The Grateful Dead officially begin their 2026 archival journey by revealing the first two installments of the highly anticipated ‘Dave’s Picks’ subscription series. Opening the year is ‘Dave’s Picks Volume 57’, which captures the band during a high-energy winter run at the Uptown Theatre in Chicago on February 1, 1978. This performance finds the group in peak form as they balance the tight precision of their late seventies sound with the expansive improvisational spirit found on tracks like “Estimated Prophet” and “The Other One”. Fans of this era can also look forward to bonus material from the previous night to complete the story of this historic Chicago stand.
The second release of the year takes listeners back to the legendary jazz-influenced era of 1973 with ‘Dave’s Picks Volume 58’. This volume presents the complete December 18 performance from Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, featuring a massive second set anchored by a “Dark Star” into “Eyes of the World” sequence. Subscribers will also receive an exclusive bonus disc containing rare highlights from the band’s first-ever appearance at The Omni in Atlanta. With limited editions of 25,000 copies shipping throughout the year, these releases ensure that the 2026 series remains an essential deep dive into the most fertile chapters of the Grateful Dead live legacy.
‘Dave’s Picks 2026’ Release Schedule:
Jan 30 – Dave’s Picks Volume 57: Uptown Theatre, Chicago, IL (2/1/78)
May 01 – Dave’s Picks Volume 58: Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, FL (12/18/73)
Jul 31 – Dave’s Picks Volume 59: TBA
Oct 30 – Dave’s Picks Volume 60: TBA

