Christian music fans showed up in a massive way as RiseFest 2026 made history, drawing a record-breaking crowd of more than 30,000 people for the biggest festival the event has ever seen.
Held June 12-13 in Sheldon, Iowa, RiseFest welcomed an incredible 30,100 attendees, officially making this year's gathering the largest in the festival's 20-year history. The milestone also came during a landmark year for RISE Ministries, which is celebrating 25 years of ministry.
The festival didn't just edge past organizers' ambitious attendance goal-it absolutely crushed it.
"Our goal was 25,001 people," said RISE Ministries Founder and President Rob Roozeboom. "God allowed us to blow past it. We're humbled by what He did this weekend and excited for what comes next."
Fans traveled from across the country for two days packed with worship, biblical teaching, prayer, and performances from some of Christian music's biggest names, including Phil Wickham, Josiah Queen, Hulvey, and more. Social media quickly filled with videos of thousands of worshippers singing together under the Iowa sky, making RiseFest one of the most talked-about Christian music events of the summer.
But organizers say the most powerful moments happened away from the spotlight.
Throughout the weekend, 56 people publicly declared their faith through baptism, while volunteers distributed 850 Bibles and filled all 850 volunteer positions, underscoring the festival's emphasis on ministry alongside music.
"This is what taking back ground looks like," Roozeboom said. "Lives changed. Hope reclaimed. Faith made public. The attendance milestone is exciting, but what matters most is seeing people encounter Jesus."
The record-breaking weekend also gave fresh momentum to RISE Ministries' growing "Take Back Ground" movement, an initiative encouraging people to reclaim hope, faith, purpose, and freedom through Jesus Christ. The organization hopes to ultimately reach 2.5 million people through RiseFest, speaking events, media, ministry resources, and year-round outreach.
"We believe God is calling people to stand firm in truth and walk in hope," Roozeboom added. "RiseFest is one powerful weekend, but the mission continues long after the lights shut down and the stage is empty."
Following the overwhelming success of this year's event, organizers have already announced the dates for RiseFest 2027, which will return to Sheldon, Iowa, on June 11-12, 2027.
If this year's record-breaking turnout is any indication, fans may want to start planning early.
