Three days, dozens of sets, and Karl the Fog basically acting like a headliner all weekend long, Outside Lands 2026 once again turned Golden Gate Park into its own little world. The fog rolled through the trees, music could be heard from almost every part of the park, and San Francisco’s laid-back energy followed everyone from stage to stage.
This year’s festival had a little bit of everything, from huge performances and long-awaited reunions to smaller artists who ended up being some of the most memorable parts of the weekend. For Melodic Magazine, the weekend was less about following a strict schedule and more about seeing where the music took us. Some of the best moments ended up being the ones we didn’t plan for.
Day 1: Friday
Friday arrived with a lineup that made it nearly impossible to stay still. Headliner Charli xcx brought the kind of controlled chaos you’d expect from a pop star who has spent the last few years turning her tunes into club classics and forming cultural moments.
As someone who’s no stranger to the festival scene, her set felt less like a traditional festival performance and more like stepping directly into the new world she’s built with her new album Music, Fashion, Film. She curated the perfect setlist of her crowd-favorite songs, while also testing out the waters for how the new album will sound live once she hits the road later this year. The set was loud, energetic, and completely unapologetically Charli.
Friday afternoon had a little bit of everything, with artists from different genres bringing their own energy to the festival. Wet Leg delivered their fun, slightly weird style of indie rock, making the festival grounds feel more like a packed dive bar than a huge music festival. Their set was energetic, messy in the best way, and easy to get into.
Tinashe brought a completely different vibe. With songs like “Nasty” and “No Broke Boys” becoming recent viral hits, she came to the stage ready to show why she has become such a strong name in pop and R&B. Her set was full of confidence and energy. It was the kind of performance that made it hard to look away.
Then there was Sawyer Hill, one of the artists who really stood out during the weekend. Melodic Magazine also got the chance to catch up with him for a quick press session after his set, and his performance made it pretty clear that we’ll probably be hearing a lot more from him.
There’s a rawness to Hill’s music that feels familiar while still sounding like his own. He has the kind of stage presence that makes him feel less like a new artist people are just discovering and more like someone who is already on the way to something bigger. After seeing him perform, we’re pretty confident this won’t be the last time you see Sawyer Hill’s name in Melodic Magazine.
That same evening just a stone’s throw away, Turnstile reminded everyone that Outside Lands is still capable of getting genuinely rowdy. Minutes before the band hit the stage, a wall of event security lined the barricade, bracing themselves for an audience that would soon turn into numerous mosh pits and a wave of crowd surfers raging through their set.
Day 2: Saturday
Saturday had a different rhythm. Audrey Hobert was one of the day’s standout acts for me. She always brings a personal, conversational quality to her performance that makes the festival crowd feel considerably smaller than it actually is. Her fans were singing along to her songs and the way she interacted with the crowd definitely would’ve made me want to Google who she was if I didn’t know her already.
But the real sense of occasion came with The xx. Seeing the group return to the stage after years away (their last live show had been in 2018), the band made their Outside Lands appearance feel like one of those rare festival moments that people will talk about online forever and keep their fans wondering when their next live set will be.
Djo brought his psychedelic, guitar-driven world to the festival next, moving the audience with his golden-hour music, and I noticed some festival-goers even shed tears, while Lucy Dacus delivered one of the weekend’s most emotionally resonant performances. The appearance of Julien Baker as a special guest only heightened the moment, giving fans an unexpected festival memory.
And then, because Outside Lands refuses to stay in one genre for too long, the night took a sharp turn toward camp with a DJ set from Trixie Mattel. Despite having a few technical difficulties at the beginning of the set, it was theatrical, ridiculous in exactly the right way, and a reminder that festival culture works best when nobody takes the rules too seriously.
Day 3: Sunday
Cruz Beckham and The Breakers brought some fun rock’n’roll energy to the park. Their set had a lot of guitar and drums, giving them the sound of a young band that is still getting comfortable performing on American stages. Beckham switched between singing and playing guitar while the group performed songs like “Waste Your Pain” and “Better Times.”
The performance felt pretty simple, but in a good way. It was mostly guitars, drums, vocals, and a lot of energy. Instead of feeling like Cruz was only at the festival because of his famous family, the set felt like he was actually trying to show people that he belongs there. Outside Lands was another stop on Beckham and The Breakers’ first US run, and they seem ready to build their own identity as a band.
Just a few moments after Cruz’s set came Magnus Ferrell, who brought an easygoing, funky sound to the Twin Peaks stage. His Outside Lands debut showed off the jazz, soul, and indie-pop influences in his music, making the early afternoon set feel more relaxed and intimate. Songs like “Asleep Talking” highlighted his smooth vocals and soulful production, while his natural stage presence kept the crowd engaged.
There was a vintage feel to his performance, but it still felt fresh. You could hear some Stevie Wonder-inspired sounds and a little bit of that old-school jazz club energy, while Ferrell still made the set feel like his own. For his first festival appearance, he seemed completely comfortable on stage.
Then came Mariah the Scientist, who turned her Outside Lands set into one big singalong. Her music mixes heartbreak, vulnerability, and R&B, and the crowd seemed to know almost every word. Songs like “2 You,” “All For Me,” “1000 Ways to Die,” and “Burning Blue” had fans singing along from start to finish.
What stood out most, though, was how connected the crowd felt to her music. Songs that people might normally listen to alone through their headphones became something everyone could share together in the middle of Golden Gate Park. It was one of those sets where you could really see how much her music means to her fans.
Later in the day, Not For Radio, the solo project of The Marías’ María Zardoya, brought a softer and dreamier sound to the festival. Her set focused on the psychedelic ballads from her debut album Melt, creating a more relaxed atmosphere compared to some of the bigger performances happening around Golden Gate Park. Songs like “Puddles,” “Moment,” “Swan,” and “Back to You” showed off her airy vocals and more subtle production.
What made the set stand out was how calm it felt in the middle of such a busy festival. Thousands of people were walking around the park and other stages were competing for attention, but Zardoya’s performance made it easy to slow down and just listen. Even her performance of The Marías’ “No One Noticed” felt natural, almost like a connection between her work with the band and her solo music. With the fog rolling through the park, it was the perfect setting for her sound.
By Sunday night, the fog had completely settled over Golden Gate Park, making the end of Outside Lands feel very San Francisco. Everyone had their jackets back on, but the crowd was still dressed like they were heading somewhere after the festival, and people slowly made their way out of the park as the final sets ended.
After three days of music, packed stages, and plenty of new artists to discover, Outside Lands came to an end. The park was left with muddy shoes, tired feet, ringing ears, and a lot of memories. For a weekend, Golden Gate Park became its own little world, and leaving it almost felt like waking up from it. Until next year.
Photo credits in captions. // Photos and portraits by Lauren Carsley & Cedric Joshua for Melodic Magazine.
Words by Cedric Joshua
