Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has announced another wave of artists for its 2026 lineup, adding Mavis Staples, Los Lobos, Lukas Nelson, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives and more to the annual free music festival returning to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park from October 2 through 4.
Now entering its 26th year, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass continues to build a lineup that stretches well beyond bluegrass while remaining rooted in Americana, folk, country, soul, rock and roots music. The latest additions include Langford, Hogan & Timms, Bandits On The Run, Tift Merritt, Meels, Moonalice, Anna Moss and ¿Qiensave?, with additional performers still to be announced.
The newly announced artists join an already substantial Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026 lineup. Previously confirmed performers include My Morning Jacket, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Old Crow Medicine Show, Sierra Hull, Kathleen Edwards, Hiss Golden Messenger, Jesse Welles, Kam Franklin, Aaron Lee Tasjan, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Darrell Scott String Band with Rob Ickes, Dug, Mama’s Broke, Ismay, El Khat, Tyler Ballgame, William Tyler & Yasmin Williams and John Craigie with The Coffis Brothers.
The 2026 festival will also feature A Tribute to Joe Ely with The Flatlanders and Friends and what organizers describe as Ron Thomason’s final Hardly Strictly Bluegrass appearance.
“We’re lucky to have so many incredible artists grace the meadows of Golden Gate Park,” said Olivia Hellman, granddaughter of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass founder Warren Hellman. “This year, we’ll have the honor of hearing Ron Thomason sing his HSB swan song, one last gathering in the meadow with an artist who meant so much to Warren and the festival.”
Before the free three-day festival begins in Golden Gate Park, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass will open its 2026 festivities with An Evening Honoring Steve Earle at The Masonic in San Francisco on Thursday, October 1. Earle has performed at every edition of HSB since the festival’s second year in 2002.
The benefit concert will bring together Steve Earle with Buddy Miller, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Molly Tuttle, Shawn Camp, Stacey Earle and Victoria Williams. Buddy Miller will serve as musical director, with Reckless Kelly featuring Greg Leisz as the backing band.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass will also continue its Out of the Park concert series around the Bay Area. The 2026 schedule includes Molly Tuttle at Stanford’s Bing Concert Hall on September 28; AJ Lee & Blue Summit and Bandits On The Run at Sweetwater on October 2; Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at The Fillmore on October 2; John Craigie and Anna Moss at Great American Music Hall on October 2; Tyler Ballgame at Café Du Nord on October 2; El Khat at The Freight on October 3; Old Crow Medicine Show and Ismay at Sweetwater on October 3; Kathleen Edwards at The Guild on October 4; Jimmie Dale Gilmore at HopMonk Novato on October 5; and Hiss Golden Messenger at Little Saint in Healdsburg on October 6. The shows will once again benefit Sweet Relief’s Bay Area Musicians’ Fund.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026 takes place Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4 in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The festival is free to attend, and additional artists are expected to be announced.
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