Musikfest is returning to Bethlehem next week with 10 days of music, food and festivities, bringing more than 400 performers and 500 performances to 16 stages across the city’s North and South sides.
Named the best music festival in the country by USA Today, the free music festival runs Friday through Aug. 9, with a special preview night on Thursday.
Fifteen of the festival’s 16 stages are free, while the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza will host 11 ticketed headliner shows.
Whether you’re coming for your favorite band, hoping to discover your next favorite artist or just looking for an excuse to eat new food and enjoy the city of Bethlehem, here’s what to know before heading to Musikfest.
Get to know Musikfest
Founded in 1984, the festival has grown into a major annual event for both Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley over the years. Last year’s festival drew a record 1,449,000 attendees, according to ArtsQuest.
The festival generally runs from noon to 11 p.m., though hours vary by stage and day. The South Side sometimes stays open later, with some programming continuing until midnight.
For anyone trying to navigate the festival for the first time, or trying to keep track of all of the performances, the Musikfest app and website are the best places to start.
They include schedules, artist information, food vendors, maps, transportation and parking information, weather information, along with updates throughout the festival.
The app also has a new feature this year that allows visitors to share their personalized schedules with friends.
Patrick Brogan, ArtsQuest’s chief programming officer, said the festival’s core hasn’t changed much since it began, and one thing has kept people returning to Musikfest throughout the years.
“The same thing from 1984 to today,” Brogan said. “Music.”
But Musikfest has become about more than just what’s happening on the stages.
Brogan said the festival has become a place where people return year after year, often bringing new friends and family with them every time.
“It’s the family reunion that is Musikfest, which is every year, but different every year,” he said.
Workers set up rows of seating in preparation for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
PNC Plaza plays host to preparations for MusikFest Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Tents sit empty during preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers set up for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
A pair of workers retrieve equipment from a crate during preparations for MusikFest Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Test caption (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)Tents sit empty during preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Rows of seats face an incomplete stage ahead of Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
An American flag hangs from a tent set up for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
A forklift carries construction materials unloaded from a truck past a group of workers during preparations for MusikFest Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Rows of seats are set up in the PNC Plaza in preparation for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers prepare to unload a truck during preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
A forklift unloads a truck of its cargo during preparations for MusikFest Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers prepare to unload a truck during preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
A forklift picks up rows of stacked seats to be assembled for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
A hard hat hangs from a crate of construction equipment during preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers set up for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Maxwell Paine, an engineer with Service Electric, works on a computer while assisting with preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
A pair of workers from another construction site walk through the PNC Plaza during preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers check a section of bleachers set up for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers hang a tarp on the side of a set of bleachers in preparation for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers set up rows of seating in preparation for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Evan Eisenhard, an engineer with Service Electric, works on a Wi-Fi switch cabinet Wednesday, July 22, 2026, near Levitt Pavilion in preparation for Musikfest in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehe runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers rest in the shade during preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Workers set up for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Josh Klusaritz of Northampton, who works for Albarell Electric, collects power cables from a trailer during preparations for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Show Caption
1 of 25
Workers set up rows of seating in preparation for Musikfest on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Bethlehem. The 10-day, free music festival in both North and South Side Bethlehem runs July 31-Aug. 9. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)
Expand
Who are the headliners?
The Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza will feature 11 ticketed headline shows during the festival, all of which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The 2026 lineup includes:
Thursday (Preview night): Grupo Niche with opening act Fabry Orihuela
Friday: Russell Dickerson, opening acts Blake Proehl and Lilly Moss
Saturday: John Mulaney “Mister Whatever”
Aug. 2: Third Eye Blind, opening act St. Lucia
Aug. 3: Train, opening act George Pippen
Aug. 4: “Weird Al” Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour, opening act Puddles Pity Party
Aug. 5: T.I. with special guest DaBaby, with opening acts TheRealZellyZel and Küf Knotz & Christine Elise
Aug. 6: Bailey Zimmerman, opening acts Chandler Walters and Gillian Smith
Aug. 7: Parker McCollum, opening acts Kassi Ashton and Southpaw
Aug. 8: Yellowcard and Taking Back Sunday, with opening act The Click Five
Aug. 9: AJR, opening acts David Wimbish & The Collection and Ryley Tate
Faces in the crowd Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at MusikFest in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
How Musikfest acts are chosen
Shayna Super, Musikfest’s music programming director, said about one-third of this year’s lineup is new. For the first time, artists were able to submit themselves for consideration without paying a submission fee. Nearly 2,000 artists from across the country submitted their work.
Those submissions were reviewed alongside recommendations from agents, managers and agencies, with staff and volunteers helping sort through the options.
Super said the process is about more than simply finding the biggest names.
“Each stage has a vibe that you’re kind of trying to embody,” she said.
That could mean Latin and world music at Plaza Tropical, familiar sing-along favorites at Festplatz or singer-songwriters and jazz elsewhere across the festival.
The goal is to give people a reason to keep exploring. Super said the festival also considers representation across its lineup, looking at different genres, cultures, genders and communities.
What free music can I see?
Free music, as usual, remains the heart of Musikfest.
