Portola Music Festival is no longer the new kid on San Francisco’s music festival block, and its newly unveiled fifth-year lineup makes clear, Portola’s doubling down on ambition over familiarity. Set to return to Pier 80 on September 26th and 27th, the festival continues to position itself as a defining force in the city’s dance / pop landscape.
After weeks of speculation, the full lineup has arrived, led by a trio of electronic heavyweight headliners: Swedish House Mafia, Robyn, and Dog Blood, the long-awaited Skrillex – Boys Noize collaborative project. Together, they signal a continued commitment to both global star power and genre-defining artists.
Additionally, the 2026 roster is stacked with names that span eras and styles of dance music. Zara Larsson, Fatboy Slim, Skepta, Four Tet, Tiësto, Tove Lo, Soulwax, and DJ Shadow anchor a deep and eclectic lineup, underscoring the festival’s curatorial range. Like previous years, the lineup balances legacy acts with contemporary voices, creating a program that appeals as much to purists as it does to newer audiences.
A returning highlight is Despacio, an immersive, audiophile-friendly sound experience created by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy alongside David and Stephen Dewaele of Soulwax/2manydjs and sound engineer John Klett. Known for its towering speaker stacks and analog ethos, Despacio has become a cornerstone of Portola’s identity, offering a rare, intentionally slow alternative to the high-intensity pace of festival sets.
Behind the scenes, Portola’s distinct musical identity continues to be shaped by organizer and lineup architect Danny Bell, whose curatorial sensibilities have guided the festival since its inception. Bell has been a recurring voice in our coverage: ahead of the festival’s sophomore edition in 2023, he spoke with us about launching what was then a new event in an ultra-competitive live music landscape. He returned again last year to reflect on the evolution of Portola, discussing the balance between crowd-pleasing bookings and more adventurous programming, as well as his broader outlook on the future of live music experiences.
Now entering its fifth year, Portola appears less interested in playing it safe than in refining what has already made it one of San Francisco’s most compelling musical pillars. It’s a festival equally rooted in dancefloor culture and forward-thinking curation.
The full lineup is listed below.
Full 2026 Lineup:
ADÉLA
Airwolf Paradise
Azzecca
Baby J
Bassvictim
Beltran b2b Ben Sterling
Ben UFO
Brunello
Channel Tres
Chloé Caillet
Clearcast
Daphni
Dean Turnley
DESPACIO
DJ Shadow
DOG BLOOD (Skrillex & Boys Noize)
ear
erika b2b sfcowboy
Fatboy Slim
Fcukers
Felly Fell
Four Tet
Gelli Haha
Groove Armada
horsegiirL
jigitz
JT
Jyoty
Kelela
KETTAMA
Marlon Hoffstadt
Max Styler
Melanie C (DJ Set)
MGNA Crrrta
Mike D 5D
Mind Enterprises
Mochakk
nate sib
nimino
Ninajirachi
oskar med k
Overmono
Parcels
Prospa
Ranger Trucco b2b Alisha
riria
Robyn
Sam Alfred
Silva Bumpa
SG Lewis
Six Sex
Skepta
Soulwax
Swedish House Mafia
Tiësto
Tove Lo
Torren Foot
Tricky
underscores
VTSS
Zara Larsson
ZULAN
