MerleFest 2026 is a four-day Americana and roots music festival taking place April 23–26, 2026 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The annual event celebrates the legacy of legendary guitarist Doc Watson and his son Merle Watson, blending bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and rock under its signature “traditional-plus” musical approach.
The 2026 festival will feature dozens of artists performing across multiple stages, highlighted by major acts such as Alison Krauss & Union Station, Old Crow Medicine Show, Blackberry Smoke, and Charles Wesley Godwin. Other performers include Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Peter Rowan, alongside many emerging and regional musicians.
In addition to daytime concerts, MerleFest 2026 will feature workshops, collaborative jam sessions, and the popular Late Night Jam, hosted this year by Old Crow Medicine Show, creating unique performances and surprise collaborations that make the festival a hallmark event for roots music fans.