The Governors Ball Music Festival, one of New York City’s crown jewels of summer entertainment, is set to return to Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens for its 16th anniversary from June 5th to June 7th, 2026. As announced this week by organizers and reported by outlets including Billboard and FOX5NY, this year’s event boasts a lineup that is as ambitious as it is diverse, featuring a blend of global superstars, rising icons, and a strong representation of local talent.
Headlining the 2026 festival are three acts that encapsulate the genre-bending spirit of Gov Ball: Lorde, Stray Kids, and Harlem’s own A$AP Rocky. For Lorde, the New Zealand pop phenom, this marks her first time topping the bill at Gov Ball, though she previously graced its stage in 2017. Stray Kids, the K-pop powerhouse known for their electrifying live shows, are set to bring their global fandom to Queens, while A$AP Rocky returns to headline after previously doing so in 2021, reaffirming his deep ties to the city.
But the headliners are only the tip of the iceberg. The festival’s full roster, as detailed by Billboard and the official Gov Ball website, includes an impressive array of 61 artists across genres. Fans can look forward to performances by Baby Keem, Kali Uchis, Blackpink’s Jennie, Katseye (the K-pop-inspired American/global girl group nominated for Best New Artist at this year’s Grammy Awards), Geese, Major Lazer, Pierce the Veil, Dominic Fike, Blood Orange, Clipse, Mariah The Scientist, Wet Leg, Amyl and The Sniffers, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, The Dare, 2hollis, Ravyn Lenae, and many more. The lineup is a testament to the festival’s commitment to musical diversity, spanning hip-hop, pop, K-pop, rock, EDM, and beyond.
This year’s bill spotlights a robust slate of New York City-based talent and tastemakers. Alongside A$AP Rocky and Geese, acts like The Dare, Del Water Gap, Arcy Drive, Lexa Gates, The Backfires, and Chanpan all call the city home. In a nod to the next generation of musicians, appearances by educational groups such as School of Rock Queens, School of Rock New York, and Kids Rock for Kids are also planned. As Billboard noted, this underscores the festival’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the city’s vibrant music community.
The global influence of Korean pop music is unmistakable in this year’s lineup. In addition to Stray Kids, Jennie’s solo set and Katseye’s anticipated performance highlight K-pop’s growing dominance on the world stage. Katseye’s inclusion is particularly notable, as the group is up for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards—a sign of just how far K-pop’s reach has extended into American music culture.
For festivalgoers, the experience extends well beyond the music. As reported by the New York Post, Gov Ball promises a smorgasbord of local and gourmet culinary offerings. While the 2026 food vendor list hasn’t yet been released, last year’s attendees enjoyed treats from favorites like Cafe Habana, Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, Empanada Mama, Roberta’s Pizza, and Van Leeuwen ice cream. A “refreshed beverage program tailored for the New York summer heat” is also on tap, ensuring that fans stay cool and satisfied throughout the weekend.
Tickets for this year’s festival are available through a variety of channels and price points. The SMS presale kicks off Thursday, January 8th, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET, with the public on-sale beginning immediately afterward at 11:00 a.m. ET. As detailed by FOX5NY, ticket options include Pit Viewing 3-Day and 1-Day passes, GA+, VIP, and Cabanas, with layaway plans starting at just $25 down for a $319 3-Day GA ticket. Local Queens residents in zip codes 11368, 11355, 11375, and 11367 are eligible for a 15% discount. Tickets can also be found on secondary markets such as StubHub, Vivid Seats, and GameTime, each offering a 100% buyer guarantee, as New York Post emphasized.
Physical wristbands are making a comeback for 2026, a detail sure to excite festival veterans and newcomers alike. Gates are scheduled to open at 11:45 a.m. each day, with music running until 10 p.m. Organizers strongly encourage attendees to use public transportation—there will be no parking at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The park is accessible via the Long Island Rail Road or the No. 7 subway line to Mets–Willets Point station. Bike parking will be available at the main entrance, though riders must bring their own locks. Additional transportation information, including rideshare options, will be released closer to the festival dates, according to FOX5NY.
One of the most buzzed-about innovations this year is the partnership with Spotify, which has launched a first-of-its-kind Governors Ball Festival Experience within its app. As described by Spotify’s newsroom, this feature analyzes users’ listening habits to personalize the 2026 lineup, assigning a custom “Festival Persona” (such as The Seeker, The Crowd Favorite, or The Wristband Veteran) and generating a playlist that pairs top artists on the bill with emerging acts predicted to suit the user’s taste. The app also creates custom social cards for fans to share their festival persona, turning the static lineup into a dynamic, data-driven story. This integration, launched on January 6, 2026, is part of Spotify’s broader push to help fans discover new music and connect more deeply with the festival experience.
Each day of the festival features a distinct lineup. Friday’s opening night is headlined by Lorde and Baby Keem, with supporting sets from Pierce the Veil, Mariah the Scientist, Turnover, The Beths, Audrey Hobert, and Confidence Man. Saturday brings Stray Kids and Kali Uchis to the forefront, alongside Major Lazer, Blood Orange, Wet Leg, Amyl and the Sniffers, Ravyn Lenae, Del Water Gap, Snow Strippers, Thee Sacred Souls, and Spacey Jane. Sunday wraps up with A$AP Rocky and Jennie, plus Dominic Fike, Japanese Breakfast, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist, Clipse, Geese, Holly Humberstone, Rachel Chinouriri, and Slayyyter. A detailed daily schedule is yet to be released, but the breadth of genres and artists ensures that every type of music lover will find something to savor.
Last year’s 15th anniversary festival was a star-studded affair, headlined by Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, and Hozier. The 2026 edition, with its expanded lineup and new digital experiences, aims to build on that legacy and further cement Governors Ball’s status as a must-attend event on the global festival calendar.
With ticket sales underway and anticipation building, New York City is gearing up for another unforgettable weekend of music, community, and summer celebration at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Whether you’re a festival veteran or a first-timer, Gov Ball 2026 promises to be an experience not to be missed.
