Make Music Day Huntsville will return on Sunday, June 21, and organizers are urging anyone interested in performing or hosting an event to register before the June 19 deadline.

The free, all-ages event is hosted by the Huntsville Music Office and the Huntsville Hospital Music Therapy Program and is open to anyone who wants to participate, regardless of age, background or skill level. It is part of the global Make Music Day initiative, held annually in more than 1,000 cities across 120 countries.

Unlike a typical music festival, anyone can play music or host a performance. Organizers say participation spans every genre and ability, from indie rock and R&B to a cappella, and includes everyone from music students to professional artists. All performances are free and open to the public.

A back porch, a sidewalk in front of a business, or a parking lot can all become a music venue for as little as 15 minutes. The only requirements are that hosted events and performances be free and take place in publicly accessible spaces.

This year’s event falls on a Sunday, and Huntsville Music Officer Matt Mandrella said that timing could make it the city’s largest celebration yet.

“Make Music Day 2026 landing on a Sunday creates an opportunity for even more people to participate in the free performances and musical experiences across the community,” Mandrella said. “We’re inviting musicians of all ages and skill levels, businesses, artists, neighborhoods and music lovers across Huntsville to join in and help create a true citywide celebration of sound.”

All Make Music Day activities are free and open to the public. A calendar of confirmed events around Huntsville on June 21 is available on the Make Music Day Huntsville webpage, and organizers say the lineup will keep growing as more people sign up.

Anyone who wants to add a performance or hosted event to that calendar must fill out the Make Music Day Huntsville Participation Form by Friday, June 19. Organizers describe the new registration process as simpler and more flexible than in past years, and they are encouraging venues, businesses, community groups and individual musicians to submit their events as soon as possible.

Ahead of the main event, the Huntsville Hospital Music Therapy Program is launching its first “Make Music Week,” a series of performances across several hospital campuses from June 15-19.

“This year, our Music Therapy Program is proudly celebrating Make Music Day with a full week of music,” said Mae McLaughlin, a music therapist at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. “From June 15-19, patients, families, visitors and staff can enjoy the healing sounds of community musicians in common areas throughout Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, and Madison Hospital.”

The week is intended to highlight the work of music therapists at Huntsville Hospital, who use music to help reduce anxiety, manage stress, support coping and promote healing during hospitalization.

Huntsville Hospital’s Arts in Medicine Program also partnered with the Cigar Box Guitar Store at Lowe Mill on an art exhibit and fundraiser tied to the 22nd Annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival. The guitars were displayed at both Huntsville Hospital and Lowe Mill, and a portion of the festival’s proceeds was donated to the Music Therapy Program.

Although the fundraiser has ended, the Arts in Medicine Program created a virtual tour of the CBGS Gallery Collection, which remains available through the program’s webpage.

Together, organizers say the week of hospital performances and the citywide event on June 21 are meant to underscore the same idea: that music, whether performed on a downtown stage or in a hospital hallway, plays a role in connecting and supporting the Huntsville community.

More information on Make Music Day Huntsville and the Huntsville Hospital Music Therapy Program is available on each organization’s website.