Noah Kahan's Sunday night set at Bonnaroo was a highlight of the 2026 Tennessee fest. Derek White/Getty Images/American Express The 2026 installment of Bonnaroo had a little of everything fans have come to expect from the Manchester, Tennessee, festival. There were A-list headliners, throwback jam heroes, and a crowd fueled by positivity. And, yeah, there was a little rainy weather too. But the Farm and its campers will not be deterred. These are the best things we saw at this year’s ‘Roo.
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Blues Traveler Channel Roo’s Early Spirit
Image Credit: Gary Miller/Getty Images Bonnaroo has drifted a long way from its jam-band beginnings. Yet there were a few bands, like Blues Traveler, that were a nice reminder of what used to be. And it didn’t hurt that John Popper and company were in prime form. Including their biggest Nineties hits, like opening and closing with the radio staples “Run-Around” and “Hook,” was a welcome touch. The lengthy jam on “But Anyway” and a string of covers also stood out: The band took on Sublime’s “What I Got,” an instrumental version of “War Pigs” that had fans concerned that Yungblud would join, and a spirited version of the Charlie Daniels Band’s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Popper proved that harmonica-shredding still kicks ass. —D.K.
