David Byrne, Robert Plant, John Zorn, Pat Metheny, Flying Lotus Lead 2026 Big Ears Festival Lineup

The Big Ears Festival—the world-renowned, boundary-defying celebration of music and art—returns March 26 – 29, 2026, transforming historic downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, into a dynamic, multi-dimensional, international cultural experience with over 250 concerts, films, artist conversations, workshops, exhibitions, and interactive experiences.

Big Ears comes to life in Knoxville’s historic theaters, churches, museums and galleries, rock clubs, converted train stations, and warehouses, and on the sidewalks and streets that link them all.

The 2026 festival features an astonishing sweep of artistry and genre. Two legends bring their world tours to the festival: David Byrne will present two performances of Who Is The Sky?; and Robert Plant will present Saving Grace, a new project that ventures well beyond the familiar chapters of his legendary career. Both will be featured in separately ticketed concerts with reserved seating and early access and preferred pricing for festival passholders.

At the center of this year’s program, John Zorn presents twelve works (all new to the festival), including Love Songs featuring Petra Haden; Awakening Ground with John Medeski and Dave Lombardo; work written for and performed by world-renowned soprano Barbara Hannigan; a duo with long-time friend and collaborator Laurie Anderson; Incerto with Julian Lage, Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, and Ches Smith; and a rare reunion of the original Masada Quartet; among others. Additionally, Laurie Anderson returns with underground New York City veterans Sexmob to present X², a new follow-up to Let X=X, performed at Big Ears 2024.

Across the lineup, Flying Lotus pushes electronic music into new dimensions; Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye III+ showcases the guitarist’s restless reinvention; Cécile McLorin Salvant continues to expand the art of vocal music; and artists like Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet, John Scofield Trio, Marc Ribot, Mary Halvorson, Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few, and Patricia Brennan Septet—named Album of the Year in the DownBeat Critics Poll—anchor a multi-generational spectrum of improvisational brilliance.

Folk and song traditions are powerfully represented by Richard Thompson, Terry Allen—the maverick Texas songwriter whose raw, irreverent tales are legendary—MJ Lenderman & The Wind, S.G. Goodman, Anna Tivel, and Annahstasia.

International perspectives resound with Orchestra Baobab of Senegal, Japanese koto master Wu Fei with Shanir Blumenkranz, Ukrainian vocal group Yagódy, and Moroccan collective Saha Gnawa. Energy radiates from across the spectrum, from the storm-swept trio Dirty Three and the propulsive experimental post-punk of Model/Actriz to the exuberance of Alan Sparhawk & Trampled By Turtles.

The 2026 festival highlights influential voices in comedy: Tim Heidecker with his Very Good Band and “America’s Funnyman” Neil Hamburger in a multimedia mix of song and stand-up, and Reggie Watts, the genre-defying former Late Late Show bandleader whose improvisatory blend of music and humor brings offbeat brilliance to the lineup.

Special programs further underscore Big Ears’ commitment to artistic adventure. Hania Rani is joined by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for the North American premiere of Non-Fiction. Los Angeles collective Wild Up performs Julius Eastman’s Femenine and Arthur Russell’s 24 to 24. Residencies by SML and Kaoru Watanabe’sBloodlines Interwoven will unfold across the weekend. SUSS returns with one night of its immersive Across the Horizon series, while the celebrated Either/Orchestra brings its cross-cultural, large-ensemble explorations. The Ghost Train Orchestra honors the eccentric genius of Moondog, and saxophonist and producer Josh Johnson curates a forward-looking program with Chicago Underground Duo, Cleo Reed, Deantoni Parks: Technoself, Marquis Hill’s Blacktet, Qur’an Shaheed, Twin Talk, and Will Graefe.

Full Lineup (Alphabetical)

