After 26 years of elevating emerging artists like Geese, Billy Strings and Leon Bridges, the Portland-area festival returns with a lineup that balances discovery with icons including Steve Earle, Shakey Graves and Marcos Valle.
Pickathon returns to Pendarvis Farm July 30–August 2, 2026, continuing its tradition as the country’s most distinct music festival experience. For its 26th year, the festival presents a unique curation strategy: We are honoring the pioneers who built the genres we love while handing the main stages over to the vanguard artists who are reinventing them.
The Legends: Architects & Pioneers
Championing the widest sonic range in the country, the 2026 bill is anchored by the “Legends,” a tier celebrating musical architects with deep legacies including master songwriter Steve Earle.
The history of sound is represented across every border: from the bossa nova royalty of Marcos Valle and the Jamaican roots reggae of Clinton Fearon to the psychedelic cumbia of Bogotá’s Meridian Brothers. We celebrate the pioneers of heavy sound with doom metal legends Acid King and the electronic-folk fusion of Mexican Institute of Sound, alongside indie rock heroes Built to Spill and the folk troubadour herself, Alela Diane. Finally, Pickathon welcomes back its own prodigal son, Shakey Graves, returning as a festival headliner and a modern classic in his own right.
A Track Record You Can Trust
While the legends set the tone, the true headline is discovery. For 26 years, Pickathon has served as the industry’s crystal ball—the stage where fans first encountered The War on Drugs, Kamasi Washington, Tyler Childers, The Marías, Black Pumas, Khruangbin and Big Thief, long before they sold out arenas.
In 2026, the audience returns not just for the names they know, but to find the standout bands Pickathon puts on their radar first.
The Discovery: Titans of the Underground
This year’s roster is designed to be explored like a treasure map. As titans of their specific undergrounds—whether it’s a regional phenomenon or a niche subculture—these acts are the leading indicators of what is next in music.
Leading the charge are the “Discovery Artists”—acts currently electrifying major rooms, including the soul-revival giants The Altons and Thee Sinseers, the rowdy bluegrass titans The Brothers Comatose and indie-rock stalwarts Widowspeak.
Beyond the anchors, the festival places its bets on the wide spectrum of the future. Buzz is building around the vocal soul dynasty The Womack Sisters and the raw, glitch-heavy alternative of mercury, while the lineup shifts gears from the classic country storytelling of Hannah Juanita to the genre-bending grooves of The South Hill Experiment. We dive deeper with the rising harmonies of Folk Bitch Trio and the post-punk cool of Automatic, rounding out the discovery with the spellbinding guitar work of Hannah Frances and the poignant, lo-fi songwriting of Hudson Freeman. This section proves that the future of music is wide, wild, and happening this summer on the farm.
🎧 Start Listening & Watching
Don’t recognize a name? That is the point. We designed these playlists to be your roadmap. Press play and find your new favorite band before you see them in the woods.
[Official 2026 Spotify Playlist]
More Ways to Listen: 📺 Watch the Official Video Playlist 🎵 Apple Music Playlist | YouTube Music Playlist | Amazon Music Playlist
Pickathon 2026 Lineup
Legends
Steve Earle • Marcos Valle • Built to Spill • Shakey Graves • Meridian Brothers • Alela Diane • Acid King • Mexican Institute of Sound • Clinton Fearon
Discovery Artists
The Altons • Thee Sinseers • The Brothers Comatose • The Womack Sisters • Widowspeak • Hudson Freeman • Mary Halvorson • Florry • Family Company • Folk Bitch Trio • SA-Roc • Ana Frango Elétrico • Hannah Frances • Ben Chapman • D.K. Harrell • The South Hill Experiment • Rumbo Tumba • Friendship • Boy Golden • Hannah Juanita • Channing Wilson • Dylan Earl • Hogslop String Band • El Khat • Briscoe • Automatic • DUG • The Onlies • Ken Pomeroy • Prewn • mercury • PISS • Hannah Hill • Setting • Caitlin Canty • Terror Cactus • Jonny’s Day Out • Cosmic Tones Research Trio • Buddy Wynkoop
An Immersive Cultural Metropolis
Pickathon is more than a lineup; it is a temporary city built in the woods. Every summer, Pendarvis Farm is transformed by local design teams into a “Metropolis of Imagination,” featuring massive, reusable architectural stages that define distinct neighborhoods woven into the forest.
A Restorative Vacation (No Upcharge Required) We don’t believe in a “Comfort Tax.” At Pickathon, the premium experience is the standard, allowing you to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with the wild.
- A Flow Designed for Discovery: Nearly every artist performs two distinct sets—perhaps one in the high-energy Galaxy Barn and another in the big leaf maple cathedral of the Woods Stage. This structure creates a relaxed pace, supported by a rotating roster of DJs, literary readings, standup comedy, and the farm-to-table Curation Series dining experience.
- Comfort by Design: We prioritize your stamina. Escape the heat in artist-designed architectural lounges and deep natural shade, available to everyone without a VIP upgrade.
- Summer Camp for All: From the littlest explorers to the teenagers, our dedicated family neighborhoods offer a full “Summer Camp” experience with nature-based play, workshops, and music.
And for 2026, Pickathon’s annual emblem is the Frog—joyful, at times a little absurd, and strongest as a chorus of voices, much like the world we’re building together.
“We don’t book artists because they’re obvious. We book them because they’re pointing to what’s next.” — Zale Schoenborn, Founder
Join Us on the Farm
Dates: July 30–August 2, 2026 Location: Pendarvis Farm, Happy Valley, OR
Early bird tickets are on sale now, with flexible Buy Now, Pay Later options available at checkout.
