Northwest Tune-Up Announces 2026 Music Lineup for Bellingham's Fifth Annual Bike & Music Festival

Known for blending world-class riding with high-energy live performances, Northwest Tune-Up has carved out a unique lane among North American summer festivals: equal parts mountain bike gathering, outdoor expo and waterfront music experience. What began as a grassroots celebration of Bellingham’s cycling culture has grown into one of the Pacific Northwest’s signature summer events, drawing more than 13,000 attendees annually, with a large portion of the waterfront festival grounds remaining free and open to the public throughout the weekend.

This year’s music programming leans into diversity and discovery, moving from electronic and hip-hop to funk, indie rock, bluegrass and global fusion across two nights of main stage performances.

Friday night will see electronic duo Hippie Sabotage headline the waterfront stage alongside genre-bending acts including Dirtwire, Delhi 2 Dublin, Stephen Day and the Doc Swinson’s Opening Act Contest winner Henry Mansfield. Saturday shifts toward classic hip-hop, funk and progressive sounds with Souls of Mischief, Here Come the Mummies, Sierra Hull, Thunderpussy and the dream-pop duo Pearl & the Oysters rounding out the bill.

In addition to the ticketed waterfront main stage performances, Northwest Tune-Up will once again host the Rainier Tune Town Stage in the festival’s free public zone on Saturday and Sunday. Still in development, the community-focused stage will spotlight emerging local and regional artists throughout the weekend, bringing live music directly into the heart of the festival near the food trucks and WMBC Hecklers Lounge beer garden. Designed as a gathering space for riders, families and downtown visitors alike, Tune Town has become a launchpad for up-and-coming talent and a key part of the festival’s all-ages daytime atmosphere.

“Northwest Tune-Up has always been about bringing people together through movement, music and shared experiences,” said festival co-founder Brandon Watts. “You can spend the day riding world-class trails, watching athletes throw down at the jump contests, exploring new gear or hanging with friends downtown — then roll straight into a live show on the waterfront. There really isn’t another event that combines those worlds quite like this.”

While music anchors the festival evenings, bikes remain at the heart of the Tune-Up experience. The 2026 edition will feature more than 100 cycling and outdoor brands, expanded bike demos, pro athlete appearances, clinics, group rides and spectator-friendly competitions throughout the weekend.

New additions for 2026 include the Outdoor Research FMB Bronze-Level Freestyle Showdown presented by Zink Bikes, a new Red Bull Best Whip competition and expanded Shimano shuttle service connecting riders directly between Galbraith Mountain and the waterfront festival grounds.

Festival attendees can expect a full weekend of riding opportunities across Bellingham’s renowned trail networks, with races and events designed for everyone from first-time riders to elite competitors. Signature events include the Trailforks Galbraith Mountain Enduro, Kona Pump Track Drag Race and dirt jump competitions, all unfolding within minutes of the festival venue.

Beyond bikes and music, Northwest Tune-Up continues to emphasize community impact. Since launching in 2022, the festival has helped raise more than $275,000 for local nonprofits supporting trail development, youth programming and outdoor accessibility initiatives in the Bellingham area.

Tickets for Northwest Tune-Up 2026 are on sale now, including Bike & Music Combo passes, Music-Only tickets and Bike-Only options for riders focused entirely on the trails and demos.

For tickets, lineup details and festival information, visit nwtuneup.com .