Hinterland Festival 2026 Experiences Its Best Year Yet Feat. KATSEYE, Kali Uchis, & More
Once again, Hinterland returned to the beautiful lush fields of St. Charles, Iowa, continuing its rise as one of the Midwest's most exciting music festivals. What originated as a more traditional folk and country festival has slowly evolved into something bigger. With KATSEYE, Lorde, Mumford & Sons, and Kali Uchis headlining this year's lineup, Hinterland welcomed artists from K-Pop, reggaeton, hyperpop, indie rock, and more for this year's lineup. The festival's evolution is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
With the addition of a fourth day, Hinterland is beginning to resemble some of the larger multi-genre festivals such as Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. However, what is making Hinterland stand out is their emphasis on creating an inclusive experience for everyone. One of the festival's most notable additions from the previous year was its 90-degree weather refund guarantee. If temperatures reached 90 degrees or higher in St. Charles, festivalgoers could request a refund for their wristbands.
Hinterland also partnered with Amplify Her Voice, giving women and non-binary photographers and videographers an opportunity to experience working on a festival media team while learning from established creatives in the music industry. While the Midwest's notorious summer heat stayed away this year, rain made several appearances throughout the weekend. Fortunately, the weather did little to dampen the mood of festivalgoers as the energy for Hinterland was at an all time high.
This year’s addition saw a staggering increase in the number of female and non-binary performers with 65% of the performers being non-male. Which was evident as the festival opened with fans rushing toward the barricades, many dressed in KATSEYE merchandise and carrying handmade signs celebrating the group's first U.S. headlining performance. Ashnikko, Audrey Nuna, and beabadoobee also delivered memorable performances throughout the day, with beabadoobee teasing her upcoming album, Pylon which will release later this year.
By the time KATSEYE took the stage, the excitement was impossible to miss. Their performance demonstrated just how far K-pop has expanded beyond its traditional audience and hinted at a future where more K-pop acts could take the stage more often at Hinterland. KATSEYE definitely brought people from different generations together to experience what felt like a once in a lifetime experience.
Day Two continued with light rain but maintained the festival's momentum. Saint Avangeline captivated the crowd with her vocals, while Wisp provided a more stripped back performance. Sofia Isella delivered one of the day's most conceptual sets, while Snow Strippers brought the energy back with their high-intensity electronic sound. MUNA continued the energy with an energetic performance that reminded audiences of the growing influence of women and non-binary artists in alternative music. Lorde closed the evening by bringing her Ultrasound Tour to the Midwest.
She balanced new material from Virgin with longtime fan favorites, creating one of the festival's most emotional moments. As rain began falling, Lorde moved into the middle of the crowd to perform "Ribs." Thousands of fans sang along as the rain came down around them, creating a scene that felt almost ripped from the screen of a film.
By Day Three, the sun had returned to St. Charles. Julia Wolf and CMAT attracted early crowds before SANTIGOLD brought her infectious energy to the festival grounds. As the afternoon progressed, more fans gathered on the massive hill to relax and watch the sunset while Jessie Murph performed an excellent cover of “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals. Mumford & Sons closed the night with a performance that felt particularly meaningful for festival founder Sam Summers, who revealed that the band had been an artist he had wanted to book for years. Lead singer Marcus Mumford joked that the band had brought the rain from England with them and asked Iowa to send it back. The performance provided another memorable ending to an already impressive day.
The final day brought sunny skies and a lineup that made it difficult to say goodbye to the festival. Aubrey Hobert opened the day with a playful performance that included a long trench coat that made her appear nearly seven feet tall. Suki Waterhouse brought the world of Loveland to Iowa with an elaborate stage design featuring arrows and a disco heart. Wet Leg and Geese continued to demonstrate that rock music remains in safe hands in this current generation of musicians, while Puerto Rican artist Young Miko brought her reggaeton influence to the festival, introducing many attendees to a different side of Latin music.
Kali Uchis closed the weekend with an angelic performance featuring hits such as "Igual Que Un Ángel," "See You Again," and "telepatía." Her blend of Spanish and English further demonstrated the diversity Hinterland has embraced throughout its evolution and Kali Uchis as an innovator in the music industry.
Hinterland 2026 ultimately felt like another major step forward for the Iowa festival. Although next year's edition is expected to return to a traditional three-day format, the festival's continued expansion suggests something bigger could be on the horizon. Hinterland may still be growing, but its direction and presence is becoming well known. With its diverse lineups, emphasis on inclusion, and willingness to experiment, the festival is carving out a unique identity in the Midwest. It may not be Lollapalooza or Austin City Limits yet but something special is undoubtedly coming out of Iowa, and Hinterland's future looks brighter than ever.
Article & Photos by: Josue Cambara