PREVIEW: Hinterland 2026 is a Win for Midwest Music Fans
PREVIEW
PREVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
Photo by Zach Sinclair
IF YOU’RE A MIDWEST MUSIC FAN—you might be used to watching festival lineups unfold from a distance. Every summer, it feels like the biggest moments are happening somewhere else, whether that might be Chicago, New York or California. That’s what makes Hinterland feel so different. Year after year, the independent Iowa festival has been building one of the most thoughtfully crafted lineups in the country, bringing both household names and tomorrow’s favorites right into the middle of the Midwest.
Entering its 11th year, Hinterland has become a festival that both artists and fans rave about. This year’s festival also marks a major milestone with the completion of a permanent outdoor stage and expanded festival grounds, another exciting chapter for one of the country’s few remaining independent festivals.
This year’s lineup is especially exciting because it balances big names with artists who are right on the verge of something bigger. While seeing Lorde return to the stage is a good enough reason to make the trip, what sticks out to me the most is the depth of the lineup of artists who are just starting to make waves in the music industry.
At the top of our must-see list is beabadoobee. She’s entering an exciting new era which makes this appearance that much more meaningful. Fresh off the announcement of her fourth studio album Pylon, arriving September 18, she’s already offered a sneak peek into its world with her most recent single “Switchblade.” The album promises a heavier sonic palette inspired by grunge, Midwest emo and ‘90s alternative rock while still preserving her intimate songwriting that drew fans to her in the first place.
Elsewhere, artists like Samia, Julia Wolf and CMAT continue Hinterland’s tradition of spotlighting some of the most compelling songwriters working today. Other rising artists we’re excited to catch include Wisp, Oklou, Porch Light, Ninajirachi, Between Friends and Buffalo Traffic Jam, all of whom will bring something completely different to the weekend.
The festival spans over four days from July 30 through August 2 in St. Charles, Iowa, and a variety of ticket packages are still available for purchase. Whether you’re making the trip to Iowa or watching it all unfold from home, Hinterland is shaping up to be one of the Midwest’s biggest music weekends of the summer and we’re counting down the days until its arrival.
