Newark’s Prudential Center will host the festival on November 29, with SWV and a D-Nice & Friends set also on the lineup.
Rock the Bells has revealed the first group of artists for its 2026 edition at Prudential Center in Newark. LL Cool J, Lil’ Kim, Method Man & Redman, and SWV will headline the November 29 event.
The bill also includes a D-Nice & Friends set featuring LeToya Luckett, David Banner, and The LOX. Rather than stacking the lineup with newer acts, the festival is positioning this first announcement around established names in rap and R&B.
Tickets open through an American Express pre-sale on Tuesday, August 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET. An artist pre-sale begins Wednesday, August 19, and the general sale follows Friday, August 21 at 10:00 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster. More performers are expected to be announced.
The Newark date gives the festival a clear anchor: a bill led by artists whose live sets draw from decades of material. That emphasis on veteran performers is the strongest signal in the first announcement, and the next additions will show whether the event keeps that shape or broadens it.
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ROMBO Editorial Staff
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