Moab Music Festival
Moab Music Festival
The Moab Music Festival announced its 34th season, a three-week celebration of music set amid the red-rock canyons and rivers of southeastern Utah from September 2 – September 18, 2026. Led by Artistic Director Tessa Lark, the Festival’s 2026 season centers on the theme “This Land,” exploring the diverse musical roots that have shaped American music over the past 250 years.
This year’s lineup includes:
- Composer-in-residence: GRAMMY-winning cellist and composer Andrew Yee is a genre-defying artist celebrated for spellbindingly virtuosic performances. A founding member of the Attacca Quartet and Juilliard graduate, Yee’s Moab residency highlights their interdisciplinary practice, including the personal solo project Halfie, which explores bi-racial and non-binary identity. You can experience Yee’s art at the following events:
- Opening Night Celebration on September 2: The festival’s opening night will take place at the Red Earth Venue where solo and chamber music performances from world-class artists will kick the celebration off.
- Floating Concert I: Halfie on September 4: Yee will perform a compelling and deeply personal program of works for strings ‘Halfie’.
- Music Hike I: The Cello Quintets on September 5:The world premiere of Yee’s canyon-inspired work joins Schubert’s monumental String Quintet in C Major, echoing the timelessness of the red rocks.
- American Collage on September 5: At Red Cliffs Lodge, the American Collage program will trace 250 years of inventive American sound, featuring a second performance of Yee’s Festival commissioned work.
Special Guest Stars:
- Cécile McLorin Salvant (September 6, Red Cliffs Lodge): The three-time GRAMMY-winning vocalist will perform an evening of genre-defying jazz and theatrical storytelling.
- Huntertones (September 12, Sorrel River Ranch): The Brooklyn-based ensemble brings their high-energy, horn-driven blend of jazz, funk, and soul.
- Sam Reider & The Human Hands: The Latin GRAMMY-nominated collective will perform September 7 – 9, fusing global folk traditions with contemporary improvisation.
- Cataract Canyon Raft Trip: An immersive musical journey featuring cellist Natalie Haas and guitarist/vocalist Chuchi Cuadrado, with meals curated by chef-author J. Kenji López-Alt.
The 2026 season also features a special collaboration with NPR’s From the Top, the nation’s premiere radio and media platform for young classical musicians. Hosted by pianist Peter Dugan, these two curated performances—Floating Concert II (Sept 11) and Music Hike 2 (Sept 12)—will showcase rising stars violinist Ava Pakiam (age 15) and cellist Oliver Mar (age 14) in Moab’s iconic natural settings.
Presented free of charge, the Rocky Mountain Power Community Concert (September 7, Old City Park) features Native American flute virtuoso R. Carlos Nakai, Sam Reider and the Human Hands, and other festival artists. This event underscores the Festival’s commitment to community accessibility, providing world-class live music for all ages.
To see the full schedule, lineup and artist information for the 2026 Moab Music Festival, visit our website at: https://moabmusicfest.org/calendar/. For tickets, visit moabmusicfest.org or contact the Festival box office at (435) 259-7003. All artists, venues and programs are subject to change.
Additional Details
Location City - Moab, UT
Ticket Price - $0 - $500
Age Restriction - All Ages
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Sponsored SLUG PICK - No
