Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival returns to Manchester, Tennessee from June 11–14, 2026, bringing four days of music, camping, and community back to the 700-acre Farm. This year’s lineup arrived without warning and well over a month earlier than usual—released before any tickets were on sale—marking a notable shift in how the festival is presenting itself after the weather made for a turbulent 2025. In our festival preview we’ll discuss the lineup, how to attend Bonnaroo 2026, and the changes so far this year!
THE 2026 BONNAROO LINEUP
Headliners
This year’s headliners span dance music, rock, indie-pop, and singer-songwriter storytelling—four distinct anchors representing different corners of the Bonnaroo ecosystem.
Skrillex — Thursday
Skrillex returns to The Farm to open the festival with a top-line Thursday slot, an increasingly important night for Bonnaroo as 2026 transforms Thursday into a welcoming party event. With recent collaborations across bass, house, and experimental electronic music, he brings one of the most versatile modern dance catalogs to the stage.
The Strokes — Friday
The Strokes remain one of indie rock’s most influential bands, and their Friday headlining set marks a significant booking for Bonnaroo. Their catalog spans two decades of festival-defining anthems, and their unpredictable, electric live shows make them a natural fit for a prime-time Roo crowd.
RÜFÜS DU SOL — Saturday
RÜFÜS DU SOL’s cinematic electronic sound has become a staple of modern festival culture, blending live instrumentation with atmospheric dance production. Their sunset-to-nighttime arc is tailor-made for Bonnaroo’s Saturday headliner energy.
Noah Kahan — Sunday
Noah Kahan closes out the weekend with a Sunday night headlining set fueled by his rapid ascent through the folk-pop and singer-songwriter landscape. His recent touring and chart presence have drawn massive crowds nationwide, making him one of 2026’s most relevant headliners.
Also worth noting: GRiZ returns after a multi-year hiatus for one of his first shows back on the road, Role Model’s Sunday slot is already prompting speculation about who will appear as “Sally,” and Kesha performs double duty with both a full set and leadership of this year’s Superjâm.
A STACKED UNDERCARD
Rock & Alternative
Rock fans have plenty to circle on their schedules. Turnstile, long one of the most energetic live bands in modern punk and hardcore, takes a top-billed Friday slot. Wet Leg, Hot Mulligan, Wolfmother, Mother Mother, Amyl & The Sniffers, Osees, Modest Mouse, and flipturn contribute to one of the most balanced rock showings Bonnaroo has had in several years. Add in reunion-level interest acts such as Alabama Shakes, and the rock presence feels unusually deep.
Pop & Indie Pop
Pop and alt-pop bring breadth across the weekend. Teddy Swims, Jessie Murph, Rachel Chinouriri, Dora Jar, Japanese Breakfast, Aly & AJ, Hemlocke Springs, and Blondshell all bring different lanes of modern pop to The Farm. Sunday’s pairing of Role Model and Kesha offers two distinct perspectives on contemporary pop performance, with Kesha also taking on Superjam duties for 2026.
Electronic, Dance, and Late-Night Programming
Bonnaroo’s electronic depth is one of this year’s standout features. Thursday kicks off with Four Tet, setting the pace for a weekend full of house, bass, techno, and experimental sets. Highlights include GRiZ, Major Lazer, Cloonee, Sidepiece, Adventure Club, Sub Focus, Gorgon City, Chase & Status, Boys Noize, SG Lewis, Deathpact, Juelz, Daily Bread, San Holo, and A Hundred Drums.
One of the most anticipated collaborations of the weekend is LSZEE, the joint project of LSDream and CloZee, whose immersive blend of bass and organic textures makes their Sunday appearance a standout.
Late-night programming expands further with “Weird Al” Yankovic’s Bigger & Weirder Roovue, a rare comedic addition to the after-hours landscape. Kesha’s Superjâm Esoteríca also returns the festival’s collaborative spirit to the forefront, leaning into her wide-ranging partnerships and unpredictable performance style, though its placement within the schedule has not yet been announced.
Americana, Folk, and Roots
Bonnaroo’s roots offerings return with a solid mix across the weekend. Mt. Joy, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Wyatt Flores, Steph Strings, Mountain Grass Unit, and The Stews provide range from jam-adjacent rock to folk-driven storytelling.
Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul
This year’s lineup features strong representation from hip-hop and R&B. Vince Staples, Blood Orange, Smino, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, Clipse, Mariah the Scientist, and PawPaw Rod anchor the genre. Teddy Swims, though more aligned with soul and pop, brings one of the most powerful voices on the bill.
Rising Artists to Watch
Beyond the top lines and genre anchors, Bonnaroo’s undercard remains one of its greatest strengths. This year features a wide range of developing artists across rock, pop, electronic, and folk who bring distinct perspectives and fresh energy to the weekend. A few standouts worth circling early include:
Lambrini Girls: Brighton’s Lambrini Girls bring a sharp, confrontational punk energy that’s been fueling their rapid rise across Europe and the U.S. Their sets are loud, political, and intentionally chaotic—an early-weekend jolt for anyone seeking heavier edges in the lineup.
Goldie Boutilier: Goldie Boutilier blends cinematic pop with vintage glamour, delivering a sound that feels both timeless and modern. Her strong visual identity and increasingly confident songwriting make her one of the most distinctive up-and-coming artists on the bill.
Holly Humberstone: Humberstone’s emotionally layered alt-pop songs have become fixtures of festival stages, mixing intimate vocals with widescreen production. Her live performances balance vulnerability with dynamic arrangements, creating some of the strongest crescendos in this corner of the lineup.
Blondshell: Blondshell’s guitar-driven indie rock has earned widespread attention for its raw honesty and sharp songwriting. Her presence on Sunday adds a potent edge to the day’s rock programming and is a strong bet for one of the weekend’s breakout sets.
