The Maui Songwriters Festival is coming back to The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua for its 12th year, with a four-day lineup running Jan. 6-9, 2027, that's headlined by Lauren Daigle, Brett Young and The Band Perry. The event blends intimate songwriter showcases with larger concerts, pairing live performances with the kind of behind-the-song storytelling that's defined the festival since it launched.
Organizers at mauisongwritersfestival.com confirmed the festival returns to the Kapalua resort for an extraordinary four-day experience as it enters its 12th year. The lineup, announced through Renate Event & Design, also includes Drake White, Alex Lambert, Grace Tyler, Aniston Pate, Chris DeStefano, Trannie Anderson, JonNite and Jimmy Robbins, according to Maui Now. The festival is produced by Renate Event & Design and hosted by Katie Neal of Katie & Company, Maui Now reports.
Melissa Lee, Hotel Manager at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, said the event embodies connection, storytelling and shared experiences, per the same Maui Now account. That framing has carried the festival since BMI started it in 2015, according to kapalua.com, which notes the event brings some of the world's best singer-songwriters, producers and composers from Nashville to Maui to perform their No. 1 songs while sharing the stories behind them, with music spanning country, pop, rock, Americana, hip hop, Christian and R&B.
A Showcase-Heavy Opening Weekend
The schedule kicks off Jan. 6, 2027, with the Maui Alaloa Live Songwriter Showcase running 6 to 9 p.m. at the Alaloa Lounge, featuring Akoni Palomino, Tripp Wilson and Kehlemi, per Maui Now's reporting. The next day brings a packed slate: the Maui Songwriters Festival snorkel and whale watch excursion departs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. aboard the Aliʻi Kai, taking guests to Olowalu — home to Maui's oldest reef — for whale watching, snorkeling, lunch and an open bar, according to the same report. That excursion is priced at $319.
Jan. 7 continues with the MSWF FIND Showcase from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Alaloa Lounge, spotlighting Tiera Kennedy, as confirmed separately by mauisongwritersfestival.com, which called her this year's FIND artist. Immediately after, the Nashville Alaloa Live Songwriter Showcase runs 7 to 9 p.m. at the same lounge, featuring Payton Sullivan, Aniston Pate, Alex Lambert and Grace Tyler, Maui Now reports. Both showcases are complimentary.
Beachside and Headline Concert Nights
On Jan. 8, the “These Are the Days” beachside event takes over the Beach House Lawn from 6 to 9:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5:15 p.m. for golden hour cocktails, according to Maui Now. The lineup features Lauren Daigle, Chris DeStefano and friends, with general admission priced at $150 and VIP seating at $250.
The festival closes Jan. 9 with the “Here Tonight” concert at the Aloha Pavilion, running 6:30 to 10 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., the outlet reports. Brett Young and The Band Perry headline, with the evening opening with performances from Akoni Palomino, 94tunez of Rebel Souljahz and Kamalani Kawaʻa. Tickets mirror the beachside event's pricing, at $150 general admission and $250 for VIP seating.
Grammy Winners and Hit Songwriters on the Bill
Lauren Daigle brings two Grammy Awards to the festival, while Brett Young is described as a diamond-certified country star who has racked up more than 8.5 billion global streams and seven consecutive No. 1 singles, per Maui Now's account. Chris DeStefano has written 18 No. 1 hits for artists including Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean, the outlet notes.
The rest of the songwriting bench is just as decorated: Trannie Anderson is a three-time No. 1 hitmaker, JonNite has 18 No. 1 songs and more than 30 country radio hits, and Jimmy Robbins has penned 10 No. 1 hits, according to Maui Now's reporting. Those credits echo the caliber of past lineups — last February's 11th annual festival, for instance, was headlined by Gavin Adcock and Hudson Westbrook and also featured Chris DeStefano alongside Josiah Queen, Alana Springsteen and Kameron Marlowe, as The Country Note reported at the time.
Charity Component and Ultimate Experience Package
A silent auction will again benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, with proceeds fully supporting youth programs across the island, per the festival announcement cited by Maui Now. The nonprofit has been a recurring beneficiary of the event; organizers previously reported that the festival donated more than $220,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui over the prior three years, according to a January report from mauinow.com, and last year's finale included a live auction benefiting the same organization, The Country Note noted.
For guests wanting the full experience, an Ultimate Experience Package includes luxury accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, two all-access passes with preferred seating at both headline events, a one-time $1,000 resort credit, one-day use of a luxury pool cabana, daily club lounge access for two and a signed Maui Songwriters Festival poster, Maui Now reports. Festival packages and ticket information are available at mauisongwritersfestival.com.
The 2027 edition marks the fourth consecutive year the festival has partnered with The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, according to Renate Event & Design. Festival partners also include Sony Music Publishing, PMG, KCountry 106.1FM, KPOA 93.5FM, Maui Brewing, Maui Hard Seltzer, Aliʻi Nui, Bounty Music Maui, Tommy Bahama, Maui Kuʻia Estate Chocolate, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, Vitalitea, Ocean Vodka and Aloha Cowboy, per Maui Now's reporting, underscoring the festival's broader role in supporting charitable initiatives benefiting the Maui community.
