New night market opens during FIFA World Cup, minutes away from KC’s Fan Fest
The beloved First Friday vibes curated in the Crossroads will extend throughout the neighborhood when thousands of travelers descend upon Kansas City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Crossroads Arts District announced its Night Market, a neighborhood-wide festival welcoming regional and international visitors on weekends while the global tournament is in Kansas City. For five consecutive weekends from June 12 through July 12, visitors can expect art markets, culinary pop-ups from the Crossroads’ restaurant offerings, live music and extended hours for the area’s art galleries.
The market will run from 5 to 11 p.m. Fridays and noon to 11 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays during the World Cup. The Crossroads Community Association says its proximity to the site of the official Fan Fest at the National World War I Museum and Memorial and accessibility to the streetcar will offer an “authentic Kansas City experience for the thousands of international and regional visitors.”
The neighborhood says it’ll build on its long tradition of First Fridays and arts-driven street life, expanding its location of vendors to these four areas:
- West 18th and 19th streets between Wyandotte and Baltimore, including multiple alleys north and south of 19th Street
- Baltimore Street between West 19th and West 20th streets
- Art Alley north of East 18th Street between Locust and Cherry streets
- MADE MOBB Parking Lot, 221 Southwest Blvd.
ArtGarden KC will collaborate with the Crossroads Community Association to host more than 200 artists alongside the neighborhood restaurants, retailers and arts organizations. Bethany Alzanadi, the CEO and founder of Art Garden KC, said in a statement that the Crossroads Night Market will highlight what the district does best while inviting travelers to experience the neighborhood.
“The Night Market will transform our galleries, locally owned businesses, and outdoor gathering spaces into a vibrant, illuminated destination for international, regional, and local fans alike,” the Crossroads Community Association said in a statement.
“The market will be the perfect complement to our thriving local restaurants and bars and a great adjacent spot for fans looking to explore authentic KC outside of FanFest,” Nicholas Grunauer, president of the Crossroads Community Association, said in a statement.
