Kinda Cool's Guide to Newport Folk Festival 2026
Writing and photos by Taylor Gabrovic
Graphic by Rebekah Witt
Last year, I had the opportunity to attend one of the highest-rated music festivals and one of the hardest to secure tickets for Kinda Cool Magazine. Out of respect for those who have never been able to secure their own highly sought-after tickets, I hate to say it, but the festival absolutely lived up to the hype, and I cannot wait to go again this year!
The Newport Folk Festival, which first began in 1959, has featured the debuts of music legends like Joan Baez and Kris Kristofferson. Over the years, Fort Adams State Park has been the festival's venue, hosting performances by artists such as Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Brandi Carlile, Hozier, Phoebe Bridgers, and countless others.
The festival has a hardcore dedicated fan base who often call themselves the “folkfam” and sell out the entire festival within the first minute of going on sale (even before the lineup is released). In fact, many fans secure their tickets for next year’s festival while the current festival is underway at one of the venue's tents. These fans are also known for showing up at the gates hours early, so keep that in mind when planning your arrival time, and consider packing very light so you can use the express lane for entry.
But when packing, keep in mind that the weather at Fort Adams State Park can change very quickly, so consider bringing some rain gear. Last year’s attendees can attest to the crazy flooding and wild storm that hit the festival, but thankfully, it blew away quickly enough that the rest of the day did not have to be canceled. I found myself in the claustrophobia-inducing, packed vertical tunnel between the Harbor Stage and the Quad Stage. It was definitely a memorable experience, since the dirty floodwater began to rise, reaching some people at the bottom of the tunnel’s ankles (see picture for evidence).
Compared to other festivals I have attended, Newport Folk has the most helpful, understanding, and accommodating fans, who often seem to care more about enjoying the music and socializing with each other than about getting good photos and videos. During my time at the festival in 2025, I never saw someone’s belongings being moved while they went to watch a set at another stage, so don’t be too worried about leaving a blanket at one stage and running to another for a quick set.
Over its tenure, the festival branched out into more genres than folk despite its name, but the focus on political activism and protest has remained. For example, during last year’s festival, Margo Price and others performed a cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos)” during the Songs for the People set. Before singing the decades-old protest song, Price told the audience, “I’ve got two words: Fuck ICE.”
This year’s lineup features both big, established names and small, newer names in music. This year marks the return of former Newport performers, such as Lucy Dacus, Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers, Courtney Barnett, and more. It also marks the first time performing at “The Fort” for quite a few artists like Hayley Williams (who was a special guest during The Ally Coalition Talent Show presented by Jack Antonoff and Bleachers last year), CMAT, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Clover County, and more.
On Monday, July 13, Newport Folk announced the tentative set times and locations for this year’s festival, so I finally get to share which sets I am hoping to see and which you should definitely add to your festival schedule!
Friday, July 24, is set to be my biggest day of running between stages, since I have quite a few performers on my “hope to see” list. Early in the day, I hope to see the sibling soft rock band that is making their Newport debut this year, Infinity Song. Next, I hope to see a talented modern folk artist, Hudson Freeman, at the Quad stage, whom I had the honor of photographing at Stephen Talhouse in Amagansett, New York, earlier this summer.
Other performances on my Friday list include Tiny Habits, Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends, Amble, and Courtney Barnett. At the end of the day, there is a quite treacherous and devastating overlap that will require me to leave some sets early and listen as I travel between stages, since Lucy Dacus, Matt Quinn, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Hayley Williams & Friends are all in a row on the schedule.
Next, we have Saturday, July 25, where the day begins with the harmony-rich trio Trousdale. After that, I plan to make a trip to the Fort stage to see Evan Honer, and then another to the Bike Stage (where fans can help power the stage by riding bicycles) to see Madi Diaz.
The second day of Newport Folk this year features a new project of the festival titled “Sea to Shining Sea,” which will be hosted by Devon Gilfillian and feature some of the artists that Newport Folk met while “rediscover(ing) America through the power of music and community” earlier this summer. Like most self-proclaimed “thought-daughters,” I cannot wait to see Lizzy McAlpine’s set, especially since she is currently teasing a new era and new music. Other artists on my current viewing plan include Medium Build, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Dawes Duo, and the day’s headlining band, The Lumineers.
My plans for the final day of the Rhode Island festival begin with seeing blind, multi-instrumentalist Brittany Davis at the Harbor Stage. Next, I plan to see one of my current on-repeat artists, Clover County, and then one of my favorite performers from last year’s festival, SNACKTIME.
The Fort Stage will then feature one of my most anticipated performances of the entire weekend when EURO-COUNTRY Irish musician CMAT takes the stage for what is sure to be an energetic, memorable set. Then comes the artist everyone seems excited about, Brandi Carlile. I then plan to spend the rest of the day seeing Tedeschi Trucks Band, Brandon Flowers, and Nathaniel Rateliff & Friends. Nathaniel Rateliff & Friends will be the final act of the festival and is sure to feature surprise guests and beautiful, meaningful performances!
Although these are my current picks, one of the best things about Newport Folk is the venue, which lets you hear so many different acts as you move from one stage to another or wait for another act to come on. I can't wait to hear snippets of sets from the artists who I haven’t listed above. Newport Folk is the perfect festival for discovering new music and meeting new people, all while enjoying a lobster roll or a refreshing Del’s lemonade! And don’t forget, you never know who will do a surprise set that will make you change your whole Newport Folk viewing schedule!
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