Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day camping festival held every June on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, about 60 miles southeast of Nashville. Founded in 2002, it features 100+ artists across more than 10 stages, blending rock, indie, electronic, hip-hop, and jam band music. The 2026 edition runs June 11 to 14.
What Is Bonnaroo
Bonnaroo was launched in 2002 by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment. The inaugural festival drew approximately 70,000 attendees with a jam-band-heavy lineup and sold out in about two weeks. It has since grown into one of North America's most recognized camping festivals.
The festival takes place at Great Stage Park, a purpose-built venue known to fans as "The Farm." Attendees can camp on-site with options ranging from primitive car camping to luxury glamping tents and RV hookups. The festival runs 24 hours a day, with music continuing through the night and into early morning with special sunrise sets.
Bonnaroo's "radiate positivity" ethos has made it a distinct cultural event. The community of repeat attendees, called "Bonnaroovians," is a core part of the festival's identity. The 2026 edition brings back the Bonnaroo Radio broadcast, improved drainage, miles of new roadways, and 135 acres of new turf following flooding issues that caused a mid-festival cancellation in 2025.
Notable Past Headliners
Bonnaroo has booked a wide range of headliners since its first edition in 2002. Here is a look at headliners from recent years:
| Year | Headliners |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Skrillex, The Strokes, RUFUS DU SOL, Noah Kahan |
| 2025 | Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Luke Combs, Hozier (cancelled after one day due to severe weather) |
| 2024 | Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fred Again.., Post Malone, Pretty Lights |
| 2023 | Foo Fighters, Paramore, Kendrick Lamar |
| 2022 | Tool, J. Cole, The War On Drugs |
| 2019 | The Lumineers, The National, Childish Gambino |
| 2018 | The Killers, Muse, Eminem |
| 2017 | U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd |
One of the most memorable Bonnaroo moments in recent years came in 2023, when Foo Fighters closed out the festival on Sunday night with a headline set on the What Stage. Toward the end of the set, Paramore's Hayley Williams joined Dave Grohl on stage for a performance of "My Hero," a song Paramore had covered in the past. The moment was captured on video and widely shared:
Chappell Roan's 2024 Bonnaroo set on the Which Stage became one of the most talked-about performances of the festival. Her set, which closed out her tour, drew a massive crowd and helped propel her album into the Billboard 200 top ten. The full set was recorded from the Hulu livestream:
Pretty Lights has a long history at Bonnaroo, dating back to early festival appearances. The 2011 set, edited to the unreleased track "I Know The Truth," remains one of the most-watched Bonnaroo videos on YouTube with over 5 million views:
2026 Lineup
The 2026 headliners are Skrillex (Thursday), The Strokes (Friday), RÜFÜS DU SOL (Saturday), and Noah Kahan (Sunday).
Top-billed acts include GRiZ, Turnstile, Teddy Swims, The Neighbourhood, Role Model, Kesha, Alabama Shakes, Chase and Status, Sara Landry, Wet Leg, Major Lazer, Japanese Breakfast, Modest Mouse, Clipse, and Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Kesha leads the 2026 Superjam, titled "KESHA PRESENTS: SUPERJAM ESOTERICA: THE ALCHEMY OF POP." "Weird Al" Yankovic performs a special late-night Saturday set called "Bigger and Weirder Saturday Late Night Roovue."
The full lineup spans over 100 acts across four days and 10+ stages.
Tickets and Camping
Bonnaroo offers several ticket tiers:
- 4-Day General Admission: Standard festival access with camping
- 4-Day GA+: Access to the Centeroo GA+ Lounge with air-conditioned restrooms, dedicated food, and a private bar
- 4-Day VIP: Close-in viewing areas, VIP lounges, express lanes at merch stores, and commemorative gifts
- 4-Day Platinum: All VIP perks plus on-field viewing, dedicated concierge, and exclusive access
Camping options include Primitive Car Camping, Glamping, RVs, Backstage Camping, Accessible Camping, and Groop Camping. Premium accommodations include pre-pitched Souvenir Tents, Darkroom Tents, Luxury Bell Tents, and 2-person Wood Frame Safari Tents.
Tickets went on sale December 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM CT via bonnaroo.com.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Bonnaroo has a history of booking emerging artists on its smaller stages, many of whom graduate to headliner status in later years. The festival's multi-genre approach means artists outside mainstream pop can still find a slot. A strong Bonnaroo set generates press coverage, streaming bumps, and booking agent interest.
The festival's camping format creates a captive audience. Attendees who discover your set at a side stage will likely stream your music that night in their tent. Use our streaming royalty calculator to estimate what a post-festival streaming bump could be worth.
If you are building a tour around Bonnaroo, Manchester is within driving distance of Nashville, Atlanta, and Birmingham. Use our tour revenue calculator to plan routing and estimate earnings. Read our music festival strategy guide for booking tactics.
