“I’m thrilled to be rejoining the team at the Memphis in May International Festival, an institution I truly regard as one of the crown jewels of our community”— John Doyle, Vice President of Programming, Memphis in May International FestivalMEMPHIS, TN, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — John Doyle has been appointed Vice President of Programming at the Memphis in May International Festival, a role he officially assumed on October 1, 2026. Doyle joins the festival after a 23-year tenure as Executive Director of the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. In his new capacity, he will oversee the festival’s marketing initiatives and contribute to the planning and coordination of upcoming events and programming for the five-decade-old Memphis in May International Festival.
This marks a return engagement for Doyle with Memphis in May. His prior stint as Vice President of Programming spanned from 1999 to 2003, after which he moved on to lead the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul organization.
“The Board and staff of our organization are delighted to welcome John and his expertise back to the Memphis in May International Festival,” stated Mack Weaver, President & CEO. “His distinctive and robust capabilities in marketing, museum exhibit curation, cultural event programming, and financial stewardship are exactly what we need to propel this festival forward for the benefit of our community over the next half-century.”
“I’m eager to rejoin the staff of the Memphis in May International Festival, which I’ve long considered one of our city’s most significant cultural treasures,” Doyle remarked. “The current team’s passion and hard work, guided by Mack Weaver, has deeply impressed me, and I’m looking forward to helping sustain, expand, and enrich its hallmark events for the city and its residents.”
Established in 1977 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Memphis in May International Festival is dedicated to promoting Memphis culture, driving economic development, and fostering global awareness through education. The organization carries out its mission with a year-round slate of educational programs, cultural exchanges, and premier events, including the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (founded in 1978) and the Great American River Run (launched in 2015). For close to fifty years, Memphis in May has presented the finest of Memphis to the world—and introduced the world to Memphis. The festival’s global reputation for quality is reflected in its more than 250 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association and its inclusion on Travel + Leisure’s list of “Festivals Worth Traveling For.” Additional details about the 2027 Memphis in May International Festival, including event schedules, ticket sales, registration, and programming, are slated for release in the months ahead.
John Doyle
Memphis in May International Festival
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