Announced today, the 2026 Hoochenanny Festival music lineup added ten regional bands to support the headline acts announced in April. Located in Fairport, NY, the 2026 Hoochenannny Festival takes place Aug. 14-16. The organizers also announced a last chance in-person ticket sale on Friday, May 8, before Early Bird ticket prices end on Sunday, May 10.
“Hoochenanny was built for the bands that know how to shake the dust off the walls and stir the soul,” said Tommy Brunett, festival co-founder. “The excitement around Hoochenanny this year damn near knocked us over. There’s a fire burning in Rochester’s music scene right now, and you can hear it in every one of these artists.”
Regional Artists at the 2026 Hoochenanny Festival
Today’s additions to the 2026 Hoochenanny Festival brings the music lineup count up to 22 acts with the regional band announcement. This year’s parade of artists features a dynamic mix of alternative, rock, indie, and genre-bending national, regional, and local musicians. It fortifies the lineup of previously disclosed headliners My Morning Jacket, Modest Mouse, Lit, Guster, Toadies, and Rochester’s Joywave.
- Friday, August 14: Losers Club (Rochester pop-punk/emo), Prophets & Thieves (Rochester hot buttered blues rock)
- Saturday, August 15: Smilo and the Ghost (Erie, PA Americana/folk), The Isotopes (Rochester instrumental nerd surf art rock), Ocular Panther (Rochester progressive/psychedelic rock), Candy (Rochester country/Americana)
- Sunday, August 16: Drew Kiddoo and The Blackouts (Ithaca country/honky tonk/rockabilly), Head to the Roots (Rochester roots folk rock), Public Water Supply (Rochester alt-rock/indie Americana), The Beard and The Bird (Rochester/Buffalo swing grass rockabilly)
“One of the things we’re most proud of at Hoochenanny is being able to showcase regional artists alongside national touring acts,” said Sean McCarthy, festival co-founder. “The response from Rochester and the surrounding region this year was incredible. We received more than 150 applications from bands wanting to be part of the festival, which made the selection process extremely difficult. There’s so much talent in this scene right now, and we’re excited to give these artists a stage at Center Park West and let festivalgoers discover some amazing bands this summer.”
Last Chance at Early Bird Tickets for the 2026 Hoochenanny Festival
Your last chance to grab Early Bird prices ends this Sunday, May 10. Starting Monday, May 11, the prices go up – give yourself a chance to save money if you can in this economy.
To help you keep even more money in your wallet, festival organizers announced one final opportunity on Friday, May 8, to purchase tickets in person without paying convenience fees at the following locations and times:
- McCarthy Tents & Events, 80 Sovran Dr., Webster – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Iron Smoke Distillery, 111 Parce Ave., Fairport. – 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hoochenanny Festival offers three ticket tiers: General Admission, GA+, and VIP.
General admission (GA) – General admission tickets include access to live performances, food, drinks, shopping, and more. Friday admission is free. Early-bird one-, two-, or three-day passes are $0 to $130, plus fees and taxes.
GA+ – Includes access to the World of Whiskey tasting experience, dedicated lounge area, upgraded restrooms, and premium viewing area. Early-bird one-, two-, or three-day passes are $40 to $190, plus fees and taxes.
VIP – Includes access to the World of Whiskey tasting experience, a two-story hospitality space with lounge seating, dedicated food options, a full-service bar, exclusive whiskey tastings, complimentary parking, upgraded restrooms, and a premium viewing area. Early-bird one-, two-, or three-day passes are $125 to $405, plus fees and taxes.
Tickets are on sale now at hoochenanny.com/passes.
Hoochenanny Festival takes place Friday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at Center Park West in the Town of Perinton, Fairport, New York. It will feature 22 music acts, more than 30 whiskey distillers, two stages, six custom-built tented experiences, private hospitality spaces, food trucks, and artisan vendors. More than 8,000 people from over 30 U.S. states and Canada attended the 2025 festival.
Inside the World of Whiskey tent, the five tasting areas include Rickhouse Rendezvous, a New York State Distillers Guild experience highlighting Empire State distillers; American Whiskey Journey, showcasing whiskey-producing regions across the country; the Rarities Bar, featuring limited and specialty pours; the Libations Lounge, offering craft cocktails; and Bourbon Broadcast and Fireside Chats with industry experts, distillers and whiskey media personalities, with a schedule to be announced.
The move to an expanded footprint in Fairport enables a bigger, better festival experience. Holdovers from last year are the High Ball Stage, presented by Premium Mortgage and featuring national headliners, and the Fermenter Stage, presented by Harv’s Harley-Davidson and showcasing national, regional, and local acts in an amphitheater setting.
Also, premium hospitality options include the VIP Loft Double Decker, a two-story tent with catering, lounge seating, a cigar bar, exclusive whiskey tastings, elevated views of the main stage, upgraded restroom amenities, and access to a VIP viewing bridge. New in 2026 are private hospitality spaces available for groups, with packages that include event tickets and optional catering add-ons.
The Concert Pavilion offers a covered space with seating, lounge areas, and a large bar serving beer, wine, and seltzer, as well as festival and band merchandise. The GA+ Stageview Lounge provides a dedicated viewing area with patio-style seating and a cash bar for GA+ ticket holders.
Additional experiences include Lager Land, featuring a selection of Northeast craft beers; the Barrel Bistro, a collection of food trucks and vendors with shaded seating; and the Artisans Bazaar, showcasing handcrafted goods from local makers.
Hoochenanny Festival Music Lineup
Friday, Aug. 14: Lit, Toadies, Cracker, Rudy Nuño & The Broadcasters, Losers Club, Prophets & Thieves
Saturday, Aug. 15: My Morning Jacket, Guster, Tommy Brunett’s All-Star Cavalcade of Scoundrels, Grace Bowers, Smilo and the Ghost, The Isotopes, Ocular Panther, Candy
Sunday, Aug. 16: Modest Mouse, Joywave, Amigo the Devil, Karina Rykman, Drew Kiddoo and The Blackouts, Head to the Roots, Public Water Supply, The Beard and The Bird
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