[Update 12/8/25]: MerleFest has announced the full artist lineup for its 37th edition, set for April 23rd–26th, 2026, in Wilkesboro, NC.
Joining the already loaded lineup are new additions Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters, Joy Oladokun, Maggie Rose, The Castellows, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and more than 20 other acts. These artists will perform alongside previously announced headliners Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charles Wesley Godwin, Blackberry Smoke, and many more.
The festival also announced that Old Crow Medicine Show will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their quintessential album, Big Iron World, by performing the album in full, along with its predecessor O.C.M.S., on Friday night. Then, on Saturday, the band will host the beloved Late Night Jam with special guest collaborators, including Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and more to be announced soon.
“The Late Night Jam is a long standing, must-see event at MerleFest, and we couldn’t think of a better host than Ketch and Old Crow Medicine Show to act as our ring leaders this year,” said Lindsay Craven, MerleFest Artist Relations Manager. “Old Crow’s and MerleFest’s history are so intertwined over the last 26 years, since Doc found them busking in downtown Boone in 2000, to now when they’re headlining the Watson Stage. Ketch and the boys never fail to put on a rowdy, foot-stomping show—and with the help of some very talented friends, they’ll bring that fun energy and collaborative jam spirit to this exciting event.”
Tickets for Merlefest 2026 and for the Late Night Jam with Old Crow Medicine Show and Friends are on sale now. Check out the full lineup below and scroll down for more on the fest. For additional information, head here.
[11/11/25]: MerleFest has unveiled the initial lineup for its 2026 edition, set to return to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC, from April 23rd–26th. The 37th edition of the festival will see 14-time GRAMMY winners Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas make their long-awaited return to the MerleFest stage.
Longtime favorites Old Crow Medicine Show will also return, with the Nashville-born string band set to host the festival’s beloved Late Night Jam on Saturday night. Revived in 2025 after a brief hiatus, the Late Night Jam is known for its surprise collaborations, deep cuts, and “only at MerleFest” moments. The separately-ticketed after-hours event will feature a rotating cast of special guests yet to be announced.
Other top-line additions to the 2026 bill include rising Americana standout Charles Wesley Godwin, Southern rock torchbearers Blackberry Smoke, decorated flatpicker and vocalist Molly Tuttle, and Old Crow Medicine Show co-founder Ketch Secor, alongside Steep Canyon Rangers, Sam Bush, The Jerry Douglas Band, Peter Rowan & The Walls of Time Band, and more.
The initial lineup also features Sister Sadie, Trey Hensley, Jake Shimabukuro, Hogslop String Band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Melissa Carper, Leon Timbo & The Family Band, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, The Waybacks, and dozens of MerleFest staples and regional favorites. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Each year, MerleFest carries forward the musical legacy of North Carolina folk icon Doc Watson through its celebrated “traditional plus” ethos, blending bluegrass, folk, Americana, gospel, roots, country, and classic rock into a uniquely curated festival experience deeply tied to place and community.
Alongside the music, the festival will once again host the WCC Foundation Silent Auction, accessible both online and on-site, along with the return of the 50/50 raffle. Proceeds support the SAGE (Supporting Academic Goals for Education) First Year Experience program, which helps Wilkes Community College students access resources and begin their educational journeys on a strong footing.
Tickets for MerleFest 2026 are on sale now, including general admission passes, reserved seating, camping, and add-on options, to learn more or buy your tickets, click here.
