Unbroken Circle Festival Unveils BIG 2026 Lineup
Madison, Indiana just over the Kentucky border, and right on the Ohio River is just about one of the best small towns in America to visit. And what better time to take it in than during the Unbroken Circle Festival September 10-12 at the town’s Bicentennial Park. It’s the perfect-sized festival with a big talent lineup featuring the best in independent country, insurgent roots, and Southern rock.
Set to headline the festival’s second year are Southern rock demigods Whiskey Myers, and four-time Grammy-winning Appalachian marvel Sierra Ferrell. Greensky Bluegrass, Shane Smith and the Saints, and another top name to be announced in April help round out the top of the poster.
Just as exciting are appearances by Silverada, Whitey Morgan and the 78’s, Shadowgrass, Taylor Hunnicutt, Clay Street Unit, Josh Meloy, American Aquarium, Wes Bayliss formerly of The Steel Woods, Emily Nenni, Alex Williams, and others.
As Saving Country Music observed after attending the inaugural festival in 2025, “It’s official. Independent country and roots music has a new killer festival on the calendar. It takes some guts and moxie to christen your event the ‘Unbroken Circle’ Festival. It also takes guts to start a completely independent music festival in 2025 with the way LiveNation is trying to corner every square inch of the map and calendar.”
But that’s exactly what they’ve done. The promoters behind Unbroken Circle Fest previously helped organize the Roostertail Festival during Madison, Indiana’s annual regatta. After Roostertail decided to go in a “different” direction, Unbroken Circle was dreamed up. Now it’s become one of the best festivals on the independent country calendar.
Tickets are now available at unbrokencirclefest.com.
February 24, 2026 @ 9:30 am
Bought my tickets line-up unseen as soon as they went on sale. I am not disappointed with this lineup in the least. A little heavier on the bluegrass this time, which I do enjoy and appreciate live but my musical IQ is not sophisticated enough to really dive deep into that genre. Hoping the TBA artist is something besides bluegrass or even Appalachian. Straight-up Texas country like Randy/Wade , Randall, Aaron or Casey would make a nice addition to the Silverada day imo. The only one I’d scratch if I could would be Them Dirty Roses. Just not my lane. Overall very happy with this. See you in September Trigger.
February 24, 2026 @ 9:33 am
I was hoping for more of a Texas flair to it this year. Honestly, and maybe I was dreaming, but I was convinced they had Zach Top booked to headline. They played his songs on multiple instagram reels going back to when they first announced the on sale dates. Maybe it was a red herring, maybe it was wishful thinking on my end.
February 24, 2026 @ 9:56 am
I had Charlie Crockett, Johnny BS, and Sierra F. in the headliner pool with my group that are going. Could still see Charlie in the TBA slot. Not really seeing a true legend like
Ricky Skaggs last year. Leaves a nice opening for someone like REK or Dwight to fill that role.
February 24, 2026 @ 9:30 am
It still boggles my mind that the organizers of the Madison Regatta saw what Roostertail was doing, the crowds it was drawing and decided “Instead of Turnpike Troubadours or 49 Winchester, we should build our festival around Brantley Gilbert and acts like that!” They blocked me on their socials when I pointed that out.