Panama City Songwriters Festival Returns November 7–8, 2025

Music, Storytelling & A Great Cause

By Anna Gilchrist | Photography by Emily Ellis

The much-anticipated annual Panama City Songwriters Festival returns for its seventh year, filling historic downtown Panama City with beloved live music and stories on November 7 and 8, 2025.

For those who love heartfelt music and the stories woven into each lyric, the festival is a can’t-miss event in Northwest Florida. This year’s lineup features 65 incredible artists from around the globe, spanning all genres, including folk, blues, soul, rock, and beyond. Of these artists, 25 are brand new to the Panama City Songwriters Festival, offering regular attendees a fresh experience with their debuts.

The festival offers a new understanding with each performance, enhanced by the intimacy of quaint, local venues in downtown Panama City. Each offers guests a chance to hear beautiful music and connect with the writers for a deep understanding of each verse. It’s music the way the songwriters intended it to be: personal, honest, and pure, with poetic lyricism that connects with the heart of each audience member.

“It’s a very intimate setting where you can hear an artist and the stories behind the songs,” says Will Thompson, a local musician as well as the host and organizer of the festival.

David Ryan Harris performed at the 2024 Panama City Songwriters Festival.

The festival reinvents downtown Panama City into a walkable music hub, partnering with local venues and businesses. From cute bookstores and boutiques to boxing gyms, each space is transformed into a stage, flooding every corner of the historic, newly reinvented downtown area with new sounds and stories all weekend. As shows run from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, guests are invited to arrive early to explore Downtown Panama City, then wander from venue to venue during the festival, discovering new artists while taking in the area’s charm.

Beyond the music, the Panama City Songwriters Festival is a celebration of community that unites the city. Panama City has undergone a remarkable restoration, and the festival showcases the new vibrancy of the local shops lining the refurbished cobblestone streets. Attendees can explore local favorites and hotspots between each set: grab a cocktail at Atelier, enjoy Cajun-style cuisine at Millie’s, or step into unconventional stages like Bookish Boutique or the Downtown Boxing Club for remarkable performances.

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get together, and it’s for a great cause,” Thompson says.

The festival supports a nonprofit close to his heart and those of many music lovers in the area. Thompson is the president and founder of Bay Youth Music Association, whose mission is to support young musicians in Bay County by donating instruments to local schools and funding scholarships for students pursuing musical arts education. All proceeds from the Panama City Songwriters Festival contribute to this mission, ensuring the next generation of artists in Bay County has the tools needed to thrive in the music world.

“We love giving back to our musical community, and there is no better seed to sow than in these generations of kids,” Thompson says.

This year, the festival is also partnering with Hotel Indigo, a stunning waterfront gem in historic downtown Panama City. Visitors traveling in for the weekend can take advantage of exclusive festival rates, making it easier than ever to plan a walkable, music-filled getaway.

The Panama City Songwriters Festival is bringing the community together through melodies and tales from around the world. Experience the vibrant energy of the city, uniting locals and visitors in a celebration of the rich culture that defines this cherished town. Mark your calendars for November 7–8, and prepare for an unforgettable journey through the stories behind each song, right in the heart of Panama City.

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For more information or to purchase tickets for the Panama City Songwriters Festival, visit pcsongwriters.com and follow @pcsongwritersfestival on Instagram.