Girl Tones: Girl Tones continue expanding their reach with energetic live performances and tightly written rock hooks. Their local momentum makes this a meaningful booking and a great discovery point for new fans.
Jackie Hollander: A rising force in melodic house with techno influences, Hollander pairs euphoric melodies with club-ready energy. Recent releases on labels like Nervous, REALM, and Insomniac, along with performances alongside Gorgon City and Duke Dumont, have pushed her momentum forward. Her Friday slot is a strong early look at an artist quickly ascending in the electronic scene.
Rachel Chinouriri: Chinouriri brings a thoughtful blend of alt-pop, soul, and indie influences, pairing expressive vocals with sharp lyricism. Her trajectory suggests a breakout year ahead, and her placement on Friday strengthens that day’s indie-pop lineup.
flipturn: flipturn’s vibrant indie-rock sound and high-energy stage presence have made them one of the genre’s most promising young bands. Their melodic approach and dynamic performances make them an easy standout in the weekend’s rock offerings.
Camping at Bonnaroo 2026
Bonnaroo’s camping culture has always been a defining part of the festival. You may enter as strangers but leave truly as neighbors, and the layout encourages that sense of community. Campsites naturally blend into one another, shared shade structures pop up between rows, and the walk to Centeroo often becomes a wandering social lane where inside jokes, random cheers, and new friendships pop up without warning.
Primitive Car Camping remains the classic Bonnaroo setup and the option most attendees use. Each vehicle needs its own Car Camping Pass, and campsites are roughly 20’×20’, including space for the car. There is no per-person camping fee—groups arriving together only need one pass per vehicle, though each person must have a Centeroo ticket. Primitive Car Camping entry is day-specific, and vehicle re-entry is discouraged, with a $40 fee applied to cars that leave and return.
For organized groups, Groop Camping provides a preset location for friends or fan collectives. Those looking for more comfort have a wide range of upgraded options, including souvenir tents, darkroom tents, powered car camping, multiple RV tiers, and full glamping accommodations.
The festival’s Community Camps also return—The Beyond, SoloRoo, SobeRoo, and FamilyRoo—offering themed spaces designed around connection, support, and shared experience. Whether you’re camping with old friends or arriving solo, these areas give attendees a sense of belonging from the moment they park.
Looking Back: Why Things Are A Bit Different This Year
Bonnaroo’s relationship with weather is long and complicated: when it’s hot it’s HOT, when it rains…well…
After a successful soft-opening on Wednesday in 2025 and a promising first full day on Thursday, historic rains swept through Middle Tennessee. On Friday afternoon, just as music was set to begin, severe weather triggered a site-wide delay. Hours later, organizers made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the festival.
Some attendees salvaged the experience with an impromptu night of campground performances and neighborly chaos, while others dealt with extensive flooding and long exit lines. The abrupt ending raised questions about Bonnaroo’s future, largely because the festival means so much to the people who return year after year.
In the weeks that followed, Bonnaroo issued a partial refund before ultimately moving to a full refund. Surveys circulated about what fans valued most and what needed to change, signaling an effort to rebuild trust while looking ahead.
What’s Different in 2026
A scaled-back schedule: Bonnaroo will no longer offer Wednesday programming in 2026, marking a return to a tighter festival format. Thursday has also been reduced from a full multi-stage day to a more focused welcome party. The change shortens the overall footprint of the event and reflects a more streamlined approach to the weekend.
A confirmed reduced capacity: Bonnaroo has officially stated that it will lower its attendance cap for 2026. This shift is intended to decrease strain on the festival grounds, reduce overcrowding in Centeroo and Outeroo, and avoid pushing camping into historically flood-prone areas. It is one of the most significant operational adjustments the festival has made in years.
Infrastructure improvements: The Farm has undergone notable upgrades, including new Bermuda grass, expanded drainage systems, and miles of new roadways. These adjustments are designed to improve mobility between camps and stages while helping the grounds better withstand heavy rain.
A new ticketing and rollout strategy: Instead of leading with a pre-sale, Bonnaroo released its lineup before tickets went on sale, offering fans a chance to evaluate the festival’s direction before committing. It’s a transparent shift in communication after last year’s challenges.
Taken together, these changes reflect a festival recalibrating its scale, schedule, and infrastructure with long-term sustainability in mind while also trying to keep attendee costs in line with recent years.
Ticket Information
Tickets for Bonnaroo 2026 go on sale Friday, December 5 at 10:00 AM CT via bonnaroo.com. Ticket levels include General Admission, GA+, VIP, Platinum, and Roo Insider, each offering different levels of access and amenities. Tickets for the 2026 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will be available through the festival’s ticketing website here. Camping and parking are sold separately, with upgraded options providing dedicated viewing areas, lounge access, air-conditioned restrooms, and expedited entry lanes. Camping will also be on sale on Bonnaroo’s website.
What’s Still to Come
Several major pieces of the Bonnaroo experience are typically announced closer to June. The Outeroo lineup—featuring campground stages and late-night programming—will likely look different this year with the UFO from Where in the Woods now moved into Centeroo. The Who Stage lineup, often home to rising acts and last-minute additions, should arrive later in the spring. Additional details about the Superjam, food vendors, art installations, and on-site activities are also traditionally released as the festival approaches.
2026 is a transitional year, and as Bonnaroo continues refining its approach, more updates are likely. For now, the early lineup release and documented improvements to The Farm point toward a festival focused on reclaiming its momentum after an unprecedented 2025. We hope we see you on The Farm!
Connect with the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
What hearing protection do we use at concerts? The Loop Switch2:
Leave a Reply