Farm Aid 2026: Backstage and Onstage With Neil Young, Nathaniel Rateliff, More

  • Lukas Nelson

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    The son of Willie Nelson did double duty at Farm Aid, playing his own show, which included “Just Outside of Austin,” and sitting in with his father’s headlning set.

  • Mickey Raphael and Jesse Welles

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Mickey Raphael, Willie Nelson’s longtime harmonica player, gave protest singer Jesse Welles a harmonica backstage.

  • Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Farm Aid board member Neil Young led the Chrome Hearts through a set that included “Old Man,” “Powderfinger,” and a closing “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

  • Micah Nelson

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Micah Nelson, backstage at Farm Aid 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

  • Margo Price

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Margo Price paid tribute to Dolly Parton with a performance of “9 to 5.”

  • Turnpike Troubadours

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Red Dirt torchbearers the Turnpike Troubadours pose backstage at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach.

  • Mon Rovîa

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    The folk singer Mon Rovîa made his Farm Aid debut.

  • John Mellencamp

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Classics like “Pink Houses,” “Paper in Fire,” and the farmer’s lament “Rain on the Scarecrow” were all part of John Mellencamp’s set.

  • Lily Meola

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Lily Meola delivered songs off her debut LP, Lucky to Be, and also sang “Will You Remember Mine?” with Willie Nelson during the Red Headed Stranger’s headlining performance.

  • Sierra Ferrell

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Grammy-winning Americana singer Sierra Ferrell paid tribute to Dolly Parton with a cover of Parton’s “Here I Am.”

  • I’m With Her

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    The trio of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan perform as I’m With Her at Farm Aid.

  • Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Nathaniel Rateliff shows off his Farm Aid patch backstage.

  • Kyle Nix

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Turnpike Troubadours fiddle player Kyle Nix onstage at Farm Aid 2026.

  • Dave Matthews

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds’ set included two DMB staples with guest Jake Renick Simpson, “Crush” and “Ants Marching.”

  • Spooner and Karen Oldham

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Spooner Oldham with his wife Karen backstage. Oldham, who plays keys in Neil Young’s Chrome Hearts, was also a member of the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

  • Ty Myers

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    Austin, Texas, songwriter Ty Myers recently released his tribute album to Willie Nelson, Two Braids & the Truth.

  • Willie’s Singalong

    Image Credit: Jonathan Terrell

    This year’s Farm Aid performers gather around Willie Nelson for the festival-closing gospel medley.