Bluesmusica.com : The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival 2026 is set to return to Telluride Town Park in Colorado from September 18 through September 20, bringing three days of blues, rock, funk, soul, gospel, and contemporary music to one of America’s most scenic mountain towns.
The 2026 edition is the festival’s 32nd annual celebration and features a major lineup led by Jon Batiste, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, and Marcus King Band. Other artists include Samantha Fish, Tab Benoit, Charlie Musselwhite & GA-20, The Record Company, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, G. Love & Special Sauce, Eddie 9V, and many more. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
When Is the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival 2026?
The main festival takes place from Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, 2026 at Telluride Town Park in Telluride, Colorado.
The wider festival experience begins with special events on Thursday, September 17, including a Music Maker Foundation fundraiser dinner, a beer-pairing dinner, and an opening performance by Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country at the Sheridan Opera House. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival 2026 Lineup
The 2026 lineup combines established blues legends, contemporary blues guitarists, rock performers, soul artists, funk musicians, gospel groups, and jam-oriented acts.
- Jon Batiste
- Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’
- Marcus King Band
- Samantha Fish
- Tab Benoit
- Charlie Musselwhite & GA-20
- The Record Company
- Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
- G. Love & Special Sauce
- Eddie 9V
- Judith Hill
- DK Harrell
- Greyhounds
- Eggy
- Nether Hour
- Kirk Fletcher
- The Harlem Gospel Travelers
- J & The Causeways
The official lineup includes more than 30 performers across multiple stages and venues around Telluride. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Jon Batiste at Telluride 2026
Jon Batiste is scheduled to headline the final night of the festival on Sunday, September 20. His main-stage performance is scheduled for 8:00 to 9:30 PM.
Batiste brings a broad musical background that connects blues, soul, jazz, gospel, funk, and contemporary American music. His appearance gives the festival a strong crossover element while maintaining its connection to roots-oriented music.
The official schedule places Jon Batiste at the center of Sunday’s closing-night program. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ at Telluride
Saturday night features two major blues artists together as Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’.
The duo is scheduled for the main stage from 8:00 to 9:30 PM on September 19.
Their appearance is particularly significant for blues fans because both artists have spent decades connecting traditional American blues with contemporary audiences.
Saturday’s program also includes Charlie Musselwhite & GA-20, The Record Company, Eddie 9V, Kirk Fletcher, and other blues-oriented performers. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Marcus King Band at Telluride
Friday night is headlined by Marcus King Band, scheduled to perform from 8:00 to 9:30 PM.
The Friday program combines modern blues rock, jam-oriented music, funk, and contemporary roots music. Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, G. Love & Special Sauce, Greyhounds, Eggy, and other performers will also appear throughout the day.
This makes Friday particularly interesting for listeners who enjoy the connection between blues, rock, and modern guitar-driven music. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Samantha Fish at Telluride Blues & Brews
Blues guitarist and singer Samantha Fish is scheduled to perform on the main stage Sunday from 4:30 to 5:40 PM.
Her appearance adds a strong contemporary blues guitar presence to the festival. Fish has developed a distinctive sound that combines blues, rock, roots music, and powerful electric guitar.
She will also appear later that evening with The Zac Schulze Gang at the Blues Stage as part of the festival’s late-night Juke Joint programming. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Tab Benoit at Telluride 2026
Tab Benoit is scheduled for the main stage Sunday from 6:10 to 7:20 PM, immediately before Jon Batiste.
The Louisiana blues guitarist and singer brings a strong connection to traditional electric blues and Southern roots music.
His Sunday performance is one of the key blues-focused sets leading into the festival’s final headliner. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Charlie Musselwhite & GA-20
Saturday’s lineup includes legendary harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite performing with GA-20 from 4:30 to 5:40 PM.
The combination brings together traditional blues harmonica and a younger blues-rock approach, creating one of the more interesting musical pairings on the 2026 schedule.
The performance is part of a Saturday lineup that is heavily focused on blues and roots music. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Eddie 9V at Telluride
Eddie 9V is another major blues name appearing during the 2026 festival.
He is scheduled for the main stage Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM and will also perform the closing show at the Sheridan Opera House at 10:00 PM.
The festival describes his sound as modern blues rooted in older influences including Rory Gallagher, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Freddie King. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Telluride Blues & Brews Daily Schedule
Friday, September 18
- Myron Elkins
- Greyhounds
- Eggy
- G. Love & Special Sauce
- Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
- Marcus King Band
The Blues Stage and campground also feature performances from Nigel Wearne & The Spectres, Katie Skene, David Jacobs-Strain and Bob Beach, Little Willie Farmer, Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers, and Albert White. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Saturday, September 19
- J & the Causeways
- Judith Hill
- Nether Hour
- Charlie Musselwhite & GA-20
- The Record Company
- Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’
The Saturday schedule also includes blues performances from Kirk Fletcher, Albert White, Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers, and other musicians across the festival’s additional stages. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Sunday, September 20
- The Harlem Gospel Travelers
- DK Harrell
- Eddie 9V
- Samantha Fish
- Tab Benoit
- Jon Batiste
Sunday combines gospel, blues, soul, and contemporary music before Jon Batiste closes the main stage. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Stages
The festival is more than a single main stage. The 2026 program uses multiple performance areas, including the Main Stage, Blues Stage, Campground Stage, Truck Stage, and several late-night Juke Joint venues.
