Saturday, August 15, 2026
White River State Park
Gather in the heart of the nation’s only urban state park, one of Indy’s most iconic and beloved destinations.
White River State Park is home to world-class museums, the NCAA Headquarters, the Indianapolis Zoo, Victory Field and the Everwise Amphitheater, just to name a few. You’ll kick off the 2026 Annual Meeting and Exposition by reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones as you enjoy seasonal bites, fun activations and a high-energy live musical performance from an exciting headlining artist. It’s the perfect way to set the tone for an unforgettable week!
13-Time GRAMMY Award-Winning Artist Babyface Joins the Opening Celebration!
Babyface, Indianapolis native, and one of the most celebrated songwriters and producers of all time, will perform at Everwise Amphitheatre in White River State Park at this year’s Opening Celebration. Babyface created the soundtrack of a generation and with it at his fingertips, his live performance will take you back in time to your first crush, real love, and tragic heartbreak all while delivering a dynamic show.
A 13-time GRAMMY Award winner and recently named by The New York Times as one of the “Greatest Living American Songwriters,” Babyface has helped shape the soundtrack of generations.
He’s contributed to more than a billion records sold, launched the careers of artists like Usher, TLC, Toni Braxton, P!nk and Outkast, and written and produced iconic songs for everyone from Boyz II Men, Beyoncé, and Michael Jackson to Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, and Justin Bieber.
He has produced and written 125 Top 10 Hits, 45 number 1 R&B hits, and 16 number 1 pop hits. In addition to winning a total of 13 GRAMMYs, he has been nominated 83 times.
Throughout his career, Babyface has won the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year trophy seven times, the BMI Icon Award and received a total of 52 BMI Awards, as well as 4 American Music Awards, 5 Soul Train Awards, and 5 NAACP Image awards.
He also produced and co-wrote the Oscar winning song “When You Believe,” sung by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.
- In 2025, he was awarded the Activism in the Arts and Distinguished Arts Awards at the National Action Network’s Triumph Awards.
- In 2024, he was inducted into The Apollo Walk of Fame and received the inaugural Legacy Award from The Apollo Theater. He was also honored with the BMI Icon Award at the 2024 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
- In 2017, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- In 2013, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- In 1999, his home state, Indiana, named a highway after him.
Babyface is a passionate philanthropist, actively supporting the Carousel of Hope, which benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Larry Ruvo’s “Keep Memory Alive,” and Stand Up for Cancer.
In 2023 he partnered with the non-profit organization Music Will to launch music programs in 20 schools in his hometown of Indianapolis, IN.