Hinterland Music Festival, the four-day rural getaway tucked into the rolling hills of St. Charles, Iowa, is leveling up. The festival is nearing completion of a brand-new permanent outdoor stage at its festival grounds ahead of its 11th annual edition, set for July 30 through August 2, 2026. And if the lineup is any indication, the upgrade couldn’t come at a better time: KATSEYE, Lorde, Mumford & Sons, and Kali Uchis are all headlining.

The new stage is part of a serious infrastructure investment. Hinterland expanded its site by 130 acres in 2026, bringing the total footprint to nearly 400 acres across camping and parking, with 27 acres dedicated to the main festival concourse. That officially places the grounds — located off Interstate 35 about 30 minutes south of Des Moines — among the largest outdoor music sites in the Midwest.

Designed by Goché Inclusions alongside Hinterland’s ownership and operations team, the stage spans roughly 8,000 square feet, with a performance area elevated seven feet above grade and an overall height of 65 feet. It sits on a concrete foundation with a steel frame and an insulated metal panel wall and roof system — in other words, it’s built to last. The design intentionally complements the surrounding Warren County landscape, leaning into the durability and environmental awareness of the rural setting rather than fighting it.

“This is an important step in Hinterland’s future,” said Sam Summers, founder of Hinterland Music Festival and owner of the festival grounds. “From the beginning, our goal has been to build something lasting here — not just for one weekend, but for the long term. This permanent outdoor stage allows us to keep growing Hinterland in a thoughtful way, improve the experience for fans and artists, and continue establishing this part of Iowa as a special place for live music in the heart of the Midwest.”

The 2026 lineup is stacked across all four days. Thursday, July 30 is led by KATSEYE with beabadoobee, ASHNIKKO, AUDREY NUNA, Oklou, Jane Remover, Frost Children, Porch Light, Nourished by Time, and Pixel Grip. Friday, July 31 belongs to Lorde, joined by MUNA, Snow Strippers, Paris Paloma, SOFIA ISELLA, Wisp, Saint Avangeline, Between Friends, and Ninajirachi. Saturday, August 1 features Mumford & Sons, Jessie Murph, The Format, Santigold, CMAT, Julia Wolf, Waylon Wyatt, Amble, The Brook & The Bluff, and Buffalo Traffic Jam. And Sunday, August 2 closes things out with Kali Uchis, Young Miko, Geese, Wet Leg, Suki Waterhouse, Audrey Hobert, Samia, Haute & Freddy, Die Spitz, and Gouge Away.

Past Hinterland lineups have read like a who’s-who of modern festival headliners before they were household names — Chappell Roan, Lana Del Rey, Zach Bryan, Tyler, The Creator, Hozier, Noah Kahan, Phoebe Bridgers, Maggie Rogers, and Billy Strings have all graced the grounds. The 2026 bill keeps that tradition alive, balancing global pop forces like KATSEYE and Lorde with indie favorites, rising rap and R&B acts, and a heavy dose of guitar music.

Get familiar with Friday headliner Lorde on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/163tK9Wjr9P9DmM0AVK7lm

Tickets and full festival info are available at hinterlandiowa.com. With a permanent stage, an expanded footprint, and one of the most adventurous lineups in the Midwest this summer, Hinterland 2026 is shaping up to be the festival’s biggest chapter yet.