Updated: Here’s Your Guide to the Best Upcoming Music Festivals and Latest Safety Rules
The show will go on at these major U.S. fests — these are the dates, lineups and COVID-19 guidelines.
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Danielle Directo-Meston
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August 31, 2021 3:00pm
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Like indoor dining, Broadway shows and movie theaters, festival season is also cautiously back. After last year’s pandemic cancellations, the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has prompted the return of large-scale live music events, including the U.K.’s Download Festival in June, Miami’s Rolling Loud in July, and most recently L.A.’s Hard Summer and Chicago’s Lollapalooza.
And pent-up music fans have already made plans to sweat it out in the tents next year, as Coachella 2022 passes sold out within hours after going on sale in June. (Expect to see all of the usual stylish stars fill the VIP and backstage areas, too.)
Festgoers won’t just be dealing with scorching heat, crowds and conflicting stage schedules at this year’s outdoor shows. Echoing Lollapalooza’s stricter rules, organizers for Summerfest, Bonnaroo, Bottlerock, Pitchfork and Riot Fest have all announced that proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required for entry, with some mandating masks for unvaccinated concertgoers. Most recently, AEG Presents announced that it is mandating vaccinations at all of its events. That’s on top of now-common measures such as touchless wristbands, cashless payments and hand sanitizer stations in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coronavirus safety guidelines.
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The CDC’s guidance for large events and gatherings notes that factors that can contribute to the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 include attending indoor events, settings where physical distancing is limited and the behavior of attendees (such as singing, shouting and improperly worn masks, to name a few).
Festival organizers say they’re continuing to monitor the coronavirus including the highly contagious Delta variant, particularly in the South, where the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival canceled its upcoming event due to “the current exponential growth of new COVID cases” in Louisiana. (The Voodoo Music & Arts Experience in June pulled the plug on this year’s fest.)
The rise in coronavirus cases also prompted Stevie Nicks to bow out of five upcoming performances, including at BottleRock in Napa Valley, the Jazz Aspen Festival and the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The music legend’s cancellation will likely have organizers and attendees wondering if other acts will follow suit.
Bonnaroo also canceled its 2021 event due to “waterlogged” festival grounds as a result of hurricane Ida.
Can You Get a Refund to Canceled Festivals Due to COVID-19?
Festivals and online ticket broker platforms are offering refund guarantees for rescheduled or postponed events. StubHub and is giving ticketholders 120 percent credit (which expires Dec. 31, 2022) of the amount paid on canceled shows, and tickets will be good for rescheduled dates or can be relisted on the marketplace for free. Vividseats is offering 110 percent credit or a full cash refund, and companies such as Ticketmaster and SeatGeek are refunding the full value of canceled and postponed events or honoring tickets for rescheduled shows.
What Are the Top Music Festivals Coming Up?
For those ready to attend, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about upcoming major music festivals in the U.S. and the latest updates on entry requirements. As COVID-19 guidelines vary by state, city and county, it’s best to check for updates on each festival’s website as well as the locale’s restrictions and advisories. We’ll be updating this music fest guide as organizers share more details on safety rules.
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission.
2021 Fall Music Festival Schedule
WonderBus Music & Arts Festival (Columbus)
When Aug. 28-29, 2021
Where The Lawn at CAS, 2540 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, OH 43202
Headliners Kesha, AJR, Wilco, Grouplove
COVID Policy Face masks and social distancing are recommended, and attendees who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are “forbidden to enter WonderBus and CAS property”; more details here
Tickets $55+ for children ages 3 to 10, $109+ for adults; buy WonderBus tickets online at SeatGeek, See Tickets, StubHub or Vividseats
Summerfest (Milwaukee)
When Sept. 2-4, 9-11, and 16-18, 2021
Where American Family Insurance Amphitheater, 100 N Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Headliners Sept. 1 (Hella Mega Tour) Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Weezer; Sept. 2-3: Luke Bryan and Chance the Rapper; Sept. 8-11: Jonas Brothers, Chris Stapleton, Zac Brown Band, Dave Chappelle; Sept. 15-18: Dave Matthews Band, Meghan Thee Stallion, Miley Cyrus, Guns N Roses
COVID Policy All guests are to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of attending the festival, masks are recommended for indoor spaces and required for children 12 and under; more details here
Tickets $57+; buy Summerfest tickets online at SeatGeek, Summerfest, Ticketmaster, StubHub or Vividseats
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (Manchester, Tenn.)
