The Dream Warriors Project is a multimedia exhibition celebrating Indigenous hip-hop and spoken word artists, collaborating with visual artists and filmmakers to create immersive experiences. The La Folia Global concert series explores musical traditions across continents, bringing world music to concert halls and outdoor venues alike.

Programming includes Family Day events at the Sheldon Museum of Art with afternoon activities, outdoor showcases at Gene Leahy Mall and Stransky Park, chamber concerts at the UNL Glenn Korff School of Music, and collaborative performances at BLUEBARN Theatre and St. Cecilia Cathedral. The festival culminates with the Luminous Wings Orchestra Finale at both Kimball Hall in Lincoln and the Strauss Performing Arts Center in Omaha.

The festival received an Artistic Innovations Grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance (one of 14 awards supported by the National Endowment for the Arts), recognizing its innovative Indigenous arts programming. Leadership includes Artistic Director Erik Higgins and Executive Director Olga Smola, who have built the festival into a showcase for Nebraska's diverse cultural landscape.