Outlaw Music Festival Pine Knob 2026: Lineup, Tickets & Setlist
Pine Knob Outlaw Festival 2026
- August 22, 2026 at Pine Knob Music Theatre, Michigan.
- Willie Nelson, Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson + 6-act lineup.
- Gates 2:00 PM • Music 3:20 PM • Runs past 10 PM.
- Strict bag rule (4”×6”) + no outside food — plan ahead.
The Outlaw Music Festival returns to Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Willie Nelson & Family headline a six-act bill with The Avett Brothers and Lukas Nelson. Detroit native Don Was brings the Pan-Detroit Ensemble home for a rare hometown set.
Pine Knob ranks among the most consistent Outlaw Festival venues in the country. The amphitheater has hosted the tour four times since 2018, including a sold-out 10th-anniversary show in June 2025.
This stop falls on a Saturday — one of only a few weekend dates on the limited 12-city 2026 run. Blackbird Presents and Live Nation scaled the 11th-anniversary tour down from 35 stops in 2025, making each date harder to catch.
Nelson also rides momentum from his 79th solo studio album, Dream Chaser, which drops May 29, 2026. Expect new material woven between decades of outlaw country standards.
Pine Knob Lineup — Outlaw Music Festival 2026
Six confirmed acts take the stage on August 22. Here is the complete lineup for the Clarkston date.
| Artist | Role |
|---|---|
| Willie Nelson & Family | Headliner |
| The Avett Brothers | Co-Headliner |
| Lukas Nelson | Supporting |
| Stephen Wilson Jr. | Supporting |
| Sierra Hull | Supporting |
| Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble | Supporting (Hometown Act) |
The Avett Brothers carry a deep folk-rock catalogue and serve as the main support at nine of 12 tour stops. Lukas Nelson, Willie’s son, bridges rock and Americana in sets that honour his father’s legacy.
Stephen Wilson Jr. appears at 11 of 12 dates, making him the most consistent presence behind Willie on this run. Sierra Hull brings Grammy-nominated bluegrass mandolin to the festival stage.
For context, Don Was grew up in Detroit and now leads Blue Note Records as its president. His Pan-Detroit Ensemble features a rotating cast of Motor City musicians, making Pine Knob their backyard stage.
Tickets for Outlaw Festival at Pine Knob
General public tickets went on sale Friday, March 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM through 313 Presents and Ticketmaster. Citi Card members gained early access via a presale starting March 25.
VIP packages offer upgraded viewing and dedicated amenities. General parking comes included with every ticket, and Premier Parking upgrades sell separately for closer access.
Saturday dates typically draw heavier demand than midweek stops. Fans planning to attend should secure tickets early, as the 2025 Pine Knob show sold out.
Venue Essentials — Pine Knob Music Theatre
Pine Knob Music Theatre sits at 33 Bob Seger Dr., Clarkston, MI 48348. Formerly known as DTE Energy Music Theatre, the venue holds approximately 15,274 guests across 6,189 covered pavilion seats and 8,851 lawn spots.
313 Presents manages the venue’s event calendar and ticketing. The park-like amphitheater delivers strong natural acoustics in a wooded outdoor setting.
Bag Policy — Stricter Than Other Outlaw Venues
Pine Knob enforces one of the tightest bag policies on the entire tour. Only small wallets, fanny packs, and clear bags within 4″ × 6″ × 1.5″ gain entry. That limit runs far smaller than the standard 12″ × 6″ × 12″ clear bag rule at most Outlaw Festival stops.
Bags for medical or dietary needs must stay under 16″ × 16″ × 8″ and face a security search. Leave all other bags in your car or at home.
Water and Food
You can bring one factory-sealed clear plastic water bottle of 20 oz or less. Alternatively, bring one empty crushable plastic bottle to fill inside.
Pine Knob bans outside food at the gate, unlike some other venues on this tour. Exceptions apply only for medical, religious, or dietary needs.
Lawn Chairs
Collapsible beach-style chairs with seats 12 inches or less from the ground qualify for the lawn. The venue also rents chairs on-site for fans who arrive without one.
Weather
All Pine Knob events run rain or shine. Cancellations happen only under extreme conditions.
What to Expect at the Pine Knob Show
Doors open around 2:00 PM, and performances begin at 3:20 PM on a Saturday. Based on past Outlaw Festival shows, expect over seven hours of live music stretching past 10:00 PM.
