The Red Headed Stranger has a familiar plan lined up this summer.
Willie Nelson just announced another edition of his traveling ‘Outlaw Music Festival’ that will send him to venues all over North America along with special guests Wilco, Sheryl Crow, The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr. and more on select dates.
In total, the 92-year-old country icon (who turns 93 on April 29) has enlisted 10 co-headliners to join him on the road.
To close the brief summer run, Nelson and co. have three New York shows scheduled. They’re slated to go down at:
Jones Beach Theater
Wantagh, NY
Friday, Aug. 28
with The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Wilson Jr., Robert Randolph and Don Was
Bethel Woods Center For The Arts
Bethel, NY
Saturday, Aug. 29
with The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Wilson Jr., Robert Randolph and Don Was
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Springs, NY
Sunday, Aug. 30
with The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Wilson Jr., Robert Randolph and Don Was
This year’s ‘Outlaw’ outing will be the star-studded festival’s 11th go-round, which includes a Fourth of July Picnic with Billy Strings and Rodney Crowell at Austin, TX’s Germania Insurance Amphitheater.
“Being on the road and playing for the fans is what I love to do,” the Texas native said. “We don’t get to do as many shows as we used to, so every night out there means a little more. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and making it a special time.”
On the 2025 trek, Nelson — who just announced his 156th (!) album — performed 20 songs per show including fan favorite hits like “On The Road Again” and “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” along with Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Tom Waits covers, according to Set List FM.
Not bad for someone that was a pre-teen during World War II.
“With an enormous American flag unfurled behind him, Willie played his familiar nylon-stinged road-worn acoustic Martin guitar throughout his set with some impressive dexterity, which received enthusiastic applause each time,” Americana Highways wrote in an even-handed review of an August ’25 Saratoga Springs concert.
It may be familiar but we wouldn’t want it any other way from The Red Headed Stranger.
Tickets officially go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 27 at 10 am local time through Ticketmaster but are available now on trusted secondary market sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats.
We only recommend sites with a 100% buyer guarantee, so you know your transaction is safe and your tickets will arrive on time.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Willie Nelson’s 2026 ‘Outlaw Music Festival’ below.
Willie Nelson tickets
Inventory to see Willie Nelson live is available on all verified ticketing sites.
We recommend checking out StubHub, Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats to find the seats that makes the most sense for you.
‘Outlaw Music Festival’ tour schedule 2026
A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues, special guests joining the co-headliners and links to buy tickets can be found below.
| ‘Outlaw Music Festival’ tour dates |
|---|
| July 3 at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, TX with Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Margo Price, Lily Meola |
| July 4 at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater, Austin, TX with Billy Strings, Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Margo Price, Rodney Crowell, Lily Meola |
| July 5 at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX with Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Margo Price, Lily Meola |
| Aug. 18 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, MO with The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Hull and Don Was |
| Aug. 19 at the Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee, MN with The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Sierra Hull and Don Was |
| Aug. 21 at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI with The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Hull and Don Was |
| Aug. 22 at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI with The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Hull and Don Was |
| Aug. 23 at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN with The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Hull and Don Was |
| Aug. 25 at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, IL with The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Hull and Don Was |
| Aug. 28 at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY with The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Wilson Jr., Robert Randolph and Don Was |
| Aug. 29 at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY with The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Wilson Jr., Robert Randolph and Don Was |
| Aug. 30 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY with The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Wilson Jr., Robert Randolph and Don Was |
Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic
As mentioned above, the prolific Nelson will also headline his annual Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic with Billy Strings and Rodney Crowell at Austin, TX’s Germania Insurance Amphitheater.
‘Outlaw’ mainstays Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Margo Price and Lily Meola join them as well.
Interestingly, this will be the second consecutive year the patriotic celebration is held at this particular outdoor venue.
Willie Nelson solo tour schedule 2026
All Willie Nelson & Family dates, venues and links to buy tickets are listed here:
Wilco tour schedule 2026
A complete calendar including all North American tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.
Frontman Jeff Tweedy is also touring in support of his new solo record “Twilight Override.”
Avett Brothers tour schedule 2026
Starting this March, The Avett Brothers are touring with Mike Patton to show off their new collaborative 2025 effort “AVTT PTTN.”
About the album, The Post wrote “the earthy record evokes warm feelings of being gathered around a campfire. Unassuming yet anthemic, uplifting yet melancholy, the collaborators complement each other well.”
New Yorkers can catch them at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre on Friday, June 12 and Lewiston, NY’s Artpark Mainstage Theater on Tuesday, June 16.
Outlaw Music Festival 2026 lineup
For a fuller look at this year’s talented crop of performers, here’s everyone taking the stage with Nelson and Family at the 2026 Outlaw Music Festival and 4th of July Picnic (on select dates):
Lukas Nelson
Stephen Wilson Jr.
Margo Price
Sierra Hull
Robert Randolph
Don Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble
Lily Meola
Willie Nelson set list
Nelson closed his 2025 ‘Outlaw’ jaunt with a show at East Troy, WI’s Alpine Valley Music Theatre. Set List FM reported that these were the songs he played once he took the stage that day.
01.) “Whiskey River” (Johnny Bush cover)
02.) “Stay a Little Longer” (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys cover)
03.) “Still Is Still Moving to Me”
04.) “Bloody Mary Morning”
05.) “I Never Cared for You”
06.) “Workin’ Man Blues” (Merle Haggard cover)
07.) “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” (Ed Bruce cover)
08.) “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”
09.) “On the Road Again”
10.) “You Were Always on My Mind” (Gwen McCrae cover)
11.) “Good Hearted Woman” (Waylon Jennings cover)
12.) “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (Kris Kristofferson cover)
13.) “Move It on Over” (Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys cover)
14.) “Georgia (on My Mind)” (Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra cover)
15.) “I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train” (Billy Joe Shaver cover)
16.) “Last Leaf” (Tom Waits cover)
17.) “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”
18.) “Will the Circle Be Unbroken? / I’ll Fly Away”
19.) “It’s Hard to Be Humble” (Mac Davis cover)
20.) “I Saw the Light” (Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys cover)
Willie Nelson new music
On May 29, Nelson is dropping his 156th album “Dream Chaser.”
Ahead of the record’s release, he delivered a lead single, which is also titled “Dream Chaser.”
The simple, stripped-down track is un-fussy and just might make you well up as Nelson croons about time vanishing right before his eyes. Don’t be deceived by how plain this song sounds; “Dream Chaser” contains multitudes.
To hear for yourself, you can stream the emotional, three-minute, acoustic ditty here.
Country icons on tour in 2026
A veritable cornucopia of big-time country vets are striking out on major treks, farewell one-offs and Las Vegas residencies this year.
Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.
• Dolly Parton (Las Vegas residency)
Who else is “on the road again”? Check out our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2026 to find the show for you.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
