Culture
All Things Go DC 2026 showcases the strength of women and queer artists in pop
By: Nicholas Kobe
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COLUMBIA, Maryland (WOUB) – The post-pandemic pop music festival landscape has evolved rapidly. The rise in popularity of festivals like Lollapalooza and Governors Ball has challenged the once-dominant Coachella. However, as live music prices rise, festivals face a tougher battle for fans’ limited budgets.
All Things Go, with festivals in Toronto, Washington, D.C., and New York City, has distinguished itself in part by emphasizing women and queer artists. It has also miraculously managed to deliver lineups with the consistency of a smaller festival while still landing show-stopping talent.
In particular, All Things Go DC, taking place Sept. 25–27 at Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Parkway) might have one of the tightest pop festival lineups I’ve ever seen.
And that’s before we get to the headliners. Ethel Cain and Mitski are the one-two sad girl dynamic duo of a lifetime. I saw Ethel in Pittsburgh last year, and it was absolutely magical. Cain’s eye for lighting, stage design, and overall worldbuilding helped enrapture me in what is already one of the best discographies of any modern artist. Mitski, on the other hand, is a firmly established legend, and she’s got no shortage of incredible songs to make her performance another sure highlight of the festival.
These more mellow artists are a pretty stark contrast to someone like Slayyyter. Still, with acts like SYML, Stella Lefty and Rainbow Kitten Surprise ranging from indie rock to country, there’s a chill side to Friday that is going to be leaned on even harder over the weekend. Still, these acts balance the day’s two disparate ends. This balance is perhaps best shown by synth-pop duo Magdalena Bay, whose music is both elegant and exciting.
I’m also glad to see there’s room for Rico Nasty and Robby Hoffman. Rico has incorporated pop and electronic elements into her sound, yes, but she’s very much a rapper, so that diversity is going to be well appreciated. Meanwhile, Robby Hoffman isn’t a musician, but a comedian. In my time covering rock festivals, it’s never once occurred to me that you can throw a stand-up set alongside musical artists, but like Rico, I think it’ll be a nice change of pace.
Saturday’s lineup is less definable than Friday’s, while still including some incredible, must-see artists. At the top of the bill, Hayley Williams speaks for herself. Best known as Paramore’s lead singer, Williams has been making music since she was a teenager. Both with Paramore and solo, Williams genuinely has never released a bad project, and Ego Death at the Bachelorette Party is no exception. The record showcases her masterfully emotional songwriting. Pair these great songs with Williams being one of the greatest live vocalists I’ve ever heard, and you’ve got a guaranteed banger set for Saturday night.
Alongside her, Muna is one of the most promising names in pop. They’re incredibly fun and another great addition to the lineup. Zara Larsson is technically positioned under Muna and Hayley Williams on the poster. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s also treated as a headliner, something that’s been a long time coming for the Swedish sensation. Larsson’s explosion into the mainstream with her newest record, Midnight Sun, has been one of the musical highlights of 2026. Larsson has managed to capture the fun and whimsy of summer with some of the most addictive pop I’ve heard in a while, not to mention her incredible live vocals and dancing. Larsson’s set will likely be one of the most talked about and best of the whole festival.
Some of my personal favs on Saturday include Rebecca Black, Hemlocke Springs, and The Beaches, showcasing the day’s wide musical range while also being incredibly fun acts in their own right.
Sunday is a more mellow end to the festival, with Lola Young and Brandi Carlile closing out All Things Go’s final day. Alongside Father John Misty and the recently added Remi Wolf, there’s still plenty of star power to hold up this last day, even if I’m not as personally keen on it.
However, I’m particularly excited for Tinashe, whose upcoming album Popstar has delivered a non-stop slew of great singles. Alongside that, you have the always consistent Wolf Alice. I also think Rochelle Jordan’s R&B stands out nicely in this lineup.
Sunday is very much the country day of All Things Go, which, for lineup diversity’s sake, I really appreciate. The pipeline from singer-songwriter pop and indie to country also isn’t so much of a stretch that there’d be no crossover with the fans. Plus, a modern pop audience still has big names like Lola Young and Remi Wolf to look out for, even if the former isn’t exactly pop.
Brandi Carlile was a great choice for a headliner, as alongside Hayley Williams, she’s one of the most established legends in this lineup. Carlile has a long history of iconic records and is a sure-fire success, especially on an across-the-board women- and queer-heavy lineup.
In the wake of Ella Langley’s (who isn’t at All Things Go) success, it’s clear there is room for women in country/Americana like Sierra Ferrell, Jensen McRae, and CMAT to make a huge mark, not only at All Things Go, but in the industry at large.
It’s worth reemphasizing All Things Go’s focus on women and queer artists. It’s an aspect of the festival they’ve continued to emphasize, and rightfully so. Outside of the recent Daisy Chain Fields, it’s hard to find a festival so dominated by women. That shouldn’t be the case, especially in pop, where all of the best and biggest names are women. Festivals across genres are often too scared to lean into modern, and especially female, talent to carry their bills. All Things Go DC (and NYC, for that matter) proves this is not only possible, but smart.
All Things Go enticed me to travel all the way to D.C. simply because the lineup is spotless. There are a few duds and some “not for me”s, but for the most part, there are really no holes. It’s smaller than, say, Lollapalooza, but I think that’s allowed the organizers to create an experience that thrives on consistency. This lineup feels curated in a way that people will be genuinely excited for most of the acts, something the bigger festivals really struggle with.
For my first foray into non-rock festivals, All Things Go DC looks about as good as it gets. Mega-stars alongside promising young talent, all put together with a level of cohesion and care that feels incredibly intentional. I expect this to hold together better as a whole than many of the festivals I’ve been to in the past.