Thursday at Bonnaroo opened with fewer acts than in past years, but excitement remained high as festival-goers gathered for Shotgunaroo at the Arch entrance, raised their drinks, and marked the festival’s kickoff.

The tradition of PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect) continues while attendees high-five one another while passing on opposite sides of the steel crowd-control barricades. After a security check, festival-goers also exchange high-fives with the check-in and check-out staff who monitor the crowd and scan wristbands before entering Centeroo.

The closer to What Stage, festivalgoers were already experiencing mud on the grounds due to rain in the area that week. Each step in the mud is a cautionary reminder of last year’s Bonnaroo’s eruptive end due to unpreparedness for last year’s severe storms. Reports from festival staff about power outages began on Thursday, raising concerns about this year’s preparedness as well.

The four bands that played the What Stage on Thursday, in order, were: Spiritual Cramp, Vince Staples, Four Tet, and Skrillex. After a 12-year hiatus, Skrillex completed Thursday evening with iconic bass drops and synchronised visuals at Which Stage.

Of course, just because the last band on the lineup plays doesn’t mean that the evening is over. Waiting eagerly at the cross-over of Centeroo, leaving where That Tent and What Stage are. There was a Marching band waiting to jam for the stirred-up festival-goers, resilient to departing Centeroo.

The Knox Honkers and Bangers are a community-based, inclusive DIY Marching Band from Knoxville, TN, who came together dressed in pink. In addition to the hype was a massive marionette bird; people took turns dancing with costumed puppet heads and bubble blowers.

All of this is organized by the Catty Wumpus Puppet Council, which hosted more puppet shows during the weekend as well as a puppet-making workshop. For anyone that would like to get involved in the organization or anyone interested in a 16-foot Dolly Parton, you can find information at https://cattywampuspuppets.org/ (link in caption).

After an early, quiet morning of spotted showers on Friday, the calming rain on Friday wasn’t enough to cause any panic, but a mild adjustment was made to the schedule: Doro Jar’s performance had to be moved from 1pm at That Tent and was rescheduled for a later slot time of 3:15 at the Other Stage. A remapping of the festival and campgrounds did produce better results. The Where in the Woods UFO stage replaced the Infinity Stage in Centreroo, rather than having the stage in Outeroo. Campers were also farther from areas such as the Helicopter rides and ponds.

UK punk rockers the Lambrini Girls energized fans, first thing. Having already produced a mosh pit in the mud at Which Stage, vocalist Phoebe Lunny hops the fence into the pit area and prompts everyone to make use of the soupy mud and create a slip and slide.

Wet Leg, The Chats, and Turnstile carried on Friday with undecorated, aggressive talent. As you walked around the tent footprint boundary of That Tent watching The Chats, the mud might try to pull your boots off. In addition to unapologetic self-expression. The Hardcore band Sunami and the Australian Pub Rock band Amyl and the Sniffers contributed a punk rock ethos on Saturday.

Blues Traveler, which formed in 1987, played at the What Stage on Friday afternoon. Noticeably, Blues Traveler was the oldest band playing the festival this year. Besides blues travel, most bands have been active from the 2000s to the present.

Indie band The Strokes, who formed in 1998, later that night played on the What Stage. Their set was an extensive 18-song set that, due to Bonnaroo’s multiset scheduling, carried over the start of 2000s rapper Lil Jon’s set, contributing to a delay of the performance at the That Tent.

Weird Al’ Yankovic’s “Bigger & Weirder Saturday Late Night Roovue, was what brought the nostalgia the following night on Saturday. Fans laughed and sang along with his iconic parody hits that have now dated over 4 decades.

Yungblud’s performance at What Stage on Friday was high-strung and passionate. Fans came just to sing along to his hits, “Fleabag” and “Zombie”. Emotionally laden was his tribute performance of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Changes.” Yungblud continues to acknowledge Osborne as his “North Star.”

On Saturday, the heat was up, and staff were handing out free cartons of water to everyone as they entered Centeroo, hydrating fans waiting at the barricades in front of the stages for their favorite bands. Often, fans shared their sunscreen with those around them, making sure everyone reapplied.

Some of the biggest names who have played previous Bonnaroo’s have headlined on Saturday.

The Deep Soul, funky rock, rhythm-and-blues band Alabama Shakes made a grooving return. This year they played What Stage. The last time they played was in 2015. This year, Brittany Howard wore a white choir robe that prominently displayed the Gibson SG in her hands.

Returning since last in 2018 was Rufus Du Soul this year, performing on the What Stage. The crowd danced and watched synchronized shooting lights resembling stars, while Rufus Du Soul played Underwater, Eyes Alive, Always, and Innerbloom.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise might have been one of the bands that didn’t get to perform this year. They were able to rebound this year with a broad presence. They joined Griz on Friday, and they played Free Fall. They were one of the special guests for Kesha Presents: Superjam Esoterica: The Alchemy of Pop. And to top everything, Ela Melo announced her engagement to Cat Cogliandro during the set on Saturday.

Sunday began crummy. Rain was too severe in the first half of the day, and 11 sets were canceled, nearly half of the acts for the day. Aly & Aj had to cancel this year, making it twice- consecutively.

Campers who didn’t want to endure left while words of a mud dance traveled and camp groups sang in harmony, including one group singing Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved.”

“I don’t mind spending every day! Out here on your corner in the pouring rain! Look for the girl with the broken smile and ask her if she can stay awhile! ”

As soon as the sky cleared, prepared roovians put on their boots, while others kept retrieving their flip-flops; the mud between the lines was trying to take hold.

The dry land that separated the stage where Tedeschi Truck Band played and the tent where Audrey Hobert played was no more. The swampiness of the area was not enough to slow the jam band scene from dancing for the Tedeschi Truck Band. Bonnarroo would continue for the rest of the night.

Modest Mouse was another band that had to cancel during last year’s Bonnaroo and, thankfully, barely avoided a repeat. They were able to play songs spanning from the beginning of their ’90s indie beginning to their other chart-topping songs of the 2000s at This Tent. Fans were shoulder to shoulder, listening to favorites like “Dashboards” and “Float On”. Modest Mouse played their new single, Look How Far, ” which was released on March 10th.

Kesha Presents: Superjâm Esoterica: The Alchemy of Pop featured multiple artists in addition to Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Blondshell, Group Love, Wyatt Flores, and Group Love were among the artists covering pop hits and some of Kesha’s own songs. Margo Price, for example, covered The White Stripes’ hit, “7 Nation Army. Flip Turn went viral, covering MGMT’s Time to Pretend.

Kesha’s big moment came Sunday night as the last artist to play Which Stage. Bizarrely, considering she grew up and began her career in Nashville. This is her first performance at Bonnaroo. Kesha’s set was unrestrained as she is now able to perform as an independent artist. She also formally recognized Pride Month in her own words.

“Damn. How are ya’ll Feeling Bonnarroo,” Kesha asked the Which Stage crowd.

“So, I got to tell you I’m from Nashville, TN, and I feel kinda bad that I have never been here before. But, I must say, it feels so fucking Cunty to be playing Bonnaroo as an independent artist and a free fucking woman for the first time. I’m so grateful to be here. This is really amazing, um, and I was thinking back to when I was in high school in Nashville, and I always thought to myself, ‘if I ever actually get to do this, I want to make this a safe place for people like me and you.’

“So, I built us a fucking cathedral animal! Happy Pride! Can you light it up and make this church tonight,” Kesha said before playing “Cathedral”!

Word had spread quickly about Oliver Tree’s Helicopter crash in Brazil. Graffiti tags could be found around Outerroo.

Noah Khan has been known to have a running joke with Oliver Tree, in which he would memorialize Oliver Tree during his performance. This time it was the reality.

“I want to take a moment to memorialize someone. I want to say rest in peace to Oliver Tree. What an absolute tragedy today, y’all. Puts everything into perspective, and my thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Oliver Tree. This is between the Villages. Thank you very much.” mourned Khan.

Bonnaroo Music Festival is an annual music festival held annually in Manchester, Tn.

More information can be found at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival | Manchester, TN | June 11-14, 2026, or wherever your local bonnaroos are sold.

Bonnaroo 2027 will take place June’s 10 – 13, according to the websites.