Phil Wickham Closes RiseFest With A Record-Breaking Finale Built on Worship
Sheldon, Iowa • RiseFest Festival Grounds • June 13, 2026
A Festival Finding Its Purpose
To start the day off, I examined the “Taking Back Ground” display by the merch tent which invited attendees to write down areas of life they were reclaiming from fear, addiction, doubt, anxiety, or whatever battles they had been carrying. Throughout the day, more names, prayers, and declarations appeared. By the end of the festival, both sides were completely covered.
That board ended up becoming the perfect image for Day Two of RiseFest.
While the music remained the main attraction, Saturday felt less like a concert lineup and more like a living testimony. Across more than ten hours on the festival grounds worship teams, artists, speakers, ministries, and thousands of attendees all contributed to a day centered on one idea. Moving forward in faith together.
The experience was enhanced by a VIP hospitality upgrade provided by Rise Ministries, which included meal access, secluded seating, and an exclusive viewing area near the main stage. Over the course of a ten hour festival day, those additions became increasingly valuable.
Beyond the music, RiseFest continued to emphasize ministry opportunities throughout the grounds. The large merchandise tent housed artist merchandise, books, crafts, and nonprofit organizations. One ministry that appeared repeatedly throughout the weekend was Touch of Hope Haiti, whose representatives shared stories about providing education and meals for children in Haiti. Hearing how a school lunch may be a child’s only meal of the day and how education can help keep children away from gang recruitment served as a sobering reminder that the challenges facing the global church often extend far beyond what many Americans experience daily.
Dordt Worship Opens the Day in Worship
The music began with Dordt Worship, the worship team from Dordt University, taking the stage early in the morning. Despite the early start time, the audience was more than ready to participate. Hands were already raised throughout the grounds as attendees joined together in worship, creating an atmosphere that felt remarkably energetic for the first performance of the day.
What stood out most was the strength of the vocal performances. Rather than trying to overwhelm the crowd with production or theatrics, Dordt Worship focused on leading the audience into a posture of worship. The approach proved effective as voices from across the festival grounds joined together in song.
It was a simple but powerful way to begin a day that would eventually feature some of the biggest names in Christian music.
Northwestern College Worship Collective Raises the Energy
Northwestern College Worship Collective followed with a noticeably different approach.
Featuring a mix of current students and alumni, the group brought a higher energy presentation that immediately changed the atmosphere. Three lead vocalists moved constantly across the stage, clearly enjoying every moment while encouraging the crowd to do the same.
The vocal harmonies became one of the strongest musical elements of the morning. Multiple voices blended together beautifully, creating moments that sent chills through the audience.
The energy continued building throughout the set until its finale, when the keyboardist stepped away from the keys to lead the closing song. What was already a lively performance suddenly found another gear, with attendees near the barricade jumping along and fully embracing the moment.
By the time the NWC Worship Collective finished, the crowd was warmed up and ready for the long day of music still ahead.
This structure gives each worship team its own spotlight while creating a natural progression from Dordt’s worship centered approach to Northwestern’s more energetic style.
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Warren Peay Brings Country Roots to Worship
The first solo artist of the day delivered one of the most distinctive performances of the weekend.
Warren Peay arrived armed with little more than a guitar and a voice that felt rooted in country music traditions. The stripped down presentation stood apart from the larger productions surrounding it. Thousands of worshippers singing along with nothing but guitar accompaniment created one of the day’s simplest and most effective moments.
What made the set memorable was how naturally Peay blended country influences with worship music. Rather than relying on a large production, he allowed the songs and musicianship to carry the moment. Seeing thousands of people with their hands raised while he worked through extended guitar passages created a powerful visual that reinforced the worship centered nature of the festival.
The performance may have been one of the quieter sets of the afternoon, but it proved that impactful worship doesn’t always require elaborate staging or a full band.
Allison Eide Delivers One of the Day’s Most Emotional Moments
If Warren Peay brought country influences, Allison Eide brought something entirely different.
Describing her sound as “funk worship” may be the easiest shorthand, but it only tells part of the story. Eide balanced upbeat rhythms with deeply personal songwriting, creating a set that was both joyful and emotionally vulnerable.
The defining moment came when she shared the story of her father’s battle with cancer before performing “why why why.” The testimony added substance to every lyric that followed. What started as an energetic afternoon set transformed into one of the most emotionally resonant performances of the weekend.
The combination of personal storytelling, raw vocal delivery, and deeply honest songwriting created a connection that extended well beyond the stage. It was the first moment during the festival that visibly shifted the mood of the crowd and, in my case, brought tears that I never expected to shed during the weekend.
