Alternating Currents Festival

Alternating Currents is almost here, bringing four days of music, film, comedy, art, culture and creativity to Downtown Davenport, Downtown Rock Island and Downtown Bettendorf from August 13-16. With more than 230 events, representing 600+ individual artists and creatives, 50+ venues and absolutely no admission cost, it's easy to fill your schedule

4 days | 3 downtowns | 230+ events | 600+ individual artists & creatives | FREE 230+ performances, screenings and experiences scheduled throughout the festival 200+ acts, artists, films and creative projects featured in the official festival lineup 600+ individual artists and creatives represented across music, comedy, film, visual art, makers and

Get the know the talented creatives selected to help capture and share the magic of Alternating Currents across all four days of the festival. We're so excited to showcase the festival experience through their lens.

Every year, Alternating Currents transforms the Quad Cities into a canvas, not only through music, film, comedy, and performance but through large-scale public art. Once complete, these murals will become part of the Quad Cities' growing collection of public art, creating new landmarks for residents and visitors to enjoy.

For Michael Mehuys, Alternating Currents began with a simple invitation. When the festival first launched 9 years ago, friends and fellow film enthusiasts Josh Ford and Harry Walker asked him to serve as a film judge for the newly created Alternating Currents Short Film Festival.

"I love Alternating Currents; it's my favorite event of the year in the Quad Cities,” says Kate Dale, co-founder of Hive Event Consulting. Dale works with Hive partner Jason Gilliland to help bring the festival's music programming to life.

Festival welcomes Emily Winter's One Liner Madness, partners with ComedySportz Quad Cities and expands a weekend of stand-up, improv and unforgettable live experiences Alternating Currents is bringing an exciting mix of stand-up, improv and one-of-a-kind comedy experiences to the Quad Cities with the announcement of its 2026 comedy programming for

Join the Alternating Currents Creative Crew, a collaborative opportunity for photographers, content creators and festival ambassadors to showcase their work, connect with fellow creatives and help tell the story of the festival. Whether you're capturing professional photos or sharing your experience on social media, you'll play an important role in

In just 8 weeks, August 13 -16, Alternating Currents will bring over 200 performances to our downtown Quad Cities. From music and comedy to art and film, it’s an immersive cultural experience unique to our region.

Independent films from across the country will show free screening at The Last Picture House August 13–16 The Alternating Currents Film Fest has announced its 2026 Official Selections, featuring a diverse lineup of 28 independent original films spanning drama, horror, comedy, experimental and feature categories. Free screenings will take place at T