New York State Blues Festival

The 2026 New York State Blues Festival returns to Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds June 11, 12 & 13 with its most dynamic and nationally recognized lineup to date, headlined by four-time Grammy Award winner Gary Clark Jr.

Clark will close out Saturday night, June 13, bringing his electrifying fusion of rock, soul, R&B, and contemporary influences to Central New York in what promises to be one of the region’s most anticipated live music events of the summer.

Founded in 1992, the New York State Blues Festival is now in its sixth year at the New York State Fairgrounds and has grown into one of the Northeast’s premier admission-free live music events, drawing tens of thousands of attendees while generating significant regional economic impact.

Main Stage Schedule

Thursday, June 11

4:00pm – Gate Opens
5:00pm – 6:30pm – JW-Jones
7:00pm – 8:30pm – Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
9:00pm – 10:30pm – Tommy Castro & The Painkillers

Friday, June 12

3:00pm – Gate Opens
4:00pm – 5:00pm – Joe Whiting Band
5:30pm – 6:45pm – Ray Fuller & The Bluesrockers
7:15pm – 8:30pm – Piper & The Hard Times
9:00pm – 10:30pm – Grace Bowers

Saturday, June 13

11:00am – Gate Opens
12:00pm – 12:45pm – Blues Ignition
1:00pm – 1:45pm – Damdog
2:10pm – 3:00pm – All Night Boogie Band
3:30pm – 4:30pm – Matt Tarbell Phil Petroff
5:00pm – 6:15pm – Vanessa Collier
6:45pm – 8:00pm – Eddie 9V
8:30pm – 10:30pm – Gary Clark Jr.

Side Stage Schedule

Thursday, June 11

4:15pm & 6:30pm – Golden Soul Revue

Friday, June 12

5:00pm & 6:45pm – Raedwald Howland-Bolton

Saturday, June 13

1:45pm & 3pm – Buddy Manley
4:30pm & 6:15pm – Colin Aberdeen

All attendees should enter through the Main Gate. We will have a wide range of food and beverage vendors on site, shaded areas, space for your lawn chairs and room for dancing.

No coolers. No tents or large umbrellas. No outside food or beverages. Each patron is allowed one sealed water bottle. No unauthorized video taping or audio recording. No pets.

The 2026 New York State Blues Festival is supported through a Market New York grant from Empire State Development, and I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism. Additional support is being provided by Onondaga County, CNY Arts, and Visit Syracuse.