EMAD Eastern Market After DarkA Detroit Month of Design Festival Night
Detroit Month of Design · Sept 2026

Eastern
Market
After Dark

The signature night of Detroit Month of Design — a free, district-wide celebration of Detroit's makers, music, food, and creative community, hosted in and around Eastern Market.

Public Art ✦ Design Vendors ✦ Live Music ✦ Local Food ✦ Murals in the Market

Date
Thurs, Sept 17, 2026
Hours
6 – 11 PM
Where
Eastern MarketShed 2 + the District
Explore the Festival → Where it Happens
Detroit Month of DesignSept 2026
Sept 17, 20266 – 11 PM
Free + All AgesOpen to Everyone
Public Art✦Design Vendors✦Live Music✦Local Food✦Installations✦Murals in the Market✦District Pop-Ups✦ Public Art✦Design Vendors✦Live Music✦Local Food✦Installations✦Murals in the Market✦District Pop-Ups✦
01 / Find your way in

Where do you
want to start?

The festival's still a way out — but there's plenty to dig into. Pick a thread.

For Guests

VIP Experience

Lounge, hosted bar, exclusive previews & more.

→
Partnership

Sponsor
EMAD

Be part of Detroit's biggest design night.

→
Get Involved

Volunteer
With Us

Meet new people, make an impact, get the shirt.

→
From 2025

Gallery

Re-live last year's market night.

→
02 / The Festival

One night.
The whole
district, lit up.

— Sept 17 · 2026 ·

From Shed 2
to the Riverfront
and beyond.

SEPT 17 ·
6–11 PM ·
FREE ·

Eastern Market After Dark is the headline night of Detroit Month of Design — a free, all-ages festival held across the Eastern Market district.

For one night every September, Shed 2 becomes the creative & design heart of the festival — and the energy spills outward: Murals in the Market routes, a Slow Roll bike tour, a riverfront activation on the Dequindre Cut, and the district's year-round tenants opening late to welcome the city.

It's a celebration of Detroit's creative community, hosted in partnership with the place that has anchored Detroit's makers and merchants for over 130 years.

33K+Attendees in 2025
120Creators in Shed 2 +
100s across the district
FREETo Attend, All Ages
03 / Where it Happens

The festival
sprawls across
the district.

EMAD isn't tucked into a single building — it spreads through Eastern Market's sheds, streets and storefronts. Here's the lay of the land.

RIOPELLE ST RUSSELL ST ORLEANS ST — ADELAIDE — — FISHER FREEWAY — SHED 2 DESIGN MARKET 2 MURALS 3 SLOW ROLL 5 DEQUINDRE CUT → 4 DISTRICT TENANTS N EMAD 2026 EASTERN MARKET DISTRICT
1

Shed 2 — The Design Market

Festival HQ. 120+ Detroit-area design vendors, makers and creators under one roof.

Anchor · Free Entry
2

Murals in the Market

The legendary mural festival lives across the district year-round. Self-guided walking routes pair perfectly with EMAD night.

muralsinthemarket.com ↗
3

Slow Roll Bike Tour

Roll into the festival on two wheels — Detroit's beloved bike ride routes through the district as part of EMAD night.

Community Ride · Details TBA
4

District Tenant Businesses

Eastern Market's year-round bars, restaurants, butchers, bakers and specialty shops stay open late. Make a night of it.

Visit easternmarket.org ↗
5

Dequindre Cut — Riverfront Activation

Detroit Riverfront Conservancy hosts a special activation on the Cut, just steps from the market.

detroitriverfront.org ↗
Est. 1891 · 130+ Years
Eastern
Market.
04 / Visit the Market

The market is open every week — not just one night a year.

EMAD is one night, but Eastern Market is Detroit's pantry — a working market district that's been the heart of the city's food and merchant culture since 1891.

Stop by Saturday Market, Tuesday Market, Sunday Street Market, or any weekday to visit the merchants, restaurants and specialty shops that anchor the neighborhood year-round.

Eastern Market is operated by Eastern Market Partnership. EMAD is hosted in partnership with the market.

06 / VIP

Upgrade to
the VIP
Experience.

Skip the line, sip something cold, and explore the festival from the best seat in the shed.

