Virginia Arts Festival  
Announces Full Lineup for Their Summer Music Event 
Williamsburg Live 

June 25-28, 2026 

NEW! THURSDAY NIGHT SHOW ADDED! 

ARTIST LINEUP 

Melissa Etheridge & Wynonna Judd 

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue – Let’s Go Get ’Em Tour  

with Dumpstaphunk 

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas  

with Theo Lawrence 

Grace Potter 

Stars on stage and stars above—there are unforgettable concerts in store for fans of rock, jazz, bluegrass, and country when Virginia Arts Festival presents its popular outdoor summer music event WILLIAMSBURG LIVE, June 25-28, 2026. Adding an extra night of performances this year, Williamsburg Live is packed full of great performances, giving fans throughout southeastern Virginia and from across the country more reasons to enjoy a long weekend of not-to-be-missed concerts —along with the charms of Colonial Williamsburg. 

Tickets for Williamsburg Live will be available online at www.vafest.org or by phone at 757-282-2822, or in person at Virginia Arts Festival Box Office at 440 Bank Street in Norfolk.   

Adding a fourth day to Williamsburg Live is both an acknowledgement of the event’s extraordinary popularity and a unique partnership with Visit Williamsburg, Colonial Williamsburg, and the City of Williamsburg. “Williamsburg is pulling out all the stops in their celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday,” said Virginia Arts Festival’s Perry Artistic Director Robert W. Cross. “It’s the perfect place and time to celebrate great music that is defined by our country’s diversity and continues to make the United States an arts super power.”  

The 2025 Williamsburg Live weekend drew patrons who traveled from 30 states and the District of Columbia to hear their favorite artists. “We expect record numbers of fans for our 2026 concerts,” added Cross. “With so much to see, do, taste and discover in this historic region, and such an array of Grammy-winning, critically acclaimed artists from bluegrass to rock to jazz and beyond, Williamsburg Live is the place to be this summer.” 

"As America commemorates 250 years of independence, we couldn't be more excited to welcome visitors to experience four nights of world class Live music in the destination where America's journey began,” said Edward Harris, President & CEO, Visit Williamsburg. “Visit Williamsburg is proud to support this year's incredible lineup of artists."  

Headlining the Thursday June 25 evening will be multi-Grammy Award winners Melissa Etheridge & Wynonna Judd, who bring their powerhouse voices and guitar-driven hits to Virginia Arts Festival for the first time. Award-winning rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Melissa Etheridge stormed the rock world with her confessional songwriting and unmistakable rasp on classics like “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One,” and she returns with new music from her new album Rise (2026). Five-time Grammy winner Wynonna Judd first rose to fame as half of the legendary duo The Judds before launching a chart-topping solo career packed with country anthems including “No One Else on Earth” and “To Be Loved by You.” 

Friday June 26 brings a taste of New Orleans with jazz/funk icons Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue – Let’s Go Get ’Em Tour with special guest Dumpstaphunk. Born Troy Andrews, Grammy-winner Trombone Shorty got his nickname and start in music earlier than most, making his New Orleans Jazz Fest debut at just four years old alongside Bo Diddley and leading his own brass band by six. A prodigy turned powerhouse, he has since grown into one of the most electrifying performers in music today. Whether headlining festivals, lighting up TV stages or captivating arenas worldwide he’s a magnetic showman with unmatched talent on the horn.  

Dumpstaphunk has cemented its reputation as one of the most respected New Orleans musical institutions. Ivan Neville (keyboards, vocals) and Ian Neville (guitar), the sons of Aaron Neville and Art “Poppa Funk” Neville respectively, alongside original member Tony Hall (bass, guitar, vocals) have built upon their iconic NOLA legacy to become the city’s pre-eminent 21st-century funk-fusion export.  

