David Byrne, Robert Plant Lead Big Ears Lineup

The legendary David Byrne and Robert Plant are among the acts set to perform at the 2026 edition of Big Ears, the genre-fusing, boundary-pushing Knoxville, Tennessee, festival, scheduled for March 26-29, 2026.

Byrne will present two performances of his 2025 release Who Is The Sky?, while Plant will present Saving Grace, his covers album also release this year. Those shows are separately ticketed from the festival, but will offer passholders early access.

Avant-garde and uncategorizable arranger John Zorn will present twelve works (all new to the festival), including Love Songs featuring Petra Haden; Awakening Ground with John Medeski and Dave Lombardo; work written for and performed by soprano Barbara Hannigan; a duo with long-time collaborator Laurie Anderson; Incerto with Julian Lage, Brian Marsella, Jorge Roeder, and Ches Smith; and a reunion of the original Masada Quartet; among others.

The lineup also includes electronic music experimenter Flying Lotus; acclaimed guitarist Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye III+; and artists including Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet, John Scofield Trio, Marc Ribot, Mary Halvorson, Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few, and Patricia Brennan Septet.

For folkier fans, Richard Thompson, Terry Allen, MJ Lenderman & The West, S.G. Goodman, Anna Tivel and Annahstasia will perform.

International artists include Orchestra Baobab of Senegal, Japanese koto master Wu Fei with Shanir Blumenkranz, Ukrainian vocal group Yagódy, and Moroccan collective Saha Gnawa.

Comedy is also represented with Tim Heidecker with his Very Good Band, Neil Hamburger, and Reggie Watts.

Passes go on sale Sept. 11, at 9 a.m. Eastern, with early access for previous festival attendees beginning Sept. 10 at 9 a.m. ET.

Full Lineup (Alphabetical)

Adrian Sherwood • Alan Sparhawk & Trampled by Turtles • Anna Tivel • Annahstasia •
Annie & The Caldwells • BASIC • Blind Boys of Alabama • Bloodshot Bill • Brandon Woody’s Upendo • Brian Marsella & Sae Hashimoto • Brian Marsella’s iMAGiNARiUM • Briggan Krauss • Brittany Davis • Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion ft. Ringdown • Cécile McLorin Salvant • Chad Taylor Quintet • Charlemagne Palestine • Ches Smith Clone Row • Chicago Underground Duo • Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet • Chuck Johnson • Cleo Reed • Cymande • Darius Jones Trio • Dave Douglas Gifts Quintet ft. Tomeka Reid, James Brandon Lewis, Rafiq Batia & Ian Chang • Dave Harrington’s Pranksters South • David Byrne: Who is the Sky? • Deantoni Parks: Technoself • Deerhoof • Dirty Three • Dither: Laurie Spiegel’s The Expanding Universe • Dom Flemons • Don Was & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble • DoYeon Kim • Either/Orchestra • Eliana Glass • Fine • Florist • Flying Lotus • Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters • Ghost Train Orchestra plays The Music of Moondog • Go Kurosawa • GRRL x Made of Oak • Gwenifer Raymond • Haley Heynderickx • Hand Habits • Hania Rani & Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Non-Fiction (N. American Premiere) • Hania Rani presents Chilling Bambino • Hannah Cohen • Harriet Tubman & Georgia Anne Muldrow • Hayden Pedigo • His Name Is Alive • Isaiah Collier • Jamie Lidell & Luke Schneider • Janel & Anthony • Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage • Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock • Joe Westerlund • John Mailander’s Forecast • John Scofield Trio ft. Vicente Archer & Bill Stewart • John Zorn: Impromptus Ballades Nocturnes, Junction Trio Plays Zorn, Love Songs ft. Petra Haden, Incerto, Awakening Ground, Hannigan Sings Zorn I & II, Cobra, Harry Smith Films with Music, Masada Reunion, John Zorn and Laurie Anderson • Julia Úlehla & Dálava • Julian Lage Quartet • Julianna Barwick • Karen Mantler Trio • Kate Gentile: Find Letter X • Ken Pomeroy • Kishi Bashi • Kaoru Watanabe’s Bloodlines Interwoven (In Residence) • Laurie Anderson: X2 with Sexmob • Lazyhorse • Lisel • Los Thuthanaka • Lubomyr Melnyk • Lucrecia Dalt • Madison Cunningham • Mali Obomsawin • Marc Ribot: Shrek, Hurry Red Telephone, Map of a Blue City • Maria Somerville • Marilyn Crispell & Harvey Sorgen • Marquis Hill Blacktet • Maruja Limón • Mary Halvorson Canis Major • Mary Lattimore • Matt Mitchell’s Zealous Angles • Meara O’Reilly Vocal Ensemble • Mei Semones • Miles Okazaki • Miriam Elhajli • MJ Lenderman & The Wind • Model/Actriz • Moin • Natalie Bergman • Nate Mercereau • Nate Smith Trio • Nels Cline & Knoxville Jazz Orchestra: Lovers • Nik Bärtsch’s RONIN • Openness Trio • Orchestra Baobab • Orcutt Shelley Miller • Pan American & Kramer • Pat Metheny Side-Eye III+ • Patricia Brennan Septet • Patrick Watson • Patrick Watson presents Film Scores for No One • Perfume Genius • Pino Palladino & Blake Mills • Qur’an Shaheed • Rafiq Bhatia: Environments with Ian Chang & Riley Mulherkar • Reggie Watts • Rich(ard) Dawson • Richard Thompson • Robert Plant’s Saving Grace feat. Suzi Dian • Rosenau & Sanborn • Ryan Clackner & Tyshawn Sorey • Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band • S.G. Goodman • The Saami Brothers ft. Ustad Naseeruddin Saami • Saha Gnawa • Sami Stevens • Saul Williams Meets Carlos Niño & Friends • Setting • SHABAKA • shirlette ammons • Simon Hanes: GARGANTUA • SML (In Residence) • Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra Plays Sly • Sullivan Fortner Trio • SUSS presents Across the Horizon • Taper’s Choice • Tara Clerkin Trio • Terry Allen with Brenden Greaves & Jo Harvey Allen: Truckload of Art • Terry Allen with the Panhandle Mystery Band & Jo Harvey Allen: Memwars • Tim Berne • Tim Heidecker & the Very Good Band with Neil Hamburger • Tom Skinner • Tsons of Tsunami • Tunde Adebimpe • Turning Jewels Into Water • Twin Talk • Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes • Walt McClements • The Westerlies • Wild Up: Julius Eastmans’ Femenine & Arthur Russell’s 24 to 24 • Will Graefe • William Hooker Quartet • Winged Wheel • Wu Fei & Shanir Blumenkranz • Yagódy • YHWH Nailgun