Article Contributed by Big Hassle Media
Published on 2026-08-04
Photo Credit: Gaby Deimeke
The 11th annual Hinterland Music Festival took place this past weekend, bringing four days of music, community, and memorable performances to St. Charles, Iowa.
The 2026 festival featured headlining sets from KATSEYE, Lorde, Mumford & Sons, and Kali Uchis. KATSEYE made history by opening the weekend on Thursday with the group’s first-ever festival headlining performance.
Hinterland has also announced its 2027 dates. The festival will return July 30–August 1, 2027. Fans can sign up for early access to tickets at guaranteed lowest pricing through HinterlandIowa.com.
As one of the nation’s leading independently owned music festivals, Hinterland has built its reputation by bringing world-class talent and emerging artists together in the heart of the Midwest. Following another standout weekend in St. Charles, excitement is already building for the festival’s return in 2027.
True to the festival’s reputation for thoughtful curation, founder and producer Sam Summers once again assembled a lineup reflecting where music is headed. Spanning pop, indie, rock, R&B, Latin music, folk, and alternative, the 2026 bill brought together globally celebrated artists and the next generation of breakout talent.
Festivalgoers also experienced the expanded site and new offerings throughout the weekend. Fans explored the HinterMarket, featuring regional artists and makers, along with art installations, interactive experiences, outdoor activities, scenic trails, and unique gathering spaces across the grounds.
With opportunities to connect with both the music and surrounding landscape, Hinterland continued to build an experience that extends beyond the performances and captures the spirit of an Iowa outdoor adventure.
About Hinterland Music Festival
Hinterland means the land behind a river, a rural area near a city, or a backwater.
Held in St. Charles, a rural community just outside Des Moines, Hinterland Music Festival brings together music, camping, art, craft vendors, family activities, and outdoor experiences.
The inaugural festival took place in 2015, establishing a distinctive summer music getaway that thousands of fans now anticipate each year.
Past Hinterland lineups have included Chappell Roan, Zach Bryan, Leon Bridges, Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Bon Iver, Brandi Carlile, Willie Nelson, alt-J, Lake Street Dive, Hozier, Noah Kahan, Band of Horses, Grace Potter, Ray LaMontagne, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.
Hinterland Music Festival returns July 30–August 1, 2027, in St. Charles, Iowa.