When Originally scheduled for Sept. 2-5, 2021 and postponed to June 2022; organizers on Aug. 31 canceled the festival and ticketholders will receive refunds within a month
Where Bonnaroo Farm, 1560 New Bushy Branch Rd., Manchester, TN 37355
Headliners Tool, Lizzo, Tame Impala
COVID Policy All guests are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of attending the festival, and masks are required for unvaccinated guests; more details here
Tickets $248+; buy Bonnaroo tickets online at Front Gate Tickets, SeatGeek, Stubhub or Vividseats
BottleRock (Napa Valley)
When Sept. 3-5, 2021
Where Napa Valley Expo, 575 3rd St., Napa CA 94559
Headliners Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters (Stevie Nicks has canceled her show)
COVID Policy All guests are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of attending the festival, and masks are required in indoor spaces; more details here
Tickets $229+; buy BottleRock tickets online at Lyte, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Electric Zoo (NYC)
When Sept. 3-5, 2021
Where Randall’s Island Park, New York, NY
Headliners Alesso, Kaskade, Illenium
COVID Policy No policy listed; at press time, Electric Zoo organizers had not responded to a request for details
Tickets $110+; buy Electric Zoo tickets online at SeatGeek, Seetickets, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Made in America (Philadelphia)
When Sept. 4-5, 2021
Where Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Headliners Justin Bieber, Lil Baby
COVID Policy The festival “will follow all applicable CDC, state, and local public health guidelines in effect at the time of the festival related to crowd size, social distancing, mask usage, food service, and more”; more details here
Tickets $130+; buy Made in America tickets online at Front Gate Tickets, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Pitchfork Music Festival (Chicago)
When Sept. 10-12, 2021
Where Union Park, 1501 W Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60606
Headliners Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, Erykah Badu
COVID Policy All guests are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 24 hours of attending the festival, and masks are recommended when not actively eating or drinking; more details here
Tickets: $90+; buy Pitchfork Music Festival tickets online at SeatGeek, Seetickets, Stubhub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Riot Fest (Chicago)
When Sept. 16-19, 2021
Where Douglass Park, 1401 S Sacramento Dr., Chicago, IL 60623
Headliners Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Run the Jewels
COVID Policy All guests are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test (time frame TBD) before attending the festival, and local and state mask mandates will be followed; more details here
Tickets $125+; buy Riot Fest tickets online at Eventbrite, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Life Is Beautiful (Las Vegas)
When Sept. 17-19, 2021
Where Downtown Las Vegas, NV
Headliners Billie Eilish, Green Day, Tame Impala
COVID Policy Entry requirements TBD and attendees must comply with all event rules and federal, state and local laws; more details here
Tickets $260+; buy Life is Beautiful festival tickets online at Lyte, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Treefort Music Fest (Boise)
When Sept. 22-26, 2021
Where Downtown Boise, ID
Headliners Japanese Breakfast, The Marías, Lake Street Dive, Calexico
COVID Policy Organizers are “coordinating directly” with city officials and “closely monitoring the status of COVID-19 Delta variant [as] preparedness plans are ongoing,” all attendees and performers are encouraged to get vaccinated ahead of the event and guests 12 and under are encouraged to wear masks; more details here
Tickets $150+ for 21 and under (12 and under free with accompanying adult), $250+ for 21 and up; buy Treefort Music Festival tickets online at Eventbrite, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Firefly Festival (Dover, DE)
When Sept. 23-26, 2021
Where The Woodlands, Dover, DE
Headliners Billie Eilish, The Killers, Tame Impala, Lizzo
COVID Policy Organizers will “continue to monitor the evolving health regulations and are working closely with state and health officials to develop COVID-19 protocols,” and attendees must comply with all event rules and federal, state and local laws; more details here
Tickets $135+, ages 8 and under free; buy Firefly Festival tickets online at Elevate Ticketing, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Governors Ball Music Festival (New York)
When Sept. 24-26, 2021
Where Citi Field, 41 Seaver Way, Queens, NY 11368
Headliners Billie Eilish, A$AP Rocky, J Balvin, Post Malone
COVID Policy Entry requirements are TBD and organizers are “working closely with the city and we will follow all state and federal health guidelines provided”; more details here
Tickets $129+; buy Governors Ball tickets online at Front Gate Tickets, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Austin City Limits Music Festival (Austin)
When Oct. 1-3 & 8-10, 2021
Where Zilker Park, 2207 Lou Neff Rd., Austin, TX 78746
Headliners George Strait, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Rüfüs Du Sol and Tyler, the Creator (Stevie Nicks canceled her show)
COVID Policy Organizers “are in regular communication with local health and public safety officials and will follow current recommendations and guidelines in place at the time of the festival” and attendees will additional updates regarding safety policies and procedures; more details here
Tickets $135+; buy Austin City Limits Music Festival tickets online at ACL, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2022 (New Orleans)
When Postponed to April 29-May 8, 2022
Tickets All ticketholders for 2020 and 2021 festival weekends will be refunded
Outside Lands Music Festival (San Francisco)
When Oct. 29-31, 2021
Where Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Headliners The Strokes; Tyler, the Creator; Glass Animals; Lizzo; Vampire Weekend; Zhu; Young Thug; Tame Impala; J Balvin; Rüfüs Du Sol; Kehlani
COVID Policy Entry requirements will be posted prior to the festival “once final protocols are established”; more details here
Tickets Buy Outside Lands tickets online at Front Gate Tickets, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
2022 Music Festival Schedule
Coachella 2022 (Indio)
When April 15-17 & 22-24, 2022
Where Empire Polo Club, 81800 51st Ave., Indio, CA 92201
Headliners TBD
COVID Policy TBD
Tickets $518+; Join the waitlist on Lyte for weekend one or two, or buy Coachella 2022 tickets online at SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2022 (New Orleans)
When April 29-May 8, 2022
Where TBD
Headliners TBD
COVID Policy TBD
Tickets TBD
Stagecoach 2022 (Indio)
When April 29 to May 1, 2022
Where TBD
Headliners: Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs
COVID Policy TBD
Tickets Buy Stagecoach 2022 tickets online at Elevate Tickets, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Summerfest (Milwaukee)
When June 24, 2022
Where TBD
Headliners Justin Bieber
COVID Policy TBD
Tickets TBD
Lollapalooza 2022 (Chicago)
When July 28 to 31, 2022
Where Grant Park, Chicago, IL
Headliners TBD
COVID Policy TBD
Tickets TBD
Riot Fest 2022 (Chicago)
When Sept. 16-18, 2022
Where Chicago, IL
Headliners My Chemical Romance, Misfits
COVID Policy TBD
Tickets $160+; buy Riot Fest 2022 tickets online at Eventbrite, SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster or Vividseats
Voodoo Music + Arts Experience 2022 (New Orleans)
When October/November 2022 (dates TBD)
Where TBD
Headliners TBD
COVID Policy TBD
Tickets TBD
This story was originally published Aug. 10, 2021 and has been updated with additional details.
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