Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Unveils New Additions to 2026 Lineup

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (HSB) is very proud to share new additions to the lineup for its 2026 edition in San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Park from Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4. Now in its 26th year, the free music festival will once again present a truly eclectic bill of top performers spanning an array of genres, including new additions Aaron Lee Tasjan, Darrell Scott String Band w/ Rob Ickes, Dug, Mama's Broke, A Tribute To Joe Ely with The Flatlanders and Friends, Alison Krauss & Union Station F: Jerry Douglas, Kam Franklin, Ismay, Jesse Welles, and Sierra Hull. Last month the lineup kicked off with AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kathleen Edwards, My Morning Jacket, Old Crow Medicine Show, El Khat, Tyler Ballgame, William Tyler & Yasmin Williams, and John Craigie w/ The Coffis Brothers. The lineup was teased with an exclusive medley that is now streaming on the official Hardly Strictly Bluegrass app and website. Additional performers will be announced soon.

“Last year we celebrated the silver anniversary of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, kicking off a chapter of reflecting on everything we've built over the last 25 years. This October, we're bringing that to a culmination by inviting back legacy artists like Gillian Welch & David Rawlings and Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, as well as presenting a tribute concert to honor Steve Earle - a defining voice in the HSB family whose generosity and artistry have shaped who we are. As we conclude this hallmark year, we couldn't be more excited for the next twenty-five,” said executive director John Caldon.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass will kick off its 2026 edition with a very special festival eve benefit concert honoring legendary singer and songwriter Steve Earle – who has performed at each edition of the much-beloved San Francisco free music festival since HSB’s second year in 2002. The tribute is set for Thursday, October 1 at The Masonic in San Francisco, CA. “An Evening Honoring Steve Earle” will see the 3x GRAMMY Award-winner joined by some of his closest friends and collaborators including Buddy Miller, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Molly Tuttle, and other guests. Buddy Miller will serve as the show’s musical director, with Reckless Kelly, featuring Greg Liesz as the backing band.

Tickets for “An Evening Honoring Steve Earle” are available here.

The tradition of “Out of the Park” concerts will continue this year, once again benefiting Sweet Relief, Bay Area Musicians’ Fund. Many of the artists listed in the initial lineup will be performing nighttime shows at some of the Bay Area’s favorite venues, including Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at The Fillmore, Molly Tuttle at the Bing Concert Hall at Stanford, Old Crow Medicine Show & Ismay at Sweetwater, Hiss Golden Messenger at The Little Saint (Healdsburg), and many more.

HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS 2026

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA

October 2-4, 2026

SECOND LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT

• Aaron Lee Tasjan
• Darrell Scott String Band w/ Rob Ickes
• Dug
• Mama's Broke
• A Tribute To Joe Ely with The Flatlanders and Friends
• Alison Krauss & Union Station F: Jerry Douglas
• Ismay
• Kam Franklin
• Jesse Welles
• Sierra Hull
• INITIAL LINEUP
• AJ Lee & Blue Summit
• Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
• Hiss Golden Messenger
• Kathleen Edwards
• My Morning Jacket
• Old Crow Medicine Show
• El Khat
• Tyler Ballgame
• William Tyler & Yasmin Williams
• John Craigie W/ The Coffis Brothers

ADDITIONAL ARTISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED