Nelsonville Music Festival turned 20 this past weekend, and the celebration was larger than life. This year’s festival was record-breaking, selling out of weekend passes for the first time in the festival’s history.
Despite rainy and cool weather, the festival’s turnout didn’t take any major hits. With headliners such as Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Marcus King Band, and notably, the mega-viral band Geese, there was no lack of people– or excitment– in the crowds of the Snow Fork Event Center.
Here is everything we saw over the festival’s 3-day run.
A rainbow appears during Wednesday’s set at Nelsonville Music Festival on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Guitarist Emily Green performs during Geese’s set on June 17, 2026. Geese headlined the first day of Nelsonville Music Festival after performing at the festival three years prior. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Geese frontman Cameron Winter performs during their set on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
A stilts performer sways in the air during the second day of the Nelsonville Music Festival on June 19, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Recycled goods, collected by Nelsonville Music Festoval Volenteers, sits in piles on June 19, 2026. A group of volunteers devoted their time to recycling potential wasted throughout the festival. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Mavis Staples performs at the Howard’s stage on June 19, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform on June 19, 2026. The duo headlined the second day of the Nelsonville Music Festival. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
An attendee stands in the unexpected rain shower on June 20, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Frank Locrasto plays keys for Fruit Bats during their set on June 20, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Fruit Bats frontman Eric Johnson performs on June 20, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Fans crowdsurf during Wine Lips set at the Porch Stage on June 20, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Marcus King performs with the Marcus King Band on June 20, 2026. The Marcus King Band was the final set of the 2026 Nelsonville Music Festival. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Audience members watch Anna Tivel perform at the Creekside Stage on June 17, 2026. The tree-lined stage was filled with the hammocks of attendees. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
An attendee lies in the field in front of the Howard’s Stage while listening to Saintseneca on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Attendees greet one another in front of the Porch Stage on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
A croc keychain hangs from the guitar of bassist of Wednesday during their set at the Howard’s Stage on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
An attendee wears a geese hat in the crowd leading up to the band Geese’s performance on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
A porcelin doll sits next Wednesday’s pianist during their set on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Wednesday lead singer Karly Hatzman performs during their set on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat 
Nelsonville Music Festival Attendee stands under the sun in between performances on June 17, 2026. Photo by Emily Widman | CityBeat