Having wanted to see Eide perform for quite some time, the set ultimately delivered everything I had hoped for and more. Her ability to keep the music fun while still addressing difficult realities made her performance one of the standout moments of Day Two.
Katy Nichole’s Breakout Moment
Before the gates officially opened, a brief soundcheck provided an amusing preview of what was to come for this set.
A few attendees could be seen trying to figure out why they could see activity on stage but hear almost nothing, leading to several confused questions directed at security. It was a funny reminder that not everyone spends their free time around concert production.
Once her actual set began, Katy Nichole immediately demonstrated why she has become one of Christian music’s fastest rising voices.
Standing just five feet tall, Katy somehow projects the presence of an arena rock vocalist. Songs like “In Jesus Name,” “Hold On,” “Have Your Way,” and “God Is in This Story” generated some of the loudest singalongs of the afternoon. Yet the highlights came from less obvious choices.
“Healing Now” stood out as one of the strongest songs in the set despite being newer material, while her cover of “The Climb” offered an interesting perspective on how themes found in secular songs can often point listeners toward deeper spiritual truths when viewed through a different lens.
Throughout the performance, Katy constantly crossed the stage, interacting with band members and maintaining a level of energy that never dipped. The combination of vocal power and stage presence made her one of the day’s biggest surprises for me.
Hulvey Turns Up the Energy
By the time Hulvey took the stage, the crowd seemed ready for something different.
Christian hip hop still carries misconceptions among some audiences, but Hulvey continues proving that worship and rap aren’t opposing concepts. His set delivered some of the day’s highest energy levels while remaining firmly centered on faith.
The audience responded immediately.
Crowd movement reached a level that photographs simply can’t capture. The excitement spread throughout the grounds as Hulvey worked through a set that balanced worship, testimony, and hip hop performance.
Oddly enough, my favorite performer on stage may have been the drummer. Every song felt like its own athletic event as he attacked each rhythm with infectious enthusiasm.
“Beautiful” produced one of the loudest reactions of the day, while “Dave” showcased some of Hulvey’s newer material. By the end of the set, the crowd was fully energized and perfectly primed for the evening’s finale.
Phil Wickham Brings the Weekend Home
Before the headliner appeared, one of the weekend’s most powerful moments unfolded away from the music.
Festival organizers shared a montage celebrating 52 live baptisms. The live feed served as a reminder that the event’s mission extends beyond entertainment and attendance numbers. For many people, life changing decisions were being made just a short walk from the main stage.
Then Phil Wickham arrived.
Seeing Wickham live for the first time immediately answered a question I had carried into the evening. How does one of modern worship music’s most recognizable voices translate to a festival setting?
The answer turned out to be exceptionally well.
Backed by an eight piece ensemble that included violin and cello, Wickham’s performance often felt closer to a symphonic production than a standard worship concert. The instrumentation added depth and richness without overwhelming the songs themselves.
What proved most surprising was Wickham’s energy level. At 42 years old, he spent much of the evening running the catwalk, jumping across the stage, and engaging every corner of the audience. The only times he seemed stationary were during stories or quieter moments of reflection.
One particularly memorable sequence featured clips from the film David while Wickham performed “Follow the Light.” The combination of visual storytelling and live performance created one of the night’s most literal cinematic moments.
By the time the final songs concluded, it was difficult to imagine a more fitting artist to close the festival.
Sound, Production, and Festival Experience
RiseFest continues to demonstrate why it has become one of the Midwest’s most respected Christian music festivals.
The production remained consistently strong throughout the day despite a lineup that shifted between worship collectives, singer-songwriters, contemporary Christian artists, and hip hop performers. Transitions moved efficiently, audio remained clear across multiple styles, and the large video screens ensured visibility throughout the grounds.
The festival experience itself extends beyond the stage. The merchandise tent, prayer opportunities, ministry partners, youth activities, and outreach organizations all reinforce that RiseFest is designed as more than a concert weekend. Organizers intentionally create spaces where conversations, ministry, and community can happen alongside the music.
Afterglow
When the final notes faded and the lights began shutting down across the festival grounds, it became clear that RiseFest 2026 had accomplished something significant.
The festival welcomed 30,100 attendees across two days, crushing previous records and continuing the event’s growth as one of the Midwest’s premier Christian music gatherings. Organizers have already announced that RiseFest will return June 11-12, 2027.
Yet the numbers are not what I will remember most.
I’ll remember the “Taking Back Ground” board filling up line by line. I’ll remember thousands of people raising their hands during worship before noon. I’ll remember a testimony that brought unexpected tears, a baptism montage that reminded everyone why they were there, and a weekend that consistently pointed attention back to Christ.
Great festivals create memories. The best festivals create moments that stay with you long after the stage lights go dark.
RiseFest 2026 managed to do both.
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