Adrian Sherwood • Alan Sparhawk & Trampled by Turtles • Anna Tivel • Annahstasia • 
Annie & The Caldwells • BASIC • Blind Boys of Alabama • Bloodshot Bill • Brandon Woody’s Upendo • Brian Marsella & Sae Hashimoto • Brian Marsella’s iMAGiNARiUM • Briggan Krauss • Brittany Davis • Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion ft. Ringdown • Cécile McLorin Salvant • Chad Taylor Quintet • Charlemagne Palestine • Ches Smith Clone Row • Chicago Underground Duo • Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet • Chuck Johnson • Cleo Reed • Cymande • Darius Jones Trio • Dave Douglas Gifts Quintet ft. Tomeka Reid, James Brandon Lewis, Rafiq Batia & Ian Chang • Dave Harrington’s Pranksters South • David Byrne: Who is the Sky? • Deantoni Parks: Technoself • Deerhoof • Dirty Three • Dither: Laurie Spiegel’s The Expanding Universe • Dom Flemons • Don Was & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble • DoYeon Kim • Either/Orchestra • Eliana Glass • Fine • Florist • Flying Lotus • Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters • Ghost Train Orchestra plays The Music of Moondog • Go Kurosawa • GRRL x Made of Oak • Gwenifer Raymond • Haley Heynderickx • Hand Habits • Hania Rani & Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Non-Fiction (N. American Premiere) • Hania Rani presents Chilling Bambino • Hannah Cohen • Harriet Tubman & Georgia Anne Muldrow • Hayden Pedigo • His Name Is Alive • Isaiah Collier • Jamie Lidell & Luke Schneider • Janel & Anthony • Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage • Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock • Joe Westerlund • John Mailander’s Forecast • John Scofield Trio ft. Vicente Archer & Bill Stewart • John Zorn: Impromptus Ballades Nocturnes, Junction Trio Plays Zorn, Love Songs ft. Petra Haden, Incerto, Awakening Ground, Hannigan Sings Zorn I & II, Cobra, Harry Smith Films with Music, Masada Reunion, John Zorn and Laurie Anderson • Julia Úlehla & Dálava • Julian Lage Quartet • Julianna Barwick • Karen Mantler Trio • Kate Gentile: Find Letter X • Ken Pomeroy • Kishi Bashi • Kaoru Watanabe’s Bloodlines Interwoven (In Residence) • Laurie Anderson: X2 with Sexmob • Lazyhorse • Lisel • Los Thuthanaka • Lubomyr Melnyk • Lucrecia Dalt • Madison Cunningham • Mali Obomsawin • Marc Ribot: Shrek, Hurry Red Telephone, Map of a Blue City • Maria Somerville • Marilyn Crispell & Harvey Sorgen • Marquis Hill Blacktet • Maruja Limón • Mary Halvorson Canis Major • Mary Lattimore • Matt Mitchell’s Zealous Angles • Meara O’Reilly Vocal Ensemble • Mei Semones • Miles Okazaki • Miriam Elhajli • MJ Lenderman & The Wind • Model/Actriz • Moin • Natalie Bergman • Nate Mercereau • Nate Smith Trio • Nels Cline & Knoxville Jazz Orchestra: Lovers • Nik Bärtsch’s RONIN • Openness Trio • Orchestra Baobab • Orcutt Shelley Miller • Pan American & Kramer • Pat Metheny Side-Eye III+ • Patricia Brennan Septet • Patrick Watson • Patrick Watson presents Film Scores for No One • Perfume Genius • Pino Palladino & Blake Mills • Qur’an Shaheed • Rafiq Bhatia: Environments with Ian Chang & Riley Mulherkar • Reggie Watts • Rich(ard) Dawson • Richard Thompson • Robert Plant’s Saving Grace feat. Suzi Dian • Rosenau & Sanborn • Ryan Clackner & Tyshawn Sorey • Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band • S.G. Goodman • The Saami Brothers ft. Ustad Naseeruddin Saami • Saha Gnawa • Sami Stevens • Saul Williams Meets Carlos Niño & Friends • Setting • SHABAKA • shirlette ammons • Simon Hanes: GARGANTUA • SML (In Residence) • Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra Plays Sly • Sullivan Fortner Trio • SUSS presents Across the Horizon • Taper’s Choice • Tara Clerkin Trio • Terry Allen with Brenden Greaves & Jo Harvey Allen: Truckload of Art • Terry Allen with the Panhandle Mystery Band & Jo Harvey Allen: Memwars • Tim Berne • Tim Heidecker & the Very Good Band with Neil Hamburger • Tom Skinner • Tsons of Tsunami • Tunde Adebimpe • Turning Jewels Into Water • Twin Talk • Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes • Walt McClements • The Westerlies • Wild Up: Julius Eastmans’ Femenine & Arthur Russell’s 24 to 24 • Will Graefe • William Hooker Quartet • Winged Wheel • Wu Fei & Shanir Blumenkranz  • Yagódy • YHWH Nailgun