Estimated Set Times
| Estimated Order | Artist | Estimated Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble | 3:20 – 3:55 PM |
| 2 | Sierra Hull | 4:15 – 5:00 PM |
| 3 | Stephen Wilson Jr. | 5:20 – 6:10 PM |
| 4 | Lukas Nelson | 6:35 – 7:35 PM |
| 5 | The Avett Brothers | 8:05 – 9:20 PM |
| 6 | Willie Nelson & Family | 9:50 – 10:55 PM |
These are editorial estimates based on past Outlaw Music Festival performance sequences and the confirmed 3:20 PM start time. Official set times typically release the morning of the show via 313 Presents.
Tailgating
Pine Knob allows tailgating in designated parking spots before the show. However, the venue prohibits open flames, tents, and alcohol in the tailgate area. Keep your setup within your stall.
Weather and Comfort
Late August in Clarkston brings warm days in the high 70s to mid-80s°F. Temperatures drop after sunset, so bring a light layer for the Willie Nelson closing set.
Setlist Preview
Nelson typically opens with “Whiskey River” and builds toward crowd favorites. “On the Road Again” and “Always on My Mind” anchor the middle of most sets. He often closes with a full-cast “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”
For a deeper breakdown, see our Willie Nelson setlist guide.
Where Pine Knob Fits the 2026 Tour
Pine Knob sits at stop seven of the 12-date run. The night before, the tour plays Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI on August 21. The next day, Willie Nelson heads to Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN on August 23.
No other venue on the 2026 tour matches Pine Knob’s Outlaw Festival history. The amphitheater hosted the tour in 2018 with Sturgill Simpson and in 2023 with Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. It returned in 2024 with John Mellencamp and again in 2025 for a sold-out 10th-anniversary show.
That June 2025 date featured Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, and Myron Elkins alongside Willie Nelson. The 2026 return marks the fifth Outlaw appearance at this Clarkston venue.
The 2026 edition covers just 12 cities, down from 35 in 2025. Every date on this limited schedule carries added weight for fans across the Midwest.
FAQs
What is the bag policy at Pine Knob Music Theatre?
Pine Knob enforces a strict no-bag policy. Only small wallets, fanny packs, and clear bags within 4″ × 6″ × 1.5″ enter the venue. This limit runs much smaller than most other Outlaw Festival stops.
Can I bring water into Pine Knob?
Yes, but only one factory-sealed clear plastic bottle of 20 oz or less. You can also bring one empty crushable plastic bottle to refill inside.
Can I bring outside food?
No. Pine Knob bans outside food except for confirmed medical, religious, or dietary needs.
Can I bring a lawn chair?
Yes. Collapsible beach-style chairs with seats 12 inches or less from the ground qualify for the lawn area. Chair rentals also run on-site.
Does my ticket include parking?
Yes. General parking comes free with every ticket. Premier Parking upgrades for closer access sell separately through 313 Presents and Ticketmaster.
What time does the Outlaw Festival at Pine Knob end?
Based on past shows, Willie Nelson & Family typically finish around 10:55 PM. Plan for a late-night exit from the parking lots.
The Outlaw Music Festival 2026 takes place at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Dr, Clarkston, MI 48348 on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Performances begin at 3:20 PM ET with doors opening around 2:00 PM. The confirmed lineup includes Willie Nelson and Family as headliner, The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Hull, and Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble.
Don Was is a Detroit native and current president of Blue Note Records, making the Pine Knob date a hometown show for his Pan-Detroit Ensemble. Tickets went on general sale March 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM local time via 313 Presents and Ticketmaster, with Citi Card presale from March 25, 2026. VIP packages are available. General parking is included with every ticket.
Pine Knob Music Theatre, formerly DTE Energy Music Theatre, has a total capacity of approximately 15,274 with 6,189 covered pavilion seats and 8,851 lawn seats. Pine Knob enforces a strict bag policy allowing only small wallets, fanny packs, and clear bags within 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches, which is much stricter than the standard 12 by 6 by 12 inch clear bag rule at most other Outlaw Festival venues. Outside food is not permitted. Water is limited to one factory-sealed, clear plastic bottle of 20 oz or less.
The Outlaw Music Festival has visited Pine Knob four previous times: June 24, 2018 with Sturgill Simpson; September 22, 2023 with Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros; September 15, 2024 with Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp; and June 20, 2025 as a sold-out 10th-anniversary show with Bob Dylan, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, and Myron Elkins. The 2026 appearance marks the fifth Outlaw Festival at Pine Knob.
The 2026 Outlaw Music Festival is the 11th anniversary edition, organized by Blackbird Presents and Live Nation, covering 12 dates from July 3 through August 30, 2026. Pine Knob is stop number seven of twelve, following Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin on August 21 and preceding Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on August 23. Bob Dylan is not on the 2026 Outlaw Music Festival tour. Willie Nelson’s 79th solo studio album Dream Chaser releases May 29, 2026.