article provided by Karaline Bailey

October 8, 2025 (Bellevue, WA)––The celebrated West Coast music gathering Wintergrass returns to the Hyatt Regency Bellevue from February 19-22, 2026, unveiling its official lineup and embracing a “Rad Trad” vision that celebrates both the roots and evolution of traditional music.

Since its debut in 1994, Wintergrass has stood as one of the nation’s premier “discovery” festivals––a junction where both legacy and innovation invite attendees to explore music through more than just sound––engaging sight, touch, and movement through hands-on workshops, instrument exhibits, vibrant stages, and jam sessions. Set within the urban comfort of downtown Bellevue, the four-day festival transforms the Hyatt Regency into a lively, multi-stage sanctuary for musicians and music-lovers alike.

This year’s Rad Trad focus explores the many ways tradition can be expressed––from bluegrass to old-time, polska to folk, Celtic, and beyond. Through its diverse lineup, Wintergrass 2026 pays homage to timeless musical roots while spotlighting the artists who are fearlessly redefining them for a new generation.

Among those torchbearers are New Dangerfield, a Black stringband supergroup comprising award-winning banjoist Tray Wellington, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Kaïa Kater, bassist Nelson Williams (of Chris Jones & the Night Drivers fame), and fiddler and singer Jake Blount. Other standouts include Woody Platt & The Bluegrass Gentlemen (Platt, being a former and founding member of the legacy bluegrass outfit Steep Canyon Rangers), singer, songwriter, and double bassist Melissa Carper, whose storied career spans decades of genre-spanning collaborations and a deep dedication to preserving and evolving traditional acoustic music, Swedish trad/folk duo Väsen, whose virtuosic blend of nyckelharpa, electric bass viola, and violoncello da spalla pushes the boundaries of Scandinavian roots music, and Missy Raines & Allegheny, led by the iconic bassist and IBMA award-winner whose innovative approach and decades-long career have helped shape the sound of contemporary bluegrass.

“Tradition is good––it gives us a place to hang our hats,” shares Patrice O’Neil, Executive + Artistic Director for Wintergrass. “But it’s an ever-evolving, slippery thing. We like to think this lineup offers both comfort and feel-your-way-in-the-dark discovery moments. Rad Trad means being open to radical interpretations of just exactly how to balance old and new.”

Wintergrass has always been beloved for its heels-dug-in, fully immersive experience. From youth education programs where the next generation of pickers learns their first chords, to free workshops included with your ticket and paid intensives where adults can dive deeper into their craft, the four-day joyfest offers something for every level of musician and listener.

Beyond the stages, festivalgoers can explore one of the most remarkable instrument exhibits anywhere, featuring fine handcrafted instruments, unique artisan goods, and gear that inspires creativity. Between performances, workshops, and spontaneous jam circles, the only stressful part of the weekend is deciding what to do next. Regarded as a hallowed ground where tradition meets transformation, Wintergrass is one of the last rare spaces where artistry, authenticity, and connection come first. Whether you’ve made Wintergrass an annual tradition or are joining for the first time, one thing is certain––a weekend of inspiration, discovery, and profound joy through music awaits.

Tickets to Wintergrass 2026 are on sale now. For more information, visit wintergrass.com, or follow along at @WintergrassMusicFestival on Facebook and Instagram.

What is Wintergrass?

Wintergrass 2026 Lineup

Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass

Woody Platt & The Bluegrass Gentlemen

Melissa Carper

New Dangerfield

Mr. Sun

John Reischman & The Jaybirds

The Paperboys

Väsen

The Fretless

Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band

Same Street Band with Darol Anger

Bruce Molsky & Brittany Hass

Biribá Union

Missy Raines & Allegheny

Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore

Pine Leaf Boys

Jerron Paxton

Hanneke Cassel Trio

Jordan Tice Trio

Joachim Cooder

Fog Holler

Nina Gerber & Chris Webster

Madeleine Roger

Sons of Rainier

The Horsenecks

Squirrel Butter

Briarfinch

Hillman City Sway