Article Contributed by Ariel Rosemberg
Published on 2026-03-04
For over 18 years, DelFest has established itself as a premier, nationally-acclaimed roots music festival. Founded by bluegrass icon Del McCoury and his family, DelFest returns to the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD over Memorial Day Weekend. And once again, it offers a music experience that proves there is truly no place on earth like it.
After the main stage clears and the campground lights start to glow, DelFest After Dark takes over. This is where the players stretch out. Where songs go long. Where friends wander on stage unannounced. Where something happens that won’t happen again.
This year, DelFest will feature a pair of special late-night experiences unique to the festival’s after hours stage. Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Psychedelic Cosmic Jam will bring a “cosmic honky-tonk” set where reverb-drenched surf guitar meets Nashville twang and stretches into psychedelic prairie jams built for the midnight crowd.
Meanwhile, Gaelic Storm returns with its beloved Irish Dance Party, transforming the Music Hall into a full blown Celtic celebration where the dancing won’t stop before last call.
The complete DelFest After Dark lineup includes:
Thursday, May 21
Gaelic Storm Irish Dance Party
Friday, May 22
The Infamous Stringdusters
Shadowgrass
Saturday, May 23
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Psychedelic Cosmic Jam
Eddie Slide & The Cowtown Dozen
Sunday, May 24
The Travelin’ McCourys
DelFest After Dark isn’t a repeat of the daytime schedule. It’s its own world built on different setlists, different energy and different combinations of musicians who just want to see what happens. The most talked-about moments in DelFest history didn’t happen at 6pm. They happen closer to midnight.
Additionally, DelFest has announced the daily lineups. Schedule details, KidZone programming and more will be announced soon. Current ticket prices expire at 11:59pm this Monday, March 9.
DelFest 2026 is scheduled to feature performances from the Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys, along with Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Toy Factory Project, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Blackberry Smoke, Punch Brothers, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sierra Hull, Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Project and many more. DelFest returns Memorial Day Weekend 2026. All tickets and camping are available now at delfest.com.
Founded in 2008 by bluegrass legend Del McCoury and his family, DelFest is a four-day music festival celebrating bluegrass, roots and American music traditions. Held each Memorial Day Weekend at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland, the festival brings together a diverse lineup of established artists and emerging voices alongside collaborative performances, late-night sets, workshops and family-friendly programming.
