Who Runs the Outlaw Music Festival? Blackbird Presents & Live Nation Explained

Three names appear on every official Outlaw Music Festival announcement: Keith Wortman of Blackbird Presents, manager Mark Rothbaum, and Live Nation. Each one owns a distinct piece of the operation. Here is exactly how the whole machine runs.

Who Founded It?

Willie Nelson, his manager Mark Rothbaum, and Keith Wortman of Blackbird Presents co-founded the Outlaw Music Festival in 2016.

The first show was a single sold-out date at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania on September 18, 2016. It was so successful that all three partners immediately committed to turning it into an annual touring franchise.

The 2026 tour is its 11th consecutive year on the road.

What Blackbird Presents Does

Blackbird Presents is the creative engine behind the entire festival.

Led by Keith Wortman, Blackbird handles conceptualization, production, branding, merchandise, and media. They built the Outlaw identity from the ground up and have maintained it for a decade.

Their work extends well beyond the tour itself. Blackbird has co-produced the Willie Nelson and Family docuseries, the 2019 TV special Willie: Life & Songs of an American Outlaw, and the 2023 CBS/Paramount+ birthday special Willie Nelson 90 alongside Rothbaum.

They also operate the official festival merchandise shop from $40 tour tees to $650 limited anniversary bundles.

What Live Nation Does

Live Nation provides the nationwide infrastructure that makes the tour physically possible.

They manage tour routing, venue operations, and primary ticketing through Ticketmaster. Their network of amphitheaters across North America means the festival can move from Irving, Texas to Saratoga Springs, New York without switching venue partners.

Live Nation also manages corporate sponsorship activations, dynamic ticket pricing, presale windows, and VIP package logistics at every stop.

Who Is Mark Rothbaum?

Mark Rothbaum is Willie Nelson’s longtime personal manager and one of the festival’s three co-founders.

He sits between the creative and the commercial. Rothbaum represents Willie Nelson’s interests, oversees artist curation, and protects the legacy branding that gives the Outlaw name its weight.

The three-way structure is deliberate. Without Rothbaum, Blackbird has no headliner. Without Blackbird, Rothbaum has no production partner. Without Live Nation, neither has venues or tickets. All three are essential.

How the Festival Has Grown

The Outlaw Music Festival started as one amphitheater date and became a national institution in under five years.

Artists who have appeared across the festival’s run include Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Billy Strings, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, ZZ Top, Luke Combs, and Eric Church.

The 2025 tour ran 35 stops across 22 states for the 10th anniversary the largest Outlaw tour to date. Rolling Stone called it the most exciting and eclectic multi-artist festival of the 2025 summer amphitheater season.

The 2026 edition deliberately scales back to 12 high-significance dates to accommodate Willie Nelson’s lighter travel schedule approaching his 93rd birthday.

The Outlaw Village

The Outlaw Village is the festival’s traveling marketplace and a core part of every stop.

Every date features local food vendors, craft shopping, and brand activations. Confirmed 2026 in-festival brands include Willie’s Reserve cannabis products, Willie’s Remedy+ hemp-derived THC drinks, Outlaw Light Beer, and Wheatley Vodka tastings.

The Village opens well before showtime. Most dates begin at 3:20 PM local time, giving fans several hours before Willie closes the night.

What Tickets Cost in 2026

Prices vary by venue and seat tier.

Get-in prices start between $46 and $59 at most dates. High-demand markets like Irving, Texas push starting prices above $100. VIP packages include premium seating within the first 20 rows plus an exclusive merchandise pack.

Official merchandise runs $40 for standard tour tees, $45 for posters, and up to $650 for limited anniversary bundles.

Primary tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and outlawmusicfestival.com.

Full 2026 Tour Schedule

FAQ

Who produces the Outlaw Music Festival? Blackbird Presents, led by Keith Wortman, produces the festival. Live Nation serves as the official promoter and venue partner.

Who founded the Outlaw Music Festival? Willie Nelson, manager Mark Rothbaum, and Keith Wortman of Blackbird Presents co-founded it in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2016.

Does Live Nation own the Outlaw Music Festival? No. Blackbird Presents created and produces the festival. Live Nation provides venue infrastructure and ticketing as the official promoter.

How many years has the Outlaw Festival been running? 2026 is the 11th consecutive year. The festival launched with a single sold-out date in September 2016.

What is the Outlaw Village? The traveling marketplace at every festival stop featuring local food, artisan vendors, and brand activations including Willie’s Reserve cannabis and Outlaw Light Beer.

Where do I buy 2026 Outlaw Festival tickets? Ticketmaster.com and outlawmusicfestival.com handle all primary ticket sales.

How many cities does the 2026 tour visit? Twelve cities — three in Texas in July, nine Midwest and Northeast stops in August.