High Sierra Music Festival has revealed the initial lineup for its 34th year, set to take place July 2nd–5th, 2026 at a new location, the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, CA.
Topping the bill, sacred steel supergroup The Word (featuring John Medeski, Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstars, and Ray Ray Holloman) will reunite for the first time in three years to headline the beloved California festival alongside Don Was & the Pan Detroit Ensemble and British funk legends Cymande.
Festival favorites Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Dumpstaphunk, and Eggy are also among the stacked artist roster, along with High Sierra mainstay Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, who will perform a Lebo & Friends set with a stellar band featuring The Meters bassist George Porter Jr., Dead & Company drummer Jay Lane, Trey Anastasio Band‘s Jennifer Hartswick, and virtuoso keyboardist Holly Bowling. Additional acts include bluegrass upstarts Mountain Grass Unit, New Orleans funk ensemble The Rumble, alt jam band Big Something, newly launched funk supergroup The Breaks (featuring Stanton Moore, Eddie Roberts, and Robert Walter).
Rounding out the undercard are neo-soul powerhouse Judith Hill, folk troubadour Steve Poltz, progtronic power trio lespecial, psychedelic funk ensemble BALTHVS, rising jam band Dizgo, and Portland guitar hero Scott Pemberton, as well as rock classic rock amalgamators Pink Talking Fish and Steely Dead, jamgrass up-and-comers Magoo, New Orleans piano prodigy River Eckert, psychedelic rockers Rose City Band, and more. View the full initial lineup below and stay tuned for updates.
Despite relocating after 25 years in Quincy, CA, High Sierra 2026 will still feature everything that makes the beloved festival special, with four outdoor stages, late-night shows at High Sierra Music Hall, intimate Artist Playshops and Troubadour Sessions, daily parades, a Family Village and Rockin’ Nannies for the young ones, daily yoga and outdoor movement sessions, silent disco, and yes, even sunrise kickball.
The new venue also offers added convenience, located just two and a half hours from San Francisco, 90 minutes from Reno, and an hour from Sacramento. In addition to camping, the area also has far more lodging options than past years, with over 1,000 hotel rooms, RV options, Airbnbs, and more, allowing attendees to craft their own experience.
Tickets for High Sierra Music Festival are on sale now.
