MerleFest turns 38 this year and the lineup delivers. The festival, presented by Window World, runs April 23-26 on the campus of Wilkes Community College, and the final week countdown is on. Headlining performances from 27-time Grammy winner Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Blackberry Smoke anchor a weekend built entirely around deep musical roots and genuine spontaneity.
The Late Night Jam with Grand Ole Opry is its own event within the event. Hosted by Old Crow Medicine Show serving as the house band, the Jam brings in a rotating cast including Charlie Starr, Willie Watson, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, and Maggie Rose for the kind of unrepeatable collaborative moments MerleFest has built its reputation on. Tickets are available now at merlefest.org and going fast.
Old Crow Medicine Show pulls double and triple duty across the weekend. Friday night they play a full-album set of ‘O.C.M.S.’ and ‘Big Iron World’ on the Watson Stage with special guest Willie Watson from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon brings an acoustic Hillside set at 1:30 p.m. The fan-favorite Album Hour returns to the Hillside Stage Saturday at 3:15 p.m., hosted by The Waybacks. Friday also features the Docabilly Blues Blowout at the Walker Center with Amelia Day, Jim Lauderdale, and Uwe Kruger.
General admission passes and Late Night Jam tickets are on sale now at merlefest.org/purchase. Advance tickets are available at a discount through April 22. The WCC Foundation’s Silent Auction returns with online bidding available now, supporting the SAGE First Year Experience program.
MerleFest 2026:
April 23, 2026, Wilkesboro, NC @ Wilkes Community College
April 24, 2026, Wilkesboro, NC @ Wilkes Community College
April 25, 2026, Wilkesboro, NC @ Wilkes Community College
April 26, 2026, Wilkesboro, NC @ Wilkes Community College