Big Ears Reveals 2026 Festival Lineup

By DownBeat I Sep. 9, 2025

Pat Metheny will perform with his Side-Eye III ensemble at Big Ears 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee, next March.
(Photo: Jimmy Katz)

Big Ears has announced the lineup for its 2026 festival, which will take place March 26–29 and include 250 performances at more than 20 venues in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The fest will present sets by major jazz and jazz-adjacent artists, including Pat Metheny Side-Eye III, Chucho Valdez, John Scofield Trio, Marc Ribot, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Nels Cline & Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, Shabaka, Julian Lage Quartet, Either/Orchestra, Mary Halvorson, Flying Lotus, and numerous others. John Zorn will play 12 shows over two days, including sets with Masada Quartet, Barbara Hannigan, Harry Smith Films, Junction Trio, Brian Marsella Trio, Awakening Sound, Cobra, Incerto, Love Songs and a duo with Laurie Anderson.

From the pop realm, listeners at Big Ears will enjoy music by David Byrne, Robert Plant, Laurie Anderson, Richard Thompson, Blind Boys of Alabama and many other big-name artists.

Big Ears will move to an “all in” model for next year’s fest where the ticketing, processing and venue fees — which were previously added to a purchase — will now be absorbed into the overall price of a festival pass. Big Ears 2026 will also introduce several stand-alone concerts that will require an additional ticket (beyond a festival pass) to attend. Festival pass holders will be given first access to purchase these tickets, as well as preferred pricing. These concerts will also feature reserved seating.

In the coming months, Big Ears plans to reveal more about the programming and the slate of residencies, workshops, exhibitions, activations and conversations that will take place during the festival weekend.

To check out the Big Ears 2026 Reveal video, CLICK HERE. DB