Article Contributed by Dreamspider Publicity
Published on 2026-02-24
Photo: Courtesy of Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival
For its fourth year, the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival returns to its beachfront location at Sandy Point State Park along the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland, on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, 2026. Annapolis Baygrass has grown into one of the country’s top eco-focused destination festivals since its inception in 2022 and first festival in 2023. Lovers of progressive bluegrass, improvisational jam, and American roots music have traveled from 38 U.S. states, Canada, and Europe to enjoy the country’s top eco-friendly destination festival along the Chesapeake Bay.
2-Day General Admission and VIP Passes are available now, at their lowest Early Bird price, at baygrassfestival.com through March 10 at 10am when Advance 1 Tickets go on sale.
Annapolis Baygrass is thrilled to announce the 2026 lineup, which includes Little Feat, Yonder Mountain String Band, Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush, Mountain Grass Unit, TopHouse, Shadowgrass, SCYTHIAN, Sister Sadie, Fireside Collective, Midnight North, Jammy Buffet, Melody Trucks & The Fitzkee Brothers Band, and Geraldine. Performances will take place on two alternating beachside stages across the course of two days. Stay tuned for the announcement of artists-at-large for the weekend.
Anchoring this year’s incredible and diverse lineup is the legendary Little Feat, a band whose genre-defying sound — equal parts rock, New Orleans funk, swamp boogie, jazz, and blues — helped shape the roots of the jam scene and encourage a devoted, multigenerational following. With new music arriving alongside their announced farewell tour, their Baygrass performance offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a true American music institution in an intimate, beachside setting.
Yonder Mountain String Band, legends in their own right, having redefined the jamgrass and bluegrass genres, return to Baygrass after performing at the first festival in 2023. Béla Fleck, another genre-defining pioneer, earning 19 Grammys in 9 different categories during his 40+ year career, comes to Baygrass with his bluegrass ensemble, My Bluegrass Heart, which includes Michael Cleveland (fiddle), Dominick Leslie (mandolin), Jeff Partin (dobro), Mark Schatz (bass), and Jake Stargel (guitar). Another icon returning to Baygrass is the one and only Sam Bush, the “Father of Newgrass,” a two-time International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee and a 3-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year.
Mountain Grass Unit and Shadowgrass are taking the mantle and elevating the genres to new heights. TopHouse has been called folk, bluegrass, rock, Irish, and pop, creating a style of their own while selling out shows around the world. D.C. area natives SCYTHIAN play Celtic and roots music in a barn-dance, rock concert experience. The all-female IBMA Award winners, Sister Sadie, bring joy and grit to their fast-pickin’ bluegrass, and Fireside Collective pushes the boundaries of that genre with powerful and infectious energy.
Jammy Buffet is where Jimmy Buffett’s coastal storytelling meets jam-band improvisation. Fans will be delighted to hear of Midnight North’s appearance on the roster after the incredible performance by the band’s co-founder, Elliott Peck, at last year’s Baygrass. For those who made the 2025 pre-party, The Fitzkee Brothers are a welcome addition, coming to Baygrass with Melody Trucks to set fire to their Southern rock and modern jam band sound. Rounding out the roster is the Official Baygrass House Band, Geraldine, who have delighted the Baygrass crowd every year.
John Way, Co-Founder, COO and lead talent buyer for Baygrass, says, “As we were building this year’s lineup, starting the weekend right after Baygrass 2025, there was a moment where things just started to float our way—conversations, timing, and opportunities aligning in that familiar Baygrass fashion. Starting the weekend, it became clear that my vision was to open with something local—artists who are growing, on the rise, and just beginning their musical journey—and to enclose the weekend with legends who have filled our hearts for decades. What emerges is more than great shows—it’s music as self-care, a weekend intentionally designed to fill hearts, build connection with our community and the environment, and send people home happier than when they arrived.”
Beyond the stellar lineup, the festival offers guests a thoughtfully curated, locally sourced food and beverage experience, featuring a bustling beer garden and oyster bar and engaging activities for all ages, including beachfront yoga, yard, beach and tabletop games, music and educational workshops, a lively artisan village, and a spectacular KidZone.
Learn more: https://baygrassfestival.com/experience/
Sandy Point State Park, a 786-acre Maryland State Park located along the northwestern shore of Chesapeake Bay, provides a perfect backdrop for this one-of-a-kind festival. With stunning views of the Bay, the iconic Bay Bridge, and the historic Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse, festival-goers can spread out and enjoy themselves in comfort on the sandy beaches and soft green grass of the park. The site is ADA accessible.
Annapolis Baygrass offers several local lodging partners with premier hotels and camping options nearby for a perfect weekend. These discounted options are on a first-come, first-served basis and fit all budgets. Shuttle service will make the stay even easier, with shuttle passes serving many of the lodging locations and the Annapolis Park-n-Ride.
Lodging Info: https://baygrassfestival.com/lodging/
A premium VIP option is available for those wishing to elevate their experience. VIP guests will enjoy all the advantages of the Backstage VIP Village and the Hospitality Pavilion, exclusive parking and entrance, dedicated viewing areas, dedicated bars with discounted prices and free tastings, chef-prepared daily hot meals including fresh shucked oysters and non-seafood entrees, exclusive intimate VIP performances, VIP bathrooms, a Baygrass festival merch credit, commemorative steel pint, and a swag bag filled with other gifts.
Learn more at https://baygrassfestival.com/VIP.
Annapolis Baygrass believes in the transformative power of music to inspire change and build community. The Baygrass mission is to create a one-of-a-kind, environmentally responsible music festival that brings joy to attendees and artists alike while actively educating, funding, and advocating for the protection of the Chesapeake Bay and supporting mental wellness. Baygrass blends music, conservation, and community engagement into a festival experience where fun and purpose come together as one.
Ron Peremel, CEO/Founder, says, “From the beginning, Annapolis Baygrass has brought people together through music to support Chesapeake Bay restoration and mental wellness. We’ve seen our vision come to life through the passion and actions of our fans, musicians, staff, volunteers, and partners—each playing a role in advancing our mission.”
The music connects people with the Baygrass mission through its educational programming, and a portion of every dollar spent on tickets, beverages, and merchandise supports Annapolis Baygrass nonprofit partners—Watershed Stewards Academy, Oyster Recovery Partnership, and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The event has raised over $114,000 since its inception for Chesapeake Bay conservation. In addition, Baygrass artists and nonprofit partners will host interactive workshops during the festival at the Workshop Pavilion.
Little Feat
Yonder Mountain String Band
Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart
Sam Bush
Mountain Grass Unit
TopHouse
Shadowgrass
SCYTHIAN
Sister Sadie
Fireside Collective
Midnight North
Jammy Buffet
Melody Trucks & The Fitzkee Brothers Band
Geraldine
Artists-at-Large: TBA
Learn more about the Annapolis Baygrass mission, green practices, VIP options, lodging and shuttles, and sign up to be a volunteer at www.annapolisbaygrass.com.