This multi-stage format allows visitors to discover both major headliners and smaller blues performances throughout the weekend.
Campground sessions are available exclusively to campers and include performances in a scenic setting near the San Miguel River. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
Late Night Juke Joints
Music continues after the main stage closes through Telluride’s Juke Joint venues.
Friday night includes performances from The Record Company, Ken Valdez, Eggy, Terry “Harmonica” Bean, Myron Elkins, and Greyhounds across different venues.
Saturday’s late-night program includes Tab Benoit & Nether Hour, Samantha Fish & The Zac Schulze Gang, J & The Causeways, and Judith Hill.
These late-night shows give the festival a club atmosphere in addition to its outdoor mountain setting. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
Telluride Blues & Brews and Blues Guitar
For guitar fans, the 2026 festival offers an unusually broad selection of blues guitar styles.
Kirk Fletcher, Samantha Fish, Tab Benoit, Eddie 9V, Marcus King, and other performers represent different approaches to electric blues and blues rock.
Listeners interested in blues guitar can also explore our guide to Blues Guitar, including its history, techniques, tone, and musical development.
Telluride Blues & Brews and the History of Blues
The festival’s lineup demonstrates how modern blues remains connected to several generations of American music.
Artists such as Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Charlie Musselwhite, and Tab Benoit represent different parts of the blues tradition, while newer performers bring the music into contemporary blues rock and roots music.
This combination reflects the continuing evolution of blues without abandoning its historical foundation.
Readers can also explore our articles about Chicago Blues and Delta Blues to learn more about important blues traditions.
Telluride Colorado Music Festival Experience
Telluride provides a distinctive setting for a music festival. The event takes place in a mountain town surrounded by Colorado’s alpine landscape, giving visitors a combination of live music and outdoor scenery.
The festival also includes craft beer tastings, outdoor activities, camping, food vendors, fundraisers, yoga sessions, and other events throughout the weekend.
According to Visit Telluride, the festival combines live blues, funk, indie, rock, jam-band, gospel, and soul performances with the mountain-town experience. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Tickets
Tickets for the 2026 festival are currently on sale. The official festival ticket page lists the GA three-day pass at $300, with other VIP and special-event options also available.
The festival advises visitors to purchase tickets through its official ticketing partner and warns that tickets purchased through third-party marketplaces may not be valid. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
For the most current ticket information, availability, and official policies, visitors should check the festival’s official ticket page before making travel plans.
Why Telluride Blues & Brews 2026 Matters
The 2026 festival brings together legendary blues musicians, modern blues guitarists, rock artists, soul performers, and contemporary roots musicians.
That combination makes the event particularly relevant for listeners who want to hear how blues continues to evolve.
Instead of presenting blues as a historical style, Telluride Blues & Brews places traditional blues artists alongside modern musicians and performers from related genres.
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival 2026: Final Thoughts
The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival 2026 promises three days of blues, rock, soul, funk, gospel, and roots music in Telluride, Colorado.
With Jon Batiste, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Marcus King Band, Samantha Fish, Tab Benoit, Charlie Musselwhite & GA-20, Eddie 9V, and more than 30 performers on the lineup, the festival offers one of the strongest blues-oriented music programs of the 2026 festival season. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
For blues fans, the combination of legendary artists, contemporary guitar players, multiple stages, late-night shows, and the unique Telluride setting makes this an event worth watching as September approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Telluride Blues & Brews Festival 2026?
The main festival takes place September 18–20, 2026, in Telluride, Colorado. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
Where is Telluride Blues & Brews Festival held?
The festival is held at Telluride Town Park in Telluride, Colorado. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
Who is headlining Telluride Blues & Brews 2026?
The three major headliners are Marcus King Band on Friday, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ on Saturday, and Jon Batiste on Sunday. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
Is Samantha Fish playing Telluride in 2026?
Yes. Samantha Fish is scheduled for the main stage Sunday from 4:30 to 5:40 PM and also appears in the Saturday late-night Juke Joint program. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
Is Telluride Blues & Brews Festival only blues music?
No. The festival includes blues, funk, rock, gospel, soul, jam-band music, country influences, and other forms of contemporary roots music. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
How much are Telluride Blues & Brews tickets?
The official 2026 ticket page currently lists a GA three-day pass at $300, with additional ticket and special-event options available. :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
Explore More Blues Music
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Read more about Blues Guitar, Chicago Blues, Delta Blues, Modern Blues Rock Songs, and Best Heavy Blues Songs.
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