Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is the free music festival that takes over the western end of Golden Gate Park in early October: six stages, more than a hundred acts, and no tickets. The 2026 edition runs Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October. The one thing that is different this year is the way in: every entrance now has body scanners and a stricter bag rule, so plan to arrive with less.
When and where is Hardly Strictly 2026?
Friday 2, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026, in Hellman Hollow and the Lindley and Marx meadows in Golden Gate Park. Entrances open at 11am on Friday and 9am on Saturday and Sunday, and performances end at 7pm every day.
| Entrance | Where |
|---|---|
| JFK Drive | At Transverse Drive |
| Fulton Street | At 30th Avenue |
| JFK Drive | At 36th Avenue |
| South Polo Field | Middle Drive at Metson Road |
The six stages are Banjo, Swan, Towers of Gold, Rooster, Arrow and Horseshoe Hill. The festival publishes its stage-by-stage schedule on 23 September, and announces additions on its app first.
Who is playing?
The festival publishes one alphabetical list rather than headliners. Names on the 2026 list include Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian, Emmylou Harris, Mavis Staples, My Morning Jacket, Los Lobos, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Punch Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Steve Earle and Molly Tuttle, among more than a hundred acts.
What can you bring in 2026?
Security is tighter than in past years: expect to walk through a body scanner and to have your bag searched. SFPD, including K9 units, works inside and outside the festival.
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| One bag plus one personal item per person. Clear bags up to 22 × 15 × 10 in; small bags, fanny packs and purses up to 6 × 8 × 3 in | Anything bigger |
| Soft coolers the size of a 12-pack or smaller | Hard coolers, or any cooler bigger than a 12-pack |
| Low, short-backed chairs | High-backed chairs |
| Blankets and tarps: keep to 5 × 7 feet (see below) | Umbrellas, tables, tents and shade structures |
| Beer and wine in non-glass containers | Glass, kegs and hard liquor |
| Cameras | Tripods, selfie sticks, drones, amplified speakers, personal instruments, flags and poles |
On blanket size, the festival’s own page gives two answers: its allowed-items list says under 6 × 8 feet and its seating section says 5 × 7. Bring the smaller one and you are covered either way. A blanket left empty for more than an hour can be removed.
How do you get there?
By Muni if you can. The festival asks everyone to avoid driving, and Muni adds extra service on all three days at normal fares.
| Side of the park | Lines |
|---|---|
| North (Fulton Street) | 5 Fulton, 5R Fulton Rapid, 31 Balboa, 38 Geary, 38R Geary Rapid |
| South (Lincoln Way) | N Judah, 7 Haight/Noriega |
| Through the park | 29 Sunset, on Crossover Drive |
Bikes, scooters and skateboards are not allowed inside the festival, and there is no bike valet: lock up outside at your own risk, and not to trees or traffic poles. Some school PTAs run paid parking in their lots on Saturday and Sunday, first come first served. Disabled parking for vehicles with a placard or plates is along JFK Drive west of Chain of Lakes.
For visitors with limited mobility, the Accessibility Ambassadors tent is on JFK at 36th Avenue, next to Gate 3, and hands out wristbands for the golf carts that run along JFK. Accessibility shuttle stops are at JFK and Bernice Rodgers Way, JFK and Chain of Lakes, JFK near Gate 3, and the Golden Gate Park Senior Center at 6101 Fulton Street.
Going with children
It is a genuinely good family day out if you plan for it. Bring ear protection for small children, which the festival specifically asks for, and a refillable bottle: free water refills are by the permanent bathrooms between the Banjo stage and Arrow meadow, at McLaren Pass, by the JFK Flats concessions and on the north side of the Swan crossover. There are no ATMs inside, and lost and found is at all four information booths.
Good to know
- Smoking is not allowed anywhere in Golden Gate Park.
- Dogs are allowed under park rules, on a leash, if they cope with crowds and loud music.
- No camping, and no saving spaces overnight: the park is swept every evening.
- The whole park is a no-drone zone.
Add it to your calendar from our Hardly Strictly event listing, and see Golden Gate Park with kids if you are making a weekend of it.
Checked against the festival’s 2026 information page and lineup page on 17 September 2026. The festival will publish set times on 23 September; we will add them here.
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Read the guide →Questions people ask about Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026: Dates, Lineup, Rules and Getting There
Is Hardly Strictly Bluegrass free?
Yes. The festival is free and there are no tickets to buy or reserve. You walk in through one of the security entrances.
What time does Hardly Strictly start in 2026?
Entrances open at 11am on Friday 2 October and at 9am on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October. Performances end at 7pm each day. The festival publishes stage-by-stage set times on 23 September.
Can you bring alcohol to Hardly Strictly?
Beer and wine are allowed in non-glass containers. Hard liquor and glass are not, and SFPD confiscates hard alcohol. No alcohol is sold inside the park.
Can you bring chairs and blankets?
Low, short-backed chairs are allowed; high-backed chairs are not. Keep blankets or tarps to 5 by 7 feet, the tighter of the two sizes the festival gives, and do not leave them unattended for more than an hour or they may be removed. The park is cleared every evening, so you cannot save a spot overnight.
Can you bring a dog?
Dogs are allowed under the normal park rules, on a leash, and the festival asks that they be comfortable with large crowds and loud music.
Where do you park for Hardly Strictly?
Mostly you do not. The festival asks people to come by Muni, bike or on foot. Some school PTAs run paid parking in their lots on Saturday and Sunday, first come first served, and disabled parking with a placard is along JFK Drive west of Chain of Lakes.