Article Contributed by Big Hassle Media
Published on 2026-08-19
Photo Credit: Jay Blakesburg
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (HSB) today shares new additions to its lineup for the 2026 edition in San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Park from Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4. The free festival, now in its 26th year, presents a wide array of top performers spanning many different genres.
The new additions to the lineup include 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. The lineup was teased with an exclusive medley that is now streaming on the official Hardly Strictly Bluegrass app and website. Additional performers will be announced soon.
“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,” says Marty Stuart.
In July, the lineup kicked off with AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kathleen Edwards, My Morning Jacket, Old Crow Medicine Show, El Khat, Tyler Ballgame, William Tyler & Yasmin Williams, and John Craigie w/ The Coffis Brothers.
Aaron Lee Tasjan, Darrell Scott String Band w/ Rob Ickes, Dug, Mama's Broke, A Tribute To Joe Ely with The Flatlanders and Friends, Alison Krauss & Union Station F: Jerry Douglas, Kam Franklin, Ismay, Jesse Welles, and Sierra Hull were announced this month.
“We’re lucky to have so many incredible artists grace the meadows of Golden Gate Park. It’s the favorite time of year for our entire Hardly Strictly family, which makes it especially bittersweet when one of those artists takes the stage for a final time,” said Olivia Hellman, granddaughter of 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.”
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass will kick off its 2026 edition with a very special festival eve benefit concert honoring legendary singer and songwriter Steve Earle — who has performed at each edition of the much-beloved San Francisco free music festival since HSB’s second year in 2002.
The tribute is set for Thursday, October 1 at The Masonic in San Francisco, CA. “An Evening Honoring Steve Earle” will see the 3x GRAMMY® Award-winner joined by some of his closest friends and collaborators including Buddy Miller, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Molly Tuttle, and other guests.
Buddy Miller will serve as the show’s musical director, with Reckless Kelly, featuring Greg Liesz as the backing band.
Tickets for “An Evening Honoring Steve Earle” are available here.
The tradition of “Out of the Park” concerts will continue this year, once again benefiting Sweet Relief, Bay Area Musicians’ Fund. Many of the artists listed in the initial lineup will be performing nighttime shows at some of the Bay Area’s favorite venues, including Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at The Fillmore, Molly Tuttle at the Bing Concert Hall at Stanford, Old Crow Medicine Show & Ismay at Sweetwater, Hiss Golden Messenger at The Little Saint in Healdsburg, and many more.
HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS 2026
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
October 2-4, 2026
THIRD LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT
Los Lobos
Langford, Hogan & Timms
Mavis Staples
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
Bandits On The Run
Tift Merritt
Meels
Moonalice
Anna Moss
¿Qiensave?
Lukas Nelson
SECOND LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Darrell Scott String Band w/ Rob Ickes
Dug
Mama's Broke
A Tribute To Joe Ely with The Flatlanders and Friends
Alison Krauss & Union Station F: Jerry Douglas
Ismay
Kam Franklin
Jesse Welles
Sierra Hull
INITIAL LINEUP
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Hiss Golden Messenger
Kathleen Edwards
My Morning Jacket
Old Crow Medicine Show
El Khat
Tyler Ballgame
William Tyler & Yasmin Williams
John Craigie W/ The Coffis Brothers
ADDITIONAL ARTISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
OUT OF THE PARK CONCERTS
Molly Tuttle - Bing Concert Hall Stanford - Sep. 28
AJ Lee & Blue Summit & Bandits on the Run - Sweetwater - Oct. 2
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - The Fillmore - Oct. 2
John Craigie & Anna Moss - GAMH - Oct. 2
Tyler Ballgame - Café Du Nord - Oct. 2
El Khat - The Freight - Oct. 3
Old Crow Medicine Show & Ismay - Sweetwater - Oct. 3
Kathleen Edwards - The Guild - Oct. 4
Jimmie Dale Gilmore at Hopmonk (Novato) - Oct. 5
Hiss Golden Messenger - The Little Saint (Healdsburg) - Oct. 6
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