Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts. Menconi's latest book, "Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music," was published in the fall of 2023 by University of North Carolina Press. His podcast, Carolina Calling, explores the history of the Tar Heel State through music.

Raleigh Wide Open will return for a second year the weekend of Oct. 1-3, 2026, with more than three dozen acts playing four stages along Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. All RWO ’26 performances and events are free.

Produced by PineCone (Piedmont Council of Traditional Music) with PNC Bank as main title sponsor, this year’s RWO lineup leans toward various strains of Americana. Among the highlights are Texas soul/rock band Shinyribs and North Carolina music ambassador Jim Lauderdale, both of whom also played last year’s inaugural RWO; gospel legends the Fairfield Four; Alice Gerrard, the nonagenarian Bluegrass Hall of Famer who published an acclaimed memoir last year; and Carolina Cutups, who call the music they play “punk bluegrass.”

^{Raleigh Wide Open City Plaza Stage. Photo by Todd Gunsher.}

“PineCone has always paid homage to traditions that have taken root here, and the festival celebrates that,” said Courtney Wheeler, who recently succeeded the retiring David Brower as PineCone’s executive director. “We’re excited to have a wide spectrum representing bluegrass, Americana, folk, country, rock, r&b, gospel and also the international influence.”

Among RWO’s international acts this year is Brek, an acoustic quintet from Iceland that will have a major featured role in the proceedings. Along with playing a residency at NC State around the festival’s dates, Brek will play Bowstring Brewery’s Tuesday night “Beer and Banjos” jam on Sept. 29. They’ll also headline the festival’s official kickoff show on Thursday, Oct. 1, at The Corner stage of NC State’s Centennial campus with Redbud and Jerron Paxton. In keeping with the Icelandic theme, RWO even has a contest drawing for a trip for two to Brek’s native Iceland.

“Hank, Pattie & the Current have a following in Iceland, and the relationships they have there led this band to come over here to do the NC State residency and the festival,” said Wheeler. “We feel good about being able to put artists like this in front of the community, something people here have probably never seen.”

^{Raleigh Wide Open Davie St. Stage}

Raleigh Wide Open is descended from the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual World of Bluegrass convention and festival, which had a successful 12-year run in Raleigh before moving to Chattanooga, Tenn., in 2025. In IBMA’s absence, the city and PineCone launched Raleigh Wide Open last year, drawing an estimated total attendance of 155,000 to 2025’s debut event.

New events for 2026 include an unofficial Wednesday preview in-store performance at Raleigh Denim, plus a pair of indoor discussion events at City of Raleigh Museum—artist interviews with Jim Lauderdale, Fairfield Four, Earl White and Brek on Friday afternoon; and then a book panel featuring Gerrard, Phil Jamison and other authors on Saturday afternoon.

Since this is a family-friendly event, RWO will bring back its “Family Fun Zone” for under-age attendees again this year. The schedule also includes the Friday morning “Field Trip Festival,” with events for more than 300 local students from area schools.

^{Raleigh Wide Open Street Jam. Photo by Tom Beck.}

As always with outdoor events in this part of the world during hurricane season, weather is one of the biggest wild cards that will affect attendance. Wheeler is already keeping her fingers crossed for sunny, dry, cool weather while checking in with longtime WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner about the forecast.

“We are prepared for all eventualities, with a course of action and emergency planning for different situations,” said Wheeler. “It’s humbling to produce an event like this, and the fact that more than 150,000 people came last year is incredible. We so appreciate the support we get from fans, PineCone supporters, the community that comes out. It can be a scary endeavor, but financial donations help us keep it free. PineCone’s mission is to keep traditions accessible to the community.”

Raleigh Wide Open 2026 Music Schedule

• Thurs, Oct. 1: Kickoff Celebration on NCSU Centennial Campus, 6-9:30pm
• Fri, Oct. 2: Fayetteville Street Festival, 3-11pm
• Sat., Oct. 3: Fayetteville Street Festival, noon-11pm

Find the full schedule and map of more than 50 acts playing at raleighwideopen.com.

^{Raleigh Wide Open Festival Map for 2026}