BottleRock Napa Valley is a three-day music, wine, and culinary festival held annually at the Napa Valley Expo in downtown Napa, California. Founded in 2013, it combines major musical headliners with gourmet food from renowned chefs and wine from Napa Valley wineries. The 2026 edition took place May 22 to 24, featuring Foo Fighters, Lorde, Backstreet Boys, LCD Soundsystem, and more across multiple stages. The 2027 edition is scheduled for May 28 to 30 at the Napa Valley Expo.
How BottleRock Works
BottleRock is produced by Latitude 38 Entertainment and takes over the Napa Valley Expo each Memorial Day weekend. The festival features three main music stages plus the Culinary Stage, where celebrity chefs and musicians collaborate on live cooking demonstrations.
The 2026 lineup includes:
- Foo Fighters (headliner)
- Lorde (headliner)
- Backstreet Boys (headliner)
- LCD Soundsystem
- Teddy Swims
- Sombr
- Lil Wayne
Tickets are sold as 3-day passes or single-day passes through the BottleRock website. 3-day ticket purchasers get exclusive access to special offers at Napa Valley wineries and renewal presale access for future editions. General admission and VIP options are available, with VIP packages offering elevated viewing platforms, private bars, and gourmet food access.
The festival's capacity reaches approximately 40,000 attendees per day, making it one of the largest music festivals in Northern California. The Culinary Stage is a unique feature that sets BottleRock apart from other music festivals, blending food culture with live music in a way that reflects the Napa Valley region.
Notable Past Headliners
BottleRock has consistently booked major headliners across rock, pop, hip-hop, and alternative genres. Here is a summary of headliners from recent editions:
| Year | Dates | Headliners |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 26 to 28 | Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Lizzo, Duran Duran, Lil Nas X, Smashing Pumpkins |
| 2024 | May 24 to 26 | Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Nicks, Mana |
| 2025 | May 23 to 25 | Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Noah Kahan |
| 2026 | May 22 to 24 | Foo Fighters, Lorde, Backstreet Boys, LCD Soundsystem, Teddy Swims, Sombr |
The 2025 edition drew approximately 120,000 attendees across three days, with Green Day delivering a Friday night headlining set that opened with a crowd-led "Bohemian Rhapsody" singalong. The 2026 edition sold out in advance, with Foo Fighters closing Saturday night on the Prudential Stage and Backstreet Boys headlining Sunday.
Watch the official BottleRock highlights reel from the 2024 edition, released by the BottleRock Napa Valley YouTube channel:
Real-World Example
A 3-day general admission pass for BottleRock 2026 typically costs between $400 and $500, while VIP 3-day passes range from $1,200 to $1,800 depending on the tier. Single-day passes start around $169 for general admission.
For an independent artist, a BottleRock booking means exposure to 40,000 daily attendees in one of the most affluent markets in the United States. The festival's proximity to San Francisco (about 60 miles south) means media coverage extends to the entire Bay Area. Artists who perform on the festival's smaller stages often see a 15 to 25 percent increase in streaming numbers in the weeks following their set, based on data from similar mid-sized festival slots.
The festival also generates significant economic impact for Napa Valley. Local hotels, restaurants, and wineries see record revenue during Memorial Day weekend, with many establishments booking up months in advance.
Foo Fighters headlined Saturday night of the 2026 edition, delivering a 90-minute set that included a first-ever live cover of The Vaselines' "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" (a song Nirvana famously covered on MTV Unplugged). The band also performed "Everlong" as their closer, a reference to their infamous 2017 BottleRock set when the festival cut power during the same song due to noise curfew. Watch a clip from the Foo Fighters' 2026 BottleRock set, uploaded by the official BottleRock channel:
AJR also delivered a well-received set at BottleRock 2026 on the Credential Stage, performing "Bang!" and "100 Bad Days" to a packed crowd. Watch their performance:
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
BottleRock books a mix of major headliners and emerging acts, particularly on its secondary stages. Independent artists from the rock, pop, alternative, and indie scenes should target this festival as a career stepping stone.
Here is how to position yourself for a BottleRock booking:
- Build a regional following in Northern California through consistent touring and local press coverage.
- Secure a booking agent with relationships at Latitude 38 Entertainment or similar festival promoters.
- Release music 6 to 12 months before the festival to build streaming momentum and press buzz.
- Have a professional live show with tight performance and stage presence, as festival slots are often decided based on live performance videos.
The festival's culinary component also creates opportunities for artists who can cross over into food and wine culture. Past festivals have featured artists participating in cooking demonstrations and wine pairing events, which generates additional press coverage beyond standard music media.
Use the Tour Revenue Calculator to estimate what a BottleRock performance could add to your annual touring income, factoring in travel, accommodation, and performance fees.
Related Resources
- Music Festivals Directory - Explore other major festivals in the USA and beyond
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Calculate your potential earnings from festival bookings
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate streaming revenue to build your case for festival bookings
- Coachella - Another major California music festival
