On February 28, 2026, Third Spaces hosted the fifth annual Celebrate Black ATX at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard. Centered around the theme “100 Years of Celebrating: 1926–2026,” the event honored a century of Black history, culture, creativity, and community in East Austin.

The 2026 celebration was especially meaningful as it marked our final Celebrate Black ATX at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard before the beloved cultural space closes as part of the City of Austin’s Block 16 & 18 redevelopment project. After years of gathering in this historic East Austin space, we had the opportunity to celebrate its legacy one last time with the community.

Throughout the day, guests experienced a live performance from the HT Jazz Collective, sets from DJ Jaz E and DJ Mel Vibes, and a line dance class led by Step It Up Austin. A curated art exhibition featured work by Jacob Guzman, DaProphet, and Asialantavegas, alongside a small business and vendor marketplace and a dedicated kids corner facilitated by Rainbow Ridge.

We were also grateful to welcome back longtime community partners Radio Rosewood, who created a specialty coffee menu for the day, and Victory East, who served a special cookout menu for guests.

Celebrate Black ATX 2026 was both a celebration and a moment of remembrance, honoring the people, creativity, businesses, music, and gathering spaces that have shaped Black Austin while creating space for the community to celebrate what continues to grow.