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Some things just belong together. Willie Nelson on the Woodstock grounds is one of them. The Outlaw Music Festival rolls into Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on August 29, 2026, with a lineup that reads like a songwriter’s daydream: Willie Nelson & Family headlining, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Wilson Jr., Robert Randolph, and Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. Music starts at 3:20 PM and runs into the evening — this is an all-day affair, the way a festival on this piece of ground ought to be.
About the Outlaw Music Festival
Willie Nelson launched the Outlaw Music Festival in 2016 as a touring celebration of the music he’s championed his entire career — the stuff that doesn’t fit neatly in boxes. Country, Americana, roots rock, soul, gospel, whatever the song demands. At 93, Willie remains the gravitational center of American outlaw country, and his touring festival has become one of the most anticipated summer events wherever it lands.
This year’s Bethel Woods lineup stacks beautifully. The Avett Brothers bring arena-level energy rooted in folk and bluegrass honesty. Sheryl Crow is a hitmaker who never abandoned her musical instincts. Stephen Wilson Jr. represents a newer wave of genre-blurring Americana. Robert Randolph’s pedal steel work is a force of nature, full stop. And Don Was — legendary producer behind records for the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others — brings his Pan-Detroit Ensemble to the stage. That is depth, not just star power.
Venue Info
Bethel Woods sits on the original 1969 Woodstock festival site in Sullivan County. The museum alone is worth the trip. But when music fills this amphitheater — roughly 16,000 capacity between pavilion and lawn — the grounds carry a weight that no other venue in New York can replicate. There’s a reason artists talk about playing Bethel Woods differently. You feel the history underfoot. For an all-day festival, pack accordingly: sunscreen, a blanket for the lawn, and comfortable shoes. The surrounding Hudson Valley countryside makes the drive part of the experience.
Tickets & Pricing
Tickets have been announced. Get tickets through Ticketmaster. Willie Nelson on the Woodstock grounds with a bill this strong — some festivals are events, and this one is a pilgrimage.