Welcome Back!
Join us for another exciting year of ragtime music, featuring world-class performers, educational workshops, and a celebration of Scott Joplin’s enduring legacy. The 2026 Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival offers an engaging lineup of concerts and special events that highlight the rich history and lasting influence of ragtime.
Bringing together performers, historians, and enthusiasts, the festival is a joyful celebration of syncopated rhythms, period fashion, and historic charm in the heart of Sedalia, Missouri—where Scott Joplin’s legacy lives on.
2026 Performer Lineup!
The Scott Joplin
International Ragtime FoundationStarting with the inaugural ragtime festival in 1974, The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation (SJRF) grew out of community-led efforts in Sedalia, Missouri to honor the legacy of Scott Joplin and the ragtime era in which he played a central role. Over time the festival gave way to the institutional formation as a non-profit entity dedicated to producing the festival annually, creating the Artist-in-Residence program, mentoring youth through the Ragtime Kids program, archiving Sedalia’s ragtime artifacts, and promoting Joplin’s work. By anchoring its work in Sedalia the SJRF links contemporary ragtime appreciation with a tangible historical place and cultural heritage.
Read More About Our History
Ragtime Kids!
The Ragtime Kid Program is designed to promote a deeper understanding of the ragtime music style, its history, repertoire, composers, and performers. While flexible to the areas of the applicant’s interest, this in-depth program also seeks to expand the breadth of their ragtime knowledge.
Once a Ragtime Kid has been chosen, they will meet with the Ragtime Kid Program Director to design a course of study that will culminate in a project, presentation, or performance at the festival.
Learn More!