The festival’s 15 free stages will feature hundreds of performances throughout the 10 days, ranging from rock and pop to jazz, Latin music, country, singer-songwriters and polka.
Some of the free-stage highlights include ’90s alt-rockers The Verve Pipe and pop artist Ryan Cabrera.
The festival will also feature themed programming, including Beach Day on Aug. 5, ’70s Day on Aug. 7 and British Invasion Weekend Aug. 7-8.
Aug. 8 will be Inclusion Day at Air Products Americaplatz at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks. The day’s performances will include ASL interpreters alongside the performers.
Super said the festival’s large variety of performances is intentional.
“While we’re looking to make sure that we fill all those different genres, we want to make sure that we have a diverse representation of cultures and genders and just affinity groups that make sure that everybody sees themselves on the stage,” she said.
The festival’s programming is designed to let visitors move between musical worlds in a single afternoon. While a familiar name might draw a crowd, the next stage over could introduce festivalgoers to a new artist they’ve never heard of before.
And if visitors have strong or differing opinions about who belongs on those stages, that’s part of the process too, according to Brogan.
“Everyone has an opinion on Musikfest,” he said with a smile.
He said that passion is part of what makes the festival work, as the festival was founded as a community celebration and economic driver for the region, and audience feedback continues to influence the festival, from the food vendors people return to each year to the artists they want to see.
SLAMB performs Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, during the 42nd annual Musikfest in Bethlehem. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
What is a platz and where are they located?
Musikfest takes place along 16 stages, most of them called “platzes” — German for place. Here’s where they are.
North Side:
• NJM Insurance Group Familienplatz, Colonial Industrial Quarter
• Service Electric Festplatz, Main and Spring streets
• Martin Guitar Handwerkplatz, Colonial Industrial Quarter
• Hotel Bethlehem Platz, Main Street in front of Hotel Bethlehem
• Yuengling Lagerplatz, Main and Spring streets
• IBEW Local 375 Liederplatz, Sun Inn Courtyard off Main Street
• Main Street, from Central Moravian Church to Broad Street
• Plaza Tropical, Main and Spring streets
• PNC Stadtplatz at Payrow Plaza, Church Street
• Guardian Life Insurance Company of America Zinzenplatz, Main and Lehigh streets
• Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church St.
• Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St.
South Side:
• Wind Creek Steel Stage, PNC Plaza, 711 E. First St.
• Air Products Americaplatz, Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks, 789 E. First Street
• Sync Recovery Community Soberplatz — Near Americaplatz
• Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage, Air Products Town Square
• Musikfest Cafe — ArtsQuest Center, 101 Founders Way
• Lyrikplatz and Lutron Jazz Cabaret Stage — Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema at ArtsQuest Center, 101 Founders Way
• Lutron Jazz Cabaret Stage — Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema at ArtsQuest Center, 101 Founders Way
Gilberto Santa Rosa performs Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, on Musikfest’s Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
What’s new and returning this year at SteelStacks?
The South Side of Musikfest offers plenty to do in between performances.
The Monster Energy BMX activation returns with stunt bikers and a show.
The Crayola Creativity Tent will offer hands-on activities for families, while the Maker’s Market at the 1869 Luckenbach Mill will showcase local artists and makers.
The Musikfest Music Industry Conference returns Aug. 2-4, bringing together artists, educators, students and people interested in the business and creative sides of the music industry. The conference will feature sessions focused on areas including music business, education, production and the broader music industry.
For anyone looking for a break from the festival crowds, SoberPlatz is also returning and expanding.
The alcohol-free space, created with Northampton County and Sync Recovery Community, will offer recovery resources, games, photo opportunities, a therapy dog visit and other community-focused activities.
A sound bath also is planned. For the first time ever, Musikfest also will be offering sensory-friendly Inclusion Zones on both sides of the festival for guests who need a quieter place to cool down or take a break from the crowds.
At the Levitt Lawn, people with hearing aids will have another way to experience performances. Using ListenWIFI, paired with the festival’s free Wi-Fi, visitors can stream sound from the stage directly to their compatible hearing devices or AirPods.
What about food?
You can’t talk about Musikfest without mentioning the food.
Food vendors will be spread across the festival, offering everything from barbecue and seafood to tacos, dumplings, waffles and ice cream.
On top of that, eight new food vendors are joining the festival this year.
New options include Gray’s Area Grill, Magnolia’s Souls and Spice and MoMos of Tibet, among others.
Gray’s Area Grill will offer smoked brisket, pulled pork, chicken and brisket mac and cheese, and Magnolia’s Souls and Spice will serve dishes including jambalaya fried rice balls, crawfish empanadas, alligator and crawfish tacos and po-boys.
Batch Microcreamery will offer sweet-toothed visitors ice cream and soda floats, while MoMos of Tibet will offer spinach and potato dumplings, pork and cabbage dumplings, ground beef dumplings and vegetarian fried rice.
Returning festivalgoer favorites include The Flying V, Island Noodles, Take A Taco, Sherri’s Crab Cakes, Greek Street, Grumpy’s BBQ and Philly Pretzel Factory.
