Format Festival Brings Music, Art, Tech To The Ozarks

Alanis Morissette, LCD Soundsystem and Leon Bridges and many more join artists including Guerrilla Girls, JR’s Inside Out Project, Jeremy Deller as Format Festival returns to the heart of the Ozarks near Bentonville, Arkansas, for three days Sept. 22-24.

The 2023 presale begins Thursday, April 6 at 10 AM CT. Fans can sign up for a presale code to get first access to 3-Day and 1-Day Tickets at the festival website.

Taking place on 250 acres of forest-enclosed green space on the private Sugar Creek Airstrip just six minutes from downtown Bentonville, C3 Presents-produced Format promises a full-sensory experience. The festival will have two traditional live music stages, as well as several less conventional settings where musicians will perform, including The Cube, Drag Me To The Disco, Next Door | Nova Heat and Smokey’s. 

Underground discos and stages tucked in the forest will accompany world class installations and artist commissions. In addition, Format will be a haven for exploration, including an expanded Bizarre Bazaar (curated food vendors, retail, experience booths and more), along with experimental soundscapes, light shows, therapeutic workshops, and uniquely integrated technology activations.  

In addition to the headliners, musicians on the bill include Modest Mouse, Jamie XX, Tash Sultana, Big Wild, Little Simz, Bob Moses, Poolside, Channel Tres, Paul Cauthen and many more. 

In addition to general admission passes,VIP and platinum tickets as well as hotel packages will go on sale Thursday, April 6 beginning with an SMS Presale at 10 a.m. CT at the festival website. 

More luxury and access to the experience is available with a premium festival ticket. GA+, a new ticket type in 2023, and offers a private retreat with shaded seating and air-conditioned bathrooms.

VIP passes include additional amenities such as dedicated viewing at the two main music stages. Platinum offers the ultimate Format experience with exclusive stage viewing, private lounge, all-day, all-inclusive dining and beverage service, exclusive merchandise gift and more. Single-day tickets will also be available for purchase during the SMS presale and public on-sale.

Vibee, Format’s exclusive VIP Hotel Experience partner, will provide packages including festival tickets, a private shuttle, four nights’ stay at the art-centric 21C Museum Hotel, commemorative merchandise, plus a private welcome reception. In addition, Format has expanded its robust shuttle system this year, adding shuttle locations in Fayetteville, Lowell and at the Momentary to provide easy transportation for patrons to and from the festival grounds.

As part of Format’s commitment to the local community, the festival chose Bentonville Public Schools as its charity partner in 2022. In the festival’s inaugural year, Format contributed more than $100,000 to BPS, which will be the chosen charity recipient again in 2023.

In addition, Format is committed to fostering local talent and has created multiple ways for the community to participate in this year’s festival – everything from providing an open call for local artists and musicians to contribute their work, to the annual Entrance Gate competition, a new partnership with the University of Arkansas where students will be able to collaborate with FORMAT, and much more. In addition, local artist Danielle Hatch will transform Format bars into art pieces, as well as present a performance piece during the festival.

Format is presented in official partnership with OZ, which offers a collision of outdoor adventure and unexpected art encounters, and in collaboration with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville’s museum of American art, and its satellite contemporary art space the Momentary.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary will host a series of morning and midday programs from Friday – Sunday which will include tours, events, talks, workshops, and food & beverage offerings for festival attendees. On September 21, the Momentary will host the annual kick-off event for Format.