Home Live Review Live Review: All Things Go 2026 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion — 9/25-9/27/26

Live Review

Live Review: All Things Go 2026 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion — 9/25-9/27/26

October 9, 2026

Day1_Slayyyter (2) — Slayyyter performs live at Merriweather Post Pavilion for All Things Go 2026. (Photo by Roman Meerzaman)

All eyes were on DC’s edition of All Things Go after the New York festival was canceled entirely because of a nor’easter’s torrential rain and powerful winds. Despite facing its own weather challenges, Merriweather Post Pavilion hosted a marvelous weekend of music, with each day taking on a distinct character.

Day 1 featured a surprisingly stacked lineup early at the Chrysalis stage. Perhaps amplified by Friday’s later start time, back-to-back performances by Rico Nasty, Underscores, and Ninajirachi made for a marathon of trap metal and hyperpop. Slayyyter’s golden-hour performance was one of the most explosive of the entire festival, with her live band bringing a metallic edge to her already high-octane sound.

Closing out the secondary stage was Magdalena Bay, whose incredible Imaginal Disk tour seems to have no end in sight. Mainstage headliner Mitski brought her signature poetic charm, but it was Ethel Cain’s understated yet climactic performance that truly stood out. Surreal lighting and tall grass transformed the stage into a beautifully haunting scene.

Day 2 shifted further into pop territory, with acts such as Love Spells and Grace Ives warming up the Pavilion stage crowd with familiar sounds. Haute & Freddy wowed the audience with punchy ’80s-inspired pop ballads and the playful spectacle of every performer onstage dressed as a clown.

Once Suki Waterhouse’s set began, however, the day took on a new level of grandeur. Del Water Gap delivered an impassioned performance during the heaviest rain of the day, adding to the building excitement. MUNA followed with a dark, flashy set that demonstrated why the group has become an All Things Go regular.

Watch the official music video for “Eastside Girls” by MUNA on YouTube:

As if the weather gods had intervened, the rain suddenly stopped for Zara Larsson’s headline-worthy performance, which drew the largest crowd of the weekend to the Chrysalis stage. Several fans slipped and fell in the mud as they scrambled to get closer to the spectacle unfolding on the secondary stage.

Finally, there was Hayley Williams, whose All Things Go debut came with remarkable flair. The lighting and camera work gave each song its own visual identity, bringing her critically acclaimed album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party to life.

Day 3 largely traded pop for rock and folk music. Perhaps the most underrated day of the festival, Sunday suffered from ominous weather forecasts that ultimately proved overblown.

CMAT’s performance of Euro-country marked the point when the day really began to pick up momentum. Her bittersweet lyrics were matched by passionate stomping across the stage. Wolf Alice brought plenty of flair and classic rock pizzazz, building on the sound the band explored on its recent album The Clearing.

Tinashe brought tremendous energy to the stage while promoting her new album Popstar. I regretted not listening to it beforehand, especially after watching her take command of the stage with a tightly choreographed performance.

Father John Misty, Remi Wolf, and Lola Young all delivered solid performances that closely replicated the sound of their recordings.

Brandi Carlile was a pleasant surprise, fervently running across the stage and seemingly determined to share the spotlight with her supporting musicians. When a fight broke out in the pit, Carlile immediately alerted security before jumping right back into her performance without missing a beat. Her quick response demonstrated the confidence and instincts of a seasoned performer.

Watch the official music video for “Human” by Brandi Carlile on YouTube:

Of course, the weekend had its share of problems. Rain left a significant portion of the Chrysalis stage lawn unsafe, further restricting an already crowded viewing area.

Some of the scheduling decisions also proved questionable. Zara Larsson and Slayyyter, in particular, belonged on the Pavilion stage. Their audiences were simply too large for the Chrysalis, forcing a significant number of fans to watch from behind a screen rather than enjoy a clear view of the performances.

Still, organizing a festival lineup months in advance is no easy task, particularly when TikTok can turn an artist into an overnight sensation. It’s hard not to sympathize with the challenges organizers face when booking performers whose popularity can change dramatically before they ever take the stage.

Despite the weather, the muddy lawns, and the occasional scheduling miscalculation, All Things Go delivered three memorable days of music, with enough standout performances to make the weekend feel like a success.

Here are some photos of artists performing at All Things Go 2026, sorted alphabetically by artist’s name. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Roman Meerzaman.

Brandi Carlile