Wintergrass Music Festival 2026 Returns Feb 19–22 with a Rad Trad Lineup Featuring New Dangerfield, Väsen, Woody Platt & More in Bellevue

Wintergrass 2026 promises a vibrant fusion of legacy and innovation, transforming Bellevue’s Hyatt Regency into a haven for roots music lovers. With its “Rad Trad” theme, the festival showcases over 30 acts that span bluegrass, folk, Celtic, and global traditions—each pushing boundaries while honoring the past. From immersive workshops to spontaneous jam sessions, this four-day celebration invites fans to experience tradition in motion.

In a press release, Wintergrass Music Festival organizers disclosed that tickets (for the 2026 edition) are on sale now.

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. 

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.

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.”

Scenes from Wintergrass 2025:

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.

For longtime fans and first-time attendees alike, Wintergrass 2026 offers more than just music—it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and the evolving spirit of tradition. With its Rad Trad theme and genre-spanning lineup, the festival invites everyone to discover new sounds, deepen their craft, and connect through shared experience. Tickets are on sale now—secure your spot and be part of the joy, discovery, and musical magic this February in Bellevue.

For more information, visit wintergrass.com, or follow along at @WintergrassMusicFestival on Facebook and Instagram.