For generations of live music fans, festivals have always represented something larger than the artists appearing on stage. The greatest gatherings become temporary cities built around shared experiences, spontaneous discoveries, musical exploration, and the powerful feeling that for a few days thousands of strangers have come together because they believe in the same thing. They believe in live music.
That spirit is exactly what made the original All Good Music Festival one of the most beloved events in the history of the jam-band community. It was never simply about lineups, ticket sales, or headline performances. It was about community. It was about discovery. It was about spending entire weekends immersed in a culture where improvisation, collaboration, and connection mattered as much as the music itself.
Now, that spirit enters a new era.
The All Good Now Festival returns June 13 and 14, 2026, at the legendary Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, carrying forward everything fans loved about the original gathering while embracing a modern vision for what a festival experience can become. Rather than recreating the past, All Good Now is building on it, creating a comfortable, accessible, and artist-focused experience designed for the next generation of music fans while honoring the traditions that made the original event so meaningful.
In many ways, the festival represents the broader story unfolding throughout the live music world in 2026.
Across the country, audiences are rediscovering the value of immersive musical experiences. Artists are collaborating more freely than ever before. Genres are becoming increasingly irrelevant. Bluegrass musicians are sharing stages with rock innovators. Jam bands are expanding their creative reach. Festivals are becoming cultural destinations rather than simply collections of performances.
The All Good Now Festival sits directly at the center of that movement.
What immediately distinguishes the event is its commitment to creating a seamless fan experience. Organizers have finalized a completely non-overlapping schedule, eliminating one of the most common frustrations associated with major festivals. Instead of forcing attendees to choose between competing performances, All Good Now allows fans to experience every artist on the bill. Music alternates between two remarkable performance spaces: the iconic Pavilion Stage and the stunning Chrysalis Stage nestled within the natural beauty of Symphony Woods.
The Pavilion remains one of the most respected amphitheaters in the country. Its enhanced roof structure and modern upgrades provide exceptional sightlines and acoustics while preserving the venue’s rich musical heritage. Over the decades, Merriweather has hosted some of the most important performances in American music history, making it a fitting home for a festival built around celebrating live music culture.
The Chrysalis Stage offers a dramatically different experience. Surrounded by trees and integrated directly into the landscape of Symphony Woods, it provides an intimate setting where audiences can connect with artists in a more organic environment. Together, the two stages create a festival experience that feels expansive without becoming overwhelming.
The lineup itself reflects the extraordinary diversity currently driving the modern live music landscape.
Widespread Panic returns to headline both evenings, reinforcing their status as one of the most influential live acts of the past several decades. Few bands have built a touring culture as passionate or enduring as Panic. Their ability to combine Southern rock, improvisational exploration, blues, funk, and emotional storytelling has earned them one of the most loyal audiences in all of live music. Their two-night headline stand effectively turns All Good Now into a destination event for fans who continue following the band throughout its legendary career.
Saturday’s schedule showcases the remarkable breadth of the contemporary jam and roots scene. Greensky Bluegrass continues its evolution as one of the most innovative groups operating within modern bluegrass. Dark Star Orchestra brings its celebrated recreations of Grateful Dead performances to a festival environment perfectly suited for its improvisational approach. Lettuce delivers its signature blend of funk, soul, jazz, and groove-driven energy. The Hip Abduction brings tropical influences and world-music textures, while Cris Jacobs adds his uniquely soulful approach to roots-based songwriting.
One of the most exciting additions to the opening day roster is BALTHVS, the Colombian psych-funk trio that has quietly become one of the most intriguing emerging acts on the international festival circuit. Their fusion of psychedelic grooves, Latin rhythms, and exploratory improvisation reflects the increasingly global nature of modern live music culture.
Jennifer Hartswick serves as Artist at Large, adding another layer of spontaneity to the weekend. Known for her extraordinary work with Trey Anastasio Band and countless collaborative appearances throughout the jam world, Hartswick’s presence virtually guarantees memorable guest spots and unexpected musical moments.
