Rock The Bells Festival
- Dates
- Nov 29, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Prudential Center
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 8, 2026
Rock The Bells Festival returns to Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, Nov 29, 2026. Froligo tracks ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
Rock The Bells Festival is a one-day celebration of foundational and golden-era hip-hop, revived by LL Cool J under his Rock The Bells brand and staged in and around his native Queens, New York. It curates reunion-style bills of legendary MCs and DJs rather than current chart acts, framing itself as a purist, culture-first tribute to hip-hop's roots. The 2026 edition was announced for UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.
Last time around (2023)
The 2023 edition, held August 5 at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, marked hip-hop's 50th anniversary before a sold-out crowd of roughly 13,000, with LL Cool J joined by Run-DMC, Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa and more across nearly ten hours. Reporting noted a nostalgic, celebratory atmosphere alongside recurring sound and scheduling problems (a De La Soul set was affected) and steep concession prices. Later editions and the announced 2026 UBS Arena date are not covered here.
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Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find Rock The Bells Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2025:
Getting there
Nearest airport EWR.
How do I get to Rock The Bells Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Rock The Bells Festival. The nearest major airport is EWR, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
The most direct rail path from JFK: take AirTrain JFK to Jamaica Station, transfer to an LIRR train on the Hempstead Branch, and ride to the Elmont-UBS Arena station, which sits about half a mile from the arena with free shuttle buses to close the gap (or a walkable ~10-15 min). The Elmont-UBS Arena station is served every day (not just event days) by the Hempstead, Huntington, and Ronkonkoma Branches, per the MTA's own stadium-access guide. NOTE: as of an official @LIRR post shortly before August 2026, eastbound trains were temporarily skipping Elmont-UBS Arena due to signal upgrades, with MTA buses accepting LIRR tickets from Jamaica as a substitute and a westbound-via-transfer workaround at Jamaica or Mineola; worth re-checking closer to the event date since this is described as a temporary condition, not permanent.
Book / infoBy bus & public transit
The Q2 and Q82 city buses stop directly at UBS Arena and connect with the LIRR/subway hub at Jamaica-179 St, a secondary option to the direct LIRR route above, more relevant for attendees already in Queens than as a first choice straight from JFK.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
UBS Arena is roughly 10 miles south of JFK, normally a 15-25 minute drive depending on traffic, one of the shorter airport-to-venue hops in this dataset. UBS Arena's own official rideshare drop-off/pickup point is on the arena's north side, reachable via Cross Island Parkway Exit 26D and Green Road, with a phone-charging waiting area on the main concourse near section 118.
Book / infoTaxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
Affiliate Flying in? You can book an airport transfer from EWR in advance rather than joining the taxi queue on arrival. Transfer links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost General lots run roughly $30-55 depending on tier and how far ahead you buy (prepaid is typically 10-20% cheaper than day-of). Preferred and VIP tiers run $50-60+ on higher-demand nights. These tier figures are estimates from third-party parking guides; the arena doesn't list exact dollar amounts. Parking in the Belmont Park Garage without a prepaid pass is charged $125 on exit, a figure both the arena's own site and independent parking guides give. Prepay via Ticketmaster. Rideshare pickup/drop-off is a dedicated zone on the arena's north side (Cross Island Parkway Exit 26D + Green Road), separate from the general parking lots.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at EWR
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Venue
Prudential Center
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Rock The Bells Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 3
20 Frontage Road, Newark, NJ 07114
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates100 Passaic Avenue, Harrison, NJ 07029
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates98 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Newark, NJ 07114
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMid-range hotels 3
858 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates399 Somerset Street, Harrison, NJ 07029
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates160 Frontage Road, Newark, NJ 07114
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirport hotels 1
450 US 1;US 9, Newark, NJ 07114
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirbnb & private camping
Festival-weekend prices for the Elmont and Nassau County area aren't known. The wider New York City short-term rental market is large, with surge pricing around major events, so expect the same pattern for a UBS Arena date. That is a general seasonal expectation, not a figure for this event.
Search AirbnbVery limited relevance for a Long Island arena show. Hipcamp's private-land camping/glamping listings cluster well outside the NYC metro area (further out on Long Island's North/South Forks or in the Hudson Valley/Catskills), not within a practical distance of Elmont for a one-day event.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Prudential Center
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
What the organizer or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Prudential Center is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accessible seating is sold through Ticketmaster's Request Accessible Tickets link or at the Ticketmaster ADA line, and designated accessible parking, including van-accessible spaces, is available.
Complimentary assistive listening devices can be picked up at Guest Services outside Section 9, and guests can ask Guest Services at Section 9 and 114 for help.
Confirm your specific needs with the organizer's access team before you travel.
Pricing
Got fresher info? Tell us, a real person checks every tip, and we love fresh info.
Quick answers
When is Rock The Bells Festival 2026?
Nov 29, 2026
Where is Rock The Bells Festival held?
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ.