The free, three-day festival returns to Golden Gate Park October 2–4 with new additions including Los Lobos, Mavis Staples, Marty Stuart, Lukas Nelson and more, plus a Thursday night tribute to Steve Earle and multiple benefit concerts around the Bay.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026 runs Friday–Sunday, October 2–4 in Golden Gate Park and remains free to attend.
Third-round additions include Los Lobos, Mavis Staples, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Lukas Nelson, Tift Merritt, Moonalice and others.
A tribute benefit concert honoring Steve Earle is scheduled for Thursday, October 1 at The Masonic featuring high-profile guests and Buddy Miller as musical director.
# What was announced Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (HSB) released a third set of lineup additions for its 26th edition in Golden Gate Park. The festival dates are Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, 2026. The event remains free to the public.
# New artists added The latest reveal expands the festival's genre range. New additions listed in this announcement are:
These acts join artists previously announced earlier this summer and month, including Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, My Morning Jacket, Old Crow Medicine Show, Alison Krauss & Union Station with Jerry Douglas, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kathleen Edwards and many others.
Marty Stuart is quoted in the announcement: "Hardly Strictly has become a legend all its own. It's considered a rite of passage to play the show. It's been a while since our band has played the festival. I'm truly looking forward to the visit."
# Festival eve benefit: An Evening Honoring Steve Earle
Tickets for the tribute benefit are available through the festival's announced channels.
# Out of the Park concerts and benefits The festival continues its tradition of "Out of the Park" shows — nighttime performances by festival artists at Bay Area venues, with proceeds benefiting Sweet Relief and the Bay Area Musicians' Fund. Confirmed Out of the Park dates and venues include:
# Organizers' note
# What's next Additional performers are expected to be announced. The festival lineup already spans multiple genres and is supplemented by evening shows around the Bay that both expand the program and support musician-focused relief funds.
# Logistics reminder The main festival days are October 2–4 in Golden Gate Park. The festival footprint and free-admission model mean arriving early and choosing stages strategically will affect what you can see in a single day.
The full lineup for San Francisco's favorite free music festival is now out, and we now know who's playing on which day the first weekend in October.
Photo by Jay Blakesburg Los Lobos, Langford, Hogan & Timms, Mavis Staples, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Bandits On The Run, Tift Merritt, Meels, Moonalice, Anna Moss, ¿Qiensave? and Lukas Nelson have joined the lineup for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. As previously reported, the annual event wi
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