Community Events
Pop-ups, expos, networking mixers, and community gatherings from California's Black-owned business community — August & September 2026.
National Black Business Month — August 2026
The 4th Annual Black Business Day Expo is free and open to the public at The Proud Bird in Los Angeles. Shop 100+ Black-owned vendors, attend business workshops, access resources, and connect with investors. Presented by the Black Business Association of Los Angeles (#BolsterBlackLA).
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Proud Bird, 11022 Aviation Blvd · Los Angeles, CA
Free
Luminary's in-person Black Business Month marketplace and community event returns to Los Angeles. Shop curated Black-owned brands, attend panels with powerhouse speakers, and connect with entrepreneurs across industries. Open to the public.
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
TBA — check weareluminary.com for venue details · Los Angeles, CA
Free
Every Friday night at Nirvana Soul Coffee in downtown San Jose, the city's first Black women-owned coffee shop transforms into a live music venue and mini-marketplace. Local artists, live open mic, rotating Black-owned pop-up vendors, and award-winning specialty coffee. Free to attend.
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Nirvana Soul Coffee, 315 S 1st St · San Jose, CA
Free
Red Bay Coffee — Oakland's celebrated Black-owned specialty roaster founded by Keba Konte — is opening its first Southern California café at Hollywood Park in Inglewood. The grand opening week features tastings, founder meet-and-greets, and community programming celebrating the culture of specialty coffee.
All Day
Hollywood Park — Red Bay Coffee LA · Inglewood, CA
Free
The California Black Chamber of Commerce's annual SummerJam brings together Black business owners, elected officials, and community advocates for a day of networking, advocacy updates, and economic empowerment workshops. One of the most important convenings for Black entrepreneurs in Northern California.
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sacramento Convention Center · Sacramento, CA
$35 – $95
Taste the diaspora at this day-long celebration of Black culinary culture — African, Caribbean, Southern, and fusion cuisine from 30+ Black-owned food businesses across the Bay Area. Live music, chef demos, and a dedicated marketplace for Black food entrepreneurs.
12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Jack London Square · Oakland, CA
Free entry, food tickets available
The 4th Annual Black Business Day Expo takes place August 29, 2026 at The Proud Bird in Los Angeles (free admission). Luminary LIVE Black Business Month LA is August 13. Nirvana Soul Coffee in San Jose hosts free open mic and maker markets every Friday evening. Red Bay Coffee opens its first Southern California location in Inglewood on August 16.
Yes. The 4th Annual Black Business Day Expo on August 29, 2026, at The Proud Bird (11022 Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles) is free and open to the public, featuring 100+ Black-owned vendors, workshops, and entertainment. The Luminary LIVE Black Business Month marketplace on August 13 is also free.
The Black Business Day Expo is organized by the Black Business Association of Los Angeles (BBALA), a nonprofit advancing equity and economic opportunity for Black entrepreneurs. The 2026 event is the 4th annual edition, held on August 29 at The Proud Bird event venue in Los Angeles.
August is National Black Business Month — the most concentrated period of community events, pop-up markets, expos, and networking gatherings for Black entrepreneurs in California. From the 4th Annual Black Business Day Expo in Los Angeles to Nirvana Soul's weekly open mic nights in San Jose, Black-owned business events create spaces for community wealth-building and direct economic solidarity.
Attending events hosted by or for Black-owned businesses is one of the most direct ways to support economic empowerment. These events create visibility for businesses that often lack the marketing budgets of larger corporations, introduce you to founders you wouldn't otherwise discover, and build the social fabric that makes communities thrive economically.
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