Grammy Winner Bilal Returns to Long Beach’s Carpenter Center on September 24 For A Raw and Electrifying Night of Progressive Soul With Show Opener and Acclaimed R&B Artist Yaya Bey

For immediate release
August 19, 2026

LONG BEACH, CA — The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University, Long Beach kicks off their 2026-2027 Season of music with the return of Grammy Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, and producer Bilal on Thursday, September 24 at 8 p.m. Audiences can expect a raw and electrifying set that showcases Bilal’s extraordinary vocal range and his genre-defying blend of progressive soul, jazz, experimental R&B, and electronic music. Queens-born R&B Artist Yaya Bey, whose last album received a glowing 8.6 from Pitchfork, opens the evening on the Carpenter Center’s main stage. 

About Bilal
A classically trained vocalist with roots in opera and jazz, Bilal trained at New York’s New School with early opera experience shaping his formidable vocal technique and enviable range. Bilal emerged from Philadelphia’s music scene as the youngest member of the influential Soulquarians, a collective of artists that included D’Angelo, Questlove, Common, Mos Def, and others. His collaborators since have included  Kendrick Lamar (notably on To Pimp a Butterfly), Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Robert Glasper, and Flying Lotus. At the 2026 Grammys, Bilal brought down the house with his tribute to D’Angelo, performing “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” and sharing the stage with Lauryn Hill, Jon Batiste, and others.

Bilal’s appearance at the Carpenter Center follows his recent 2024 releases, including the retrospective Bilal: Live at Glasshaus, featuring Questlove and Common, and Adjust Brightness, his first new studio album in over a decade, fusing soul, funk, and jazz with avant-garde electronic influences.

Tickets, including a limited number of $35 tickets, are available at carpenterarts.org or by calling 562.985.7000, M–Th, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Event Details

Bilal with opening act Yaya Bey
When: Thursday, September 24 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center at 6200 E. Atherton St. Long Beach, CA 90815.
Tickets: Starting at $35 (limited availability) at carpenterarts.org.

Refreshments can be purchased and enjoyed from the cabaret stage. Additional ticketing information is available at carpenterarts.org/ticket-office. Press photos are available at carpenterarts.org/press.

Also this month

An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert
Saturday, September 19 at 8 p.m. / Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $59.
In this revealing evening, the author of Eat Pray Love talks about the surprising ways in which chasing a “purpose” in life can hinder creativity and freedom.

Live from Laurel Canyon Presents: Crosby, Still, Nash & Young – Their Songs and Stories
Sunday, September 27 at 3 p.m. / Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $55.
This captivating tribute to CSNY, folk rock’s first supergroup, includes unforgettable classics and the stories behind the music.

Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman
Wednesday, September 30 and Thursday, October 1 at 7 p.m.
Tickets start at $59. Dinner add-on tickets available for pre-show dining on stage
Grammy-nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton and virtuosic pianist Tamir Hendelman lend new warmth to songs by George Gershwin, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Mercer, Peggy Lee, Paul Simon, and more.

Attendance and Parking Information

We advise patrons to visit our Frequently Asked Questions page at www.carpenterarts.org/faqs before any performance for the most up-to-date attendance information.
Convenient parking is available directly in front of the Carpenter Center in lot G12. All parking lots on campus, including lot G12, are operated by CSULB’s Parking and Transportation Services, who set all parking fees. The Carpenter Center does not earn any portion of the collected fees. Parking fees this season remain at $10 after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and $10 all day on weekends. Additional parking information is available at www.carpenterarts.org/parking.

About the Carpenter Center

The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center is located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. Its 1,054-seat theatre gracefully accommodates large and small productions, including a season of performances showcasing emerging and established musicians, dancers, actors, speakers, comedians, and visual artists, as well as other artistic, educational, and cultural experiences that enrich lives, promote lifelong learning in and through the performing arts, and serve as a gateway between the university and the greater community.