People with dietary restrictions can use the Musikfest website and app to find food options identified by different dietary needs.
Musikfest is cashless, but visitors who bring cash can convert it into a reloadable ArtsQuest CashCard at designated locations. Credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and ArtsQuest CashCards all are accepted at food, beverage and merchandise locations.
Artsquest encourages visitors to look for Official Vendor signs around the festival, as Official Vendors process payments that help keep the festival free for the public.
And then, there’s the iconic Musikfest mug. The mug, which returns each year with a new design, will be America 250 themed this year with red and blue options. This mug will be sealed in a time capsule until 2076, a testament to its historical relevance.
The Musikfest 2026 poster, designed by painter and illustrator Doug Boehm, also depicts the festival’s America 250 theme.
The 2026 version of the Musikfest mug will soon be sealed in a time capsule for decades as part of the America 250 celebrations. (Photo courtesy of ArtsQuest)
Where should I park and how do I get around?
ArtsQuest recommends making a transportation plan before arriving. The festival takes place on both sides of the Lehigh River, with the North Side and South Side connected by the Fahy Bridge. Walking between the two sides takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes for most people.
Luckily, Artsquest has partnered with LANTA, the City of Bethlehem, the Bethlehem Parking Authority and the SouthSide Arts District to offer transportation to and from the festival using LANTA’s service.
LANTA Gold Line provides free, air-conditioned and ADA-accessible service between the North Side and South Side. It operates on weekdays from 4 p.m. to midnight, and weekends from 11:30 to 12:20 a.m.
The Blue and Green Enhanced Bus Service lines connect the festival area with communities from Trexlertown to Easton.
Rides are free within the Musikfest fare-free zone. Regular $2.50 fares apply when traveling to the festival from outside the zone, while return trips home on the Blue and Green lines are free.
PNC Stadtplatz will be served by all three LANTA lines this year.
ArtsQuest officials encourage visitors to park once and use public transportation rather than moving their cars throughout the day.
“The easiest way to maneuver the festival grounds is by using the LANTA service,” Brogan said.
For those who prefer to drive, the Bethlehem Parking Authority operates six garages with special all-day rates during Musikfest.
North Side options include:
• Walnut Street Garage
• North Street Garage
• Main Street Commons Garage
SouthSide options include:
• Polk Street Garage
• Riverport Garage
• South New Street Garage
Accessible parking is available in both the North Side/Historic District and South Side/SteelStacks areas, though spaces are limited. In the North Side, accessible spots can be found along Conestoga Street near Service Electric Festplatz and on Lehigh Street in front of the Wooden Match, as well as at the Walnut Street and North Street parking garages. At SteelStacks, limited accessible parking is available in the lots on Second Street across from the Wind Creek Steel Stage, with disability drop-off available at Second Street and Founders Way near the ArtsQuest Center.
ArtsQuest also operates two satellite parking lots with shuttle service. The Valley Center Parkway lot serves the North Side, while the Penn State Lehigh Valley lot serves the South Side.
Satellite parking shuttle service is $10 for adults ages 13 and older and $8 for children ages 3 to 12 when accompanied by a paying adult. Children 2 and younger ride free when sitting on an adult’s lap.
Shuttle service begins at 5 p.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends, with the last bus departing at 11:40 p.m.
The Musikfest app and ArtsQuest’s parking information include maps and updated transportation details.
Do I need a ticket?
For most of the festival, no. Musikfest is a non-gated festival, and performances on 15 of its 16 stages are free. But tickets are required for shows at the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza.
The Steel Terrace option includes covered seats, dinner, dessert and an open bar, private, air-conditioned rooms, and separate access to the stage.
ArtsQuest also offers add-ons for some ticketed shows.The Oasis upgrade provides access to air-conditioned restrooms and a private bar.
Ticket prices and availability vary by show, so visitors should check the official Musikfest ticketing page for the latest information.
What does Musikfest mean to the community?
More than 1,000 volunteers have been helping and will continue to keep helping everything running throughout the festival. Brogan described them as “ambassadors for the community,” working across the festival grounds to help performers, vendors and visitors.
For Brogan and Super, the festival’s growth is exciting, but its sense of community remains at the center.
Brogan said Musikfest has largely grown over the years through word of mouth, with people returning year after year and bringing others with them.
But Brogan said the recognition ultimately reflects something happening on the ground in Bethlehem: People care about the festival.
“It’s a beautiful thing that the community cares and is passionate about their community festival,” he said.
After more than four decades, Musikfest still offers plenty of refreshing ways to make the festival your own.
You can come for AJR and stay for a band you’ve never heard of. You can spend time soaking in a bath. You can come for the food and accidentally find yourself dancing to a polka band. You can spend the whole day at one stage or wander until something catches your ear.
You can even make a vacation out of it. Super said she often hears from people who plan their vacations around Musikfest, including people who have moved away from the Lehigh Valley but return every summer for the festival.
That’s part of the reason Musikfest keeps growing each year, Brogan said. It’s a festival that people don’t just attend. They bring people back to it, again and again, with music and community in mind.
For more information and questions, check out the Musikfest website or contact Artsquest at info@artsquest.org.