The 2026 iteration of Big Ears Festival, set for March 26–29 in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, promises one of the most ambitious programs in the festival’s thirteen-year arc. Over 250 concerts, films, art installations, panels, and spontaneous pop-ups will unfold across historic theaters, churches, clubs, and public spaces downtown.
Headliners and anchors include David Byrne, Robert Plant’s Saving Grace, Flying Lotus, Laurie Anderson, and a sprawling residency by John Zorn. Additional highlights announced in the evolving schedule point to world-premiere collaborations of The Avett Brothers & Mike Patton present AVTT/PTTN, a Miles Davis Centennial tribute by Miles Electric Band, powerful instrumental explorations from Jeff Parker’s Expansion Trio, and adventurous cross-genre connectors like Chris Thile, Thurston Moore, Tune-Yards, Mary Lattimore & Walt McClements, and rock/folk hybrids from S.G. Goodman and MJ Lenderman & the Wind. Taken together, this year’s roster suggests Big Ears is doubling down on boundary-less programming, with improvisatory jazz, deeply personal songwriters, avant-garde post-rock, electronic futurism, and unpredictable cross-genre conversations all on the menu.
As Glide has been in attendance for the past four years, here are some of the most memorable performances we’ve been privileged to experience, and they will surely get you excited about what we can expect at this year’s event.
Efterklang – Big Ears 2022
The Danish collective transformed the historic Bijou Theatre with a set that balanced orchestral depth and indie pop lift. Performing material from Windflowers and earlier works, Efterklang’s joyful energy and lush arrangements turned their performance into one of the weekend’s most dance-friendly and communal experiences.
Los Lobos – Big Ears 2023
In 2023’s kickoff slot at the Tennessee Theatre, Los Lobos delivered a celebratory mix of original songs like “Don’t Worry Baby” and “The Neighborhood” and beloved covers like “Guantanamera” and “Sabor a mi” spanning their five-decade-long career. With fiery roots rock, bilingual lyrics, and a palpable sense of joy, their set set the tone for Big Ears’s broad stylistic embrace that year.
Andrew Bird – Big Ears 2023
Andrew Bird’s Tennessee Civic Auditorium performance showcased his deft blend of violin, whistling, and looping textures. Mixing new material from Inside Problems with older favorites like “Pulaski at Night,” Bird’s set demonstrated both intricacy and accessibility, a hallmark of his artistry and an engaging mid-festival highlight. Fans were also treated to a surprise when Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam joined Bird for “Left Handed Kisses”, taking the reins on the parts normally sung by Fiona Apple.
Rica Chicha – Big Ears 2023
This Peruvian-influenced, Knoxville-local group electrified the Southern Railway Station street party with vibrant Latin rhythms and spirited solos. Their high-energy set drew dancing crowds and exemplified Big Ears’s inclusive programming ethos, where global sounds feel right at home downtown.
Jessica Pratt – Big Ears 2025
At the Tennessee Theatre, Pratt’s ethereal, freak-folk set enveloped the audience in intimacy. During her set, Pratt treated fans to past favorites like “Back, Baby” and “This Time Around” alongside songs from her newest album, Here in the Pitch. Her fragile yet captivating vocals and delicate guitar work conjured a trance-like focus, turning her performance into one of the weekend’s most quietly mesmerizing moments.
Yo La Tengo – Big Ears 2025
Yo La Tengo’s set at The Mill & Mine showcased the band’s genre fluidity, moving from hypnotic textures to melodic rock and back again. With a set spanning their forty-year career, fans were treated to performances of “Autumn Sweater” and “Ohm” as well as material from their newest album, This Stupid World. With guest collaborators, William Tyler and John McEntire adding new colors, their performance was a deep survey of their enduring and adventurous catalog.
DakhaBrakha – Big Ears 2025
DakhaBrakha’s set merged Ukrainian folk traditions with explosive rhythm and spirit, creating a communal energy that perfectly resonated with crowds. The group also shared videos during a few songs that highlighted the reality of the current war in Ukraine that added gravitas to the performance. Their vocal power and percussive intensity transformed the room into something closer to a shared ritual than a standard concert.
Beth Gibbons – Big Ears 2025
In one of the festival’s most anticipated appearances, Gibbons brought her haunting timbre and emotional precision to Knoxville. While most of her set revolved around her solo album, Lives Outgrown, long-time fans were also treated to a beautiful rendition of “Roads” from Portishead’s Dummy. Whether navigating trip-hop textures or solo contemplative pieces, her performance was introspective and unforgettable.
