Article Contributed by jbleicher.com
Published on December 9, 2025
moe. Announces Return of Beloved Festival moe.down – July 16–18, 2026
After a six-year hiatus, moe. has officially announced the return of their signature festival, moe.down, taking place July 16–18, 2026 at a brand-new location: the historic West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert, Pennsylvania.
Originally founded in 2000, moe.down became a defining fixture of the summer music calendar – an annual homegrown gathering of music lovers, artists, and kindred spirits in upstate New York. For nearly two decades, moe. curated lineups that blurred the lines between jam, rock, funk, and folk – hosting unforgettable performances by legends like Bob Weir, The Black Keys, Grace Potter, The Flaming Lips, Levon Helm, Umphrey’s McGee, The Wailers, Cake, and many more. The band headlined multiple sets each year and used the event as a platform to support charities, promote sustainability, and uplift regional artists, vendors, and volunteers.
Now, the beloved festival returns in 2026 with a new home, a new scale, and a fresh sense of purpose. Located in Gilbert, PA – just 15 miles from Stroudsburg and under 100 miles from both New York City and Philadelphia – the West End Fairgrounds offers a scenic and historic setting, rich in local heritage and easily accessible from several major metro areas. The new site will host a boutique festival experience capped at 3,500 attendees, preserving the intimacy, community, and immersive energy that defined moe.down’s original DNA.
“The return of moe.down means as much to the band as it does to our fans,” shared bassist Rob Derhak. “We are all famoe.ly and this is our grand picnic. We all can’t wait to do it again!”
moe.down 2026 will feature three days of music, art, and camping, with multiple sets from moe., curated performances from their favorite artists across genres, special guest sit-ins, late-night surprises, and the debut of “The Moe.seum” – a retrospective installation chronicling 35+ years of band history and moe.down lore.
Lineup announcements and full schedule will follow in early 2026. Tickets and camping passes are available now at moe-down.org.
The return of moe.down comes on the heels of a landmark year for the band. In 2025, moe. celebrated their 35th anniversary with a national tour, standout festival sets, and the release of their acclaimed studio album Circle of Giants (ATO Records). The album – marking the full-length debut of keyboardist Nate Wilson, and shaped by Chuck Garvey’s recovery from a stroke and Rob Derhak’s personal loss – was praised for its depth, vulnerability, and renewed creative fire.
On the heels of their end-of-year celebration at The Palace Theatre in Albany, NY on Saturday, December 27th, moe. will launch their Born To Fly Tour – 2026 in February, hitting cities across the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest, with multi-night runs in Burlington, Buffalo, D.C., Ardmore, and Denver. The band continues to champion causes close to their hearts, including mental health awareness via their Eddie’s Hugs initiative and cancer research through their Rock The Pink campaign.
From legendary sit-ins with Warren Haynes and Karina Rykman, to family tributes and themed Halloween blowouts, moe. has never stopped evolving – while staying rooted in the same values that sparked moe.down 25 years ago.
With moe.down officially back on the calendar, the band is inviting fans old and new to come together for a weekend of music, memories, and meaning. Full lineup and additional festival details will be announced in early 2026. Tickets, camping info, and more at moe-down.org.
For over 35 years, moe. has remained one of the most enduring and influential bands in the jam scene, blending genre-defying musicianship, sharp songwriting, and improvisational prowess into a sound that is uniquely their own. Formed at the University of Buffalo, the band – Rob Derhak (bass, vocals), Al Schnier (guitar, vocals), Chuck Garvey (guitar, vocals), Jim Loughlin (percussion, vibes), Vinnie Amico (drums), and Nate Wilson (keyboards) – has built a loyal global fanbase, the Famoe.ly, through relentless touring and a catalog of acclaimed albums, including their latest release, Circle of Giants (ATO Records).
Over the decades, moe. has headlined major festivals like Bonnaroo and Fuji Rock, performed alongside icons such as The Allman Brothers Band, The Who, and members of the Grateful Dead, and spearheaded their own festivals, including snoe.down and moe.down. With an unwavering commitment to creativity, community, and musical exploration, moe. continues to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible in live music.
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