Outside Lands is the Bay Area’s most iconic festival, turning Golden Gate Park into a cultural oasis every August. Dozens of white-hot acts performing across seven stages, 100+ local food options, interactive art installations, and an entire section dedicated to cannabis—it’s truly a San Francisco classic.
Despite the ongoing chaos in the real world, the vibes seemed extra high at Outside Lands 2026. Everywhere you looked, you saw dense crowds filled with smiles and laughter. Analog Polaroid cameras were everywhere, bracelets and Pokémon cards were being traded, and everyone seemed especially enthusiastic to be together.
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The energy in the crowd was electric all weekend long. Headliners Charli XCX, The Strokes, and RUFUS DU SOL certainly had the crowd hypnotized, but many of the acts on the side stages saw equally energetic showings. Turnstile’s mosh pit went viral for all the right reasons while Death Cab For Cutie’s early Sunday revival of their smash hit album Plans packed the Sutro stage with Millennials wistful for a simpler time. Even Djo frontman Joe Keery got the zoomies mid-performance.
Maybe it’s the fact that the state of society has everyone desperate for an escape or that a generation of doomscrolling sees us yearning for real-life human connection. Maybe it’s the fact that Outside Lands takes place in a literal vortex of trees, exhuding mystical uplifting energy that’s impossible to ignore. Whatever it was, it was clear people were looking for a chance to connect.
“America is tired,” said Empire of the Sun frontman Luke Steele during the band’s performance Sunday on the Lands End stage. “There needs to be a cleansing.”
High among the trees
When asked what gets people high at Outside Lands, many attendees and performers said the atmosphere. Holding a music festival in rolling hills amidst towering trees creates an idyllic setting where for a few hours (or a three-day weekend) you can forget about the chaos of the world beyond the gates.
“Being here in the trees, choosing joy—that’s my high,” said one festivalgoer.
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Kosta Galanopoulos of psychedelic pop-soul band RIO KOSTA agreed that the festival grounds themselves are a high point.
“We’re in this valley; it feels like a trove and a cove, and you feel safe,” Kosta told GreenState.
“This location, you’re allowed to stroll, you can lie in the grass and take your leisure time while enjoying some of the best music in the world,” bandmate Mike Del Rio added.
The trees weren’t the only greenery keeping spirits high. In Grass Lands, there were long lines at multiple booths throughout the weekend. While cannabis is a quintessential festival pairing for many, organizers believe it was more than just bud keeping people in the vicinity.
Lauren Carpenter, CEO of cannabis retailer Embarc and producer of Grass Lands, noted that many of the brands activating this year went above and beyond to entice guests. From made-to-order swag and DIY tie-dye to sound baths and DJ sets, there was plenty to do and see in Grass Lands.
“When you layer in something experiential, and that’s focused on celebrating cannabis, you see a different level of community take shape,” Carpenter said of the unique Grass Lands environment.
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Celebrating its sixth year on site, the Embarc team said this year’s festival was the best yet for Grass Lands. Carpenter said seeing people return again and again throughout the weekend was among the most rewarding parts of the experience.
“We consistently get feedback that it’s people’s favorite place to be at Outside Lands,” she said.
Choosing joy
After three days in Golden Gate Park, it seemed like the thing getting people highest wasn’t necessarily something you could buy at a booth. It was dancing with strangers, making new friends, and sharing moments that turned into core memories.
Maybe Steele was right that America needs a cleansing. For one weekend in San Francisco, tens of thousands of people seemed to find one—not by avoiding each other, but by choosing to be together.
Despite the chaos in the world, Outside Lands 2026 felt like a non-stop celebration of everything that makes life wonderful. One can only hope that joy extends beyond the festival grounds into real life, because lord knows we could all use a little more happiness nowadays.