Saturday night at Williamsburg Live, it’s an all-star lineup of iconic stars of bluegrass and roots music, headlined by Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas. Krauss (fiddle, lead vocal) signed to Rounder Records at age 14 and has gone on to sell over 12 million albums, earning 46 GRAMMY nominations and 27 wins. Jerry Douglas (dobro, lap steel, vocals) is a 16-time Grammy winner is a virtuoso who is to the resonator guitar what Jimi Hendrix was to the electric guitar: icon, groundbreaker, master.  They’re joined by French-Canadian singer-songwriter Theo Lawrence, who’s become an international star with his unique style that honors the country music tradition of the 1950s and ‘60s while adding elements of soul, pop and rock to create a sound all his own. 

Sunday evening brings thousands of fans to hear Grace Potter, a trailblazing, passionate artist who for 20 years has sold out tours, released critically acclaimed records, and collaborated with  

rock royalty like the Rolling Stones, Robert Plant, Bonnie Raitt, Iggy Pop, and many more. Potter’s soul-baring songs of longing, lust and self-salvation strike at the hearts of listeners, in performances that make you lean in, holding your breath for the next revelation.   

Each summer, Williamsburg Live brings world-renowned musical artists and thousands of fans to the Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. At the heart of the centuries-old city, this setting creates a magical space for music lovers to gather, sharing foodie fare from a signature collection of locally sourced food trucks, along with regional wines and craft beers. As the sun sets and the stars come out, patrons settle in for an evening of great music, with seating choices in the pavilion or on the lawn. And throughout the weekend, there’s so much to explore--centuries of history, unique shopping and award-winning restaurants.  

VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENTS 

WILLIAMSBURG LIVE 

THURSDAY, JUNE 25 

Melissa Etheridge & Wynonna Judd 

FRIDAY, JUNE 26 

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with Dumpstaphunk 

SATURDAY, JUNE 27 

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas with Theo Lawrence 

SUNDAY, JUNE 28 

Grace Potter  

Make it a weekend getaway. Visit Colonial Williamsburg Resorts for special Stay and Play offers - visit colonialwilliamsburg.org/stay-play/packages-special-offers or call 1-877-568-8225 for more information. 

Discover Things to Do in Williamsburg. Explore attractions, historic sites, and activities to enhance your Williamsburg Live weekend -VisitWilliamsburg.com. 

Co-presented with the City of Williamsburg, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Visit Williamsburg. 

Funded in part by the City of Williamsburg and the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission.  

About Williamsburg Live  
The Virginia Arts Festival hosts an annual outdoor summer music event Williamsburg Live on The Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg each June. Williamsburg Live offers a unique, beautiful setting for an intimate music festival experience designed to appeal to all the senses. Shaded by centuries-old trees, The Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg is surrounded by history – the perfect spot to enjoy great music, delicious local food truck fare, and local and regional craft beers and wines. Past artists headliners include Allison Krauss, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris, Lake Street Dive, Rhiannon Giddens, Jason Isbell, Martina McBride, Amos Lee, Chris Thile, Leyla McCalla, The Wood Brothers, Shovels & Rope, Kenny Loggins, Keb’ Mo’, Laufey, The Beach Boys, and more.  

About Virginia Arts Festival  
The largest performing arts organization in Southeastern Virginia, the Virginia Arts Festival has presented great performers from across the globe since 1997.  Under the direction of Perry Artistic Director Robert W. Cross, renowned artists have performed at the festival including Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Olga Kern, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Miami String Quartet, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Stewart Copeland, Audra McDonald, Kelli O’Hara, Patti LuPone, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre and Mark Morris Dance Group. The Festival has presented numerous world premieres and new productions of classical music, dance, and theatre from some of today’s most influential composers, choreographers, and playwrights. Van Cliburn Gold Medal-Awarded pianist Olga Kern serves as the Festival’s Connie and Marc Jacobson Director of Chamber Music, and award-winning Broadway music director Rob Fisher serves as the Festival’s Goode Family Artistic Advisor for Musical Theater and American Songbook. Each season, Virginia Arts Festival performances are broadcast nationwide on American Public Radio’s Performance Today. The Festival’s arts education programs reach tens of thousands of schoolchildren each year through student matinees, in-school performances, artist residencies, master classes, and demonstrations.  

Media Contact:   
Alli Pereira  
Apereira@vafest.org  
757-282-2804