Sunday’s lineup expands the creative possibilities even further.
The centerpiece may very well be Claypool Gold, a custom performance concept from Les Claypool that draws material from Primus, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, and the Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. For longtime fans of experimental rock and improvisational music, the project promises one of the most unique performances of the festival season.
Larkin Poe continues its ascent as one of the premier modern roots-rock acts. The Wood Brothers bring their signature blend of folk, blues, jazz, and Americana. Leftover Salmon remains one of the defining pioneers of jamgrass, while Andy Frasco & The U.N. continue earning a reputation as one of the most energetic live acts anywhere. The Main Squeeze rounds out the lineup with a high-powered fusion of funk, rock, and soul.
Yet what truly separates All Good Now from many contemporary festivals is its commitment to creating experiences beyond the stage itself.
The Symphony Woods Shakedown transforms a traditional vending area into a carefully curated marketplace celebrating independent artists, creators, and small businesses. Festival culture has always been about more than music, and the Shakedown continues that tradition by providing a space where creativity extends far beyond the performance schedule.
The Historic Pinball Arcade introduces an unexpected element of nostalgia and playfulness, offering attendees a fully functional collection of classic machines that creates a bridge between generations of fans. It is the kind of detail that helps transform a festival into a community gathering rather than simply a concert.
The Legends Sculpture Garden and Walking Tour may ultimately become one of the festival’s most meaningful attractions. By honoring the artists who helped define Merriweather’s remarkable history—including icons like the Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix—the installation connects today’s audiences with the venue’s extraordinary legacy while reminding visitors that every new performance becomes part of a much larger story.
That connection between past and future feels especially important in today’s live music environment.
Throughout 2026, artists across genres have embraced collaboration and exploration in ways that continue expanding the possibilities of live performance. Billy Strings recently stunned audiences by joining Primus on electric guitar for unforgettable renditions of “Too Many Puppies” and “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver.” Dave Matthews Band has been stretching classic material into extended improvisational journeys during its current summer run. The String Cheese Incident launched its Just Keep Spinning Tour with brand-new music. Gov’t Mule and Ziggy Marley announced a groundbreaking collaborative tour.
At the same time, major festivals like Newport Folk Festival, Northlands Music & Arts Festival, Wormtown Festival, Spirit in the Bluegrass Music Fest, and the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival continue proving that audiences remain deeply committed to communal live experiences.
The bluegrass community itself is enjoying one of its most active periods in years. Billy Strings and Chris Thile are preparing a highly anticipated collaborative appearance at Telluride. The Boxcars have announced a major reunion. Artists like Molly Tuttle, Trey Hensley, Old Crow Medicine Show, Béla Fleck, and countless others continue pushing the genre forward through new releases and ambitious partnerships.
The All Good Now Festival embodies that philosophy perfectly. It respects tradition without becoming trapped by nostalgia. It celebrates community without becoming exclusive. It embraces innovation without abandoning the values that made live music culture special in the first place.
For JamFest listeners, that same spirit can be experienced every week across our programming. Festival Radio continues celebrating the greatest live performances ever captured at major festivals around the world. Every Thursday night becomes Festival Night, delivering more than eight hours of nonstop live music from the gatherings, stages, and events that have helped define generations of music fans. It is a reminder that great festival performances do not disappear when the weekend ends. They continue inspiring audiences for years afterward.
As June approaches and thousands of fans prepare to descend upon Columbia, Maryland, All Good Now stands poised to become one of the defining events of the summer. More importantly, it represents something bigger than a single weekend.
It represents the continued growth of a musical community built around connection, creativity, and the simple belief that there is still nothing quite like standing in front of a stage surrounded by fellow music lovers as great artists create something unforgettable in real time.
That experience remains timeless. And All Good Now is ready to deliver it once again.