Photo by Jay Blakesburg

Los Lobos, Langford, Hogan & Timms, Mavis Staples, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Bandits On The Run, Tift Merritt, Meels, Moonalice, Anna Moss, ¿Qiensave? and Lukas Nelson have joined the lineup for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. As previously reported, the annual event will return to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park from Friday, October 2-Sunday, October 4. The free event is now in its 26th year.

“Hardly Strictly has become a legend all its own. It’s considered a rite of passage to play the show. It’s been a while since our band has played the festival. I’m truly looking forward to the visit,” Marty Stuart said in a statement.  

Those acts join an already stacked lineup that includes: AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kathleen Edwards, My Morning Jacket, Old Crow Medicine Show, El Khat, Tyler Ballgame, William Tyler & Yasmin Williams, and John Craigie w/ The Coffis Brothers, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Darrell Scott String Band w/ Rob Ickes, Dug, Mama’s Broke, A Tribute To Joe Ely with The Flatlanders and Friends, Alison Krauss & Union Station F: Jerry Douglas, Kam Franklin, Ismay, Jesse Welles and Sierra Hull.

“We’re lucky to have so many incredible artists grace the meadows of Golden Gate Park. It’s the favorite time of year for our entire Hardly Strictly family, which makes it especially bittersweet when one of those artists takes the stage for a final time,” Olivia Hellman, granddaughter of event founder Warren Hellman, said in the same statement. “This year, we’ll have the honor of hearing Ron Thomason sing his HSB swan song, one last gathering in the meadow with an artist who meant so much to Warren and the festival.”

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass will kick off its 2026 edition with a special festival eve benefit concert honoring legendary singer and songwriter Steve Earle, who has performed at each edition of the free music festival since HSB’s second year in 2002. The tribute is set for Thursday, October 1 at The Masonic in San Francisco, CA. An Evening Honoring Steve Earle will also feature some of Earle’s close collaborators, including Buddy Miller, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams and Molly Tuttle, among others. Buddy Miller will serve as the show’s musical director, with Reckless Kelly featuring Greg Liesz appearing as the backing band.

Here’s a look at the festival’s latest additions

Los Lobos

Langford, Hogan & Timms

Mavis Staples

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

Bandits On The Run

Tift Merritt

Meels

Moonalice

Anna Moss

¿Qiensave?

Lukas Nelson

Here’s a look at the event’s previously confirmed acts

Aaron Lee Tasjan

Darrell Scott String Band w/ Rob Ickes

Dug

Mama’s Broke

A Tribute To Joe Ely with The Flatlanders and Friends

Alison Krauss & Union Station F: Jerry Douglas

 Ismay

Kam Franklin

Jesse Welles

Sierra Hull

AJ Lee & Blue Summit

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Hiss Golden Messenger

Kathleen Edwards

My Morning Jacket

Old Crow Medicine Show

El Khat

Tyler Ballgame

William Tyler & Yasmin Williams

John Craigie W/ The Coffis Brothers