Limited Availability

The VIP Lounge.

Tucked into Shed 2 with elevated views, hosted bites, drinks, and exclusive access to artist meet-and-greets all night long.

  • Private VIP Lounge AccessAll Night
  • Hosted Bar (Beer, Wine, NA)Included
  • Curated Bites from Detroit ChefsIncluded
  • Artist Meet & GreetsIncluded
  • VIP Festival ToteTake Home
Join VIP Waitlist Tickets release Spring 2026
07 / Volunteer

Sign up to
volunteer.

It takes a city to throw this kind of party. Join the festival team and help make it happen.

Now Accepting Signups

Join the festival team.

4-hour shifts, free festival t-shirt, post-shift access to enjoy the night. We'll feed you and make sure you have fun doing it.

  • → Meet new peopleCommunity
  • → Make a real impact4-Hour Shifts
  • → Get the festival team shirtYours to Keep
  • → Enjoy the festival post-shiftAll Access
09 / Questions?

Quick
answers.

When is EMAD 2026?
Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 6–11 PM, hosted across the Eastern Market district with festival HQ in Shed 2.
Is the festival free?
Yes — general admission is free and open to all ages. VIP tickets are a separate paid upgrade.
Where do I park?
Multiple lots are available around Eastern Market. Closer to the date we'll publish a parking + transit guide here. We recommend rideshare or transit when possible.
What else is happening around the district?
Beyond Shed 2's creative & design HQ, the night extends to Murals in the Market routes, the Slow Roll bike tour, a Detroit Riverfront Conservancy activation on the Dequindre Cut, and many of Eastern Market's year-round tenants staying open late.
How can I become a vendor?
Vendor applications open in late spring 2026. Sign up for updates below to be the first to know.
Is the festival accessible?
Yes. The market sheds are at street level and ADA-accessible, with accessible parking and seating areas throughout.

Don't miss
a beat.

Be the first to know when VIP tickets, vendor applications, and the 2026 lineup drop.






EASTERN MARKET
AFTER DARKA signature event of the Detroit Month of Design®

See you in September!









ARTISTS, MAKERS & COMMUNITY ORGS 


Artists and makers join small-businesses and community organizations under Shed 2 for the evening as one of the nation’s oldest public markets transforms into a creative district by night.

Vendors come together to sell products, share their message and connect with new audiences.

Shed 2 All Activations


Art + Design Activations, Creative Vendors, Gallery Pop-ups, Installations, Bars, Food Trucks & more!
ONE NIGHT ONLY
A Signature event of the Detroit Month of Design®,
Eastern Market After Dark™ showcases an array of talented artists, businesses,
organizations, and musicians.

Visitors are treated to a district-wide night market featuring:
galleries, retailers, brand activations, open-studios and live music.

EVENT INFO & FAQ

Eastern Market After Dark is a one-night-only event that offers an array of options for your creative night out.

Shed 2 Map
Parking Map
Volunteer Info
Bar + Drink Ticket Info

‘25 MAIN STAGE DJ LINEUP

Presented by Nick Speed Entertainment

  • Problematic Black Hottie
  • Nick Speed
  • DJ Resurgence
  • Eddie Fowlkes

AROUND THE MARKET
Affilated Activations include Retail Activations, Murals in the Market,
Foxxtecca, iHeartRadio & so much more.


Affiliated Activations



Shed 5 Foxtecca

 CARS, KICKS & CULTURE (CKC) is an immersive celebration that connects automotive innovation, streetwear, technology, and community in a way that only Foxxtecca can deliver. 

Cars, Kicks & Culture

Eastern Market  Corp.

Eastern Market After Dark is a district-wide night market and open studio showcasing an array of talented artists, businesses, and musicians. Throughout the evening, visitors will explore galleries, retailers, and brand activations, and live music.

Retail Activations

Murals In The Market

Murals in the Market, Detroit’s internationally acclaimed public art festival, returns to its roots in Eastern Market this September 2025 to celebrate a decade of world‑class mural making, community building, and culture‑shaping creativity.

Muralist List
Interactive Murals Map by 1xRun





Eastern Market After Dark™ 2025 Sponsors








ABOUT2025  Event Gallery DETROIT MONTH OF DESIGN