🎤 Event Overview
Official Name: A3C Festival & Conference (All 3 Coasts)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Venues: Atlanta Convention Center, The Gathering Spot, Center Stage, and more
Dates: October 2–4, 2025
The A3C Festival & Conference is a premier annual destination for hip-hop lovers, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural visionaries. What started as a grassroots music showcase has evolved into a national gathering of artists, tech leaders, brand executives, and changemakers. Set in the cultural capital of the South—Atlanta—A3C (“All 3 Coasts”) is equal parts concert, think tank, and community activation.
The event is rooted in hip-hop culture and its potential to influence not just entertainment, but business, education, technology, and social justice. Over three days, A3C brings together thousands of attendees for unforgettable live shows, career-launching panels, and powerful networking experiences.
🕰️ History and Background
Founded: 2005
Founders: Brian Knott, Mike Walbert, and a collective of Atlanta-based creatives and entrepreneurs
A3C began in Atlanta’s East Atlanta Village as a small independent music festival focused on Southern hip-hop. Over the next two decades, it transformed into an influential platform spotlighting emerging artists while integrating conversations around tech, equity, and economic opportunity.
Key Milestones:
- 2010: A3C expands to include a business conference and educational panels.
- 2015: Notable appearances by Future, 2 Chainz, and Killer Mike signal the festival’s mainstream breakout.
- 2018: A3C partners with the city of Atlanta to offer tech and entrepreneurship programming for youth.
- 2021: Virtual/in-person hybrid model introduced post-COVID, allowing global participation.
- 2023–2024: Recent speakers and performers included Charlamagne Tha God, Janelle Monáe, Issa Rae, and Conway the Machine.
🌟 Why You Should Attend
Because A3C is where hip-hop meets hustle.
Whether you’re a rapper, marketer, creative, investor, coder, or community leader—A3C provides access, education, and inspiration in a space designed for real growth and real connection.
What Makes A3C Special:
- A platform that centers Black culture and innovation
- Combines music, tech, business, and community into one experience
- Intimate workshops and pitch sessions with real industry decision-makers
- Features some of hip-hop’s most relevant voices and disruptors
- Offers real tools to level up your career or creative venture
🔥 What to Expect in 2025
Headliners & Speakers (TBA August 2025)
Past artists and speakers include:
- Big Boi (Outkast)
- Rapsody
- 21 Savage
- Issa Rae
- Killer Mike
- Angela Rye
- DJ Drama
- Earn Your Leisure
Expect 2025 to include a mix of top-tier talent, culture leaders, and early-stage disruptors in music, venture capital, and tech.
Featured Tracks & Experiences:
- Main Stage Concerts: Hip-hop legends and rising stars in an immersive venue
- A3C Conference Tracks:
- Music Tech & AI
- Creators & Culturepreneurs
- Financial Freedom & Black Wealth
- Community Impact & Policy
- Music Tech & AI
- Pitch Competitions: For artists, startups, and creators
- Podcast Lounge: Live recordings with your favorite hosts
- Startup Alley: Black-owned tech demos and funders meet-ups
- Wellness Hub: Mindfulness, mental health, and holistic leadership
Ticket Types & Pricing:
- Festival Pass: ~$149 – Access to concerts only
- Conference Pass: ~$249 – Access to panels, workshops, and expo
- All Access VIP Pass: ~$499 – Full event access + VIP lounges and artist meetups
🎟 Tickets: www.a3cfestival.com/tickets
✈️ Travel & Logistics
Airports:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 15–20 mins from downtown venues
Getting Around:
- MARTA: Atlanta’s public rail and bus system
- Uber/Lyft: Plentiful and efficient
- Scooter & Bike Rentals: Bird, Lime, and local options available
- Shuttles: Provided between major event sites
🏨 Where to Stay
Partnered Hotels:
- Hotel Indigo Downtown Atlanta: Boutique and music-inspired
- W Atlanta – Midtown: Luxury meets lifestyle
- The Candler Hotel: Elegant stay near conference venues
- Hyatt Regency Atlanta: Great for groups and exhibitors
Most are walkable or one MARTA stop from primary locations.
🍽️ Where to Eat
Black-Owned & Local Favorites:
- Slutty Vegan: Wildly popular vegan burger joint
- Old Lady Gang: Southern eats by Kandi Burruss and family
- Busy Bee Cafe: Historic soul food landmark
- Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours: Modern Southern with global flair
- Local Green Atlanta: Healthy fast-casual with a hip-hop twist
Expect curated food trucks and vendors at the conference and festival zones.
🧠 Tips for First-Timers
- Dress Code: Urban smart casual. Be comfortable, be stylish.
- Weather: October in Atlanta is usually pleasant (70s–80s) but keep a hoodie handy for evenings.
- Bring Business Cards + QR Codes: Networking is nonstop—come prepared.
- Plan Ahead: Many workshops and meetups fill up quickly. Download the A3C app and schedule your day.
- Stay Charged: Bring a portable charger—this is a full-day event.
📲 How to Stay Connected
- Official Site: www.a3cfestival.com
- Instagram: @a3c
- Twitter/X: @a3c
- Facebook: /a3cfestival
- YouTube: A3C Festival & Conference
- TikTok: @a3cfestival
- Official Hashtags: #A3C2025 #A3CAtlanta #All3Coasts
📝 Final Notes
Registration & Submissions:
- Speaker + Performer Applications: Due July 15, 2025
- Vendor/Marketplace Applications: Open until August 15, 2025
- Volunteer Sign-Up: Starts May 2025
- Media/Press Requests: Due by September 5, 2025
COVID-19 & Safety:
All venues follow CDC and Atlanta public health guidelines. Hand sanitizers, medical tents, and filtered HVAC systems will be available.
📅 Mark Your Calendar
A3C 2025 is more than a conference and more than a concert—it’s a movement. Whether you’re here to learn, build, perform, or connect, this event is where hip-hop’s next chapter begins.
🎟 Grab your passes now at www.a3cfestival.com
📍 October 2–4, 2025 | Atlanta, GA
📣 Share the energy. Show up ready. Hustle with purpose.
