Photo Credit: Stephanie Heath for Shaky Knees Music Festival

This weekend, Shaky Knees Music Festival returns to Atlanta for its 13th edition, bringing three days of live music, food, drinks, and plenty to explore throughout Piedmont Park. From September 18-20, music fans will gather in the heart of Atlanta for a weekend featuring some of the biggest names in rock, alternative, punk, hip-hop, and more. This year also marks only the second time Shaky Knees has taken over Piedmont Park, giving festivalgoers another opportunity to experience one of Atlanta’s biggest music weekends in a beautiful outdoor setting.

One of the things that makes Shaky Knees such an exciting festival is the way it brings together major headliners, established favorites, and emerging artists across a wide range of genres. There is truly something for just about every music fan throughout the weekend, and with four stages and two artists playing at the same time throughout the day, there will be plenty of difficult decisions to make when planning your schedule. The headliners are the one exception, with no competing performance during their sets. Friday will close out with The Strokes, twenty one pilots will headline Saturday, and Gorillaz will close out the weekend Sunday. With so many artists playing throughout the weekend, I highly recommend checking out the schedule before you arrive and making a plan for the performances you absolutely do not want to miss.

At the same time, I would recommend leaving some room in that schedule to discover someone new. One of my favorite parts of any festival is stumbling across an artist I have never heard before and leaving with a new favorite. Shaky Knees offers plenty of opportunities for those moments, especially for fans who arrive early and take a chance on some of the newer artists throughout the lineup. Some of the new to me artists that I am excited to check out include Sophie’s Body, Hotel Fiction, Porch Light, and Showing Teeth.

Friday kicks off with Ben Howard, Cartel, Hot Mulligan, Geese, Snow Strippers, GoldFord, Turnstile, Alice Phoebe Lou, Fontaines D.C., Danny Elfman, and The Strokes. There are plenty of performances I am personally looking forward to throughout the day, but Cartel and Hot Mulligan are definitely high on my list as must-see performances. Saturday is packed from beginning to end, with performances from The Rapture, Geordie Greep, Minus the Bear, Peach Pit, Jimmy Eat World, Congress the Band, Blood Orange, Taking Back Sunday, Pierce the Veil, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, The Prodigy, Pavement, and twenty one pilots, alongside a number of other artists. There is a little bit of everything throughout the day, making Saturday one of those days where it will be nearly impossible to see everything you want to see. From the nostalgic sounds of Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday to the heavier performances from Pierce the Veil and The Prodigy, there will be plenty to keep fans moving between stages. Sunday brings another impressive lineup with Coheed and Cambria, Jet, OK Go, Santigold, American Hi-Fi, Modest Mouse, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Wu-Tang Clan, Fcukers, LCD Soundsystem, Knocked Loose, and Gorillaz among the artists taking the stages throughout the day. Fans looking for a little variety will have no trouble finding it, with everything from alternative and rock to hip-hop and electronic music represented throughout the day. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Knocked Loose are two performances I am especially excited to catch before Gorillaz closes out the weekend.

One of the best things about Shaky Knees is that there is plenty to do between sets. Fans will find a variety of festival activations throughout the grounds, giving everyone a chance to take a break from the music, grab some free goodies, cool down, or simply spend some time exploring. Sierra Nevada’s Hazy Little Hideaway will offer fans a place to relax and connect to free WiFi, while Electrolit’s Hydration House will be offering free hydration samples throughout the weekend. There will also be plenty of lounges and interactive experiences to check out, including the Club Wyndham Lounge, Verizon Customer Perks, That Tito’s Thing, Yerba Madre, White Claw Shore Club, BeatBox Party Pit, Chase Freedom Cashback Club, Don Julio Oasis, Club Cayman Jack, and Tombstone. Whether you are looking for a shaded place to recharge, a photo opportunity, festival merch, games, or something to take home, it will be worth taking some time to explore everything Shaky Knees has to offer outside of the stages.

The food lineup is another part of the festival that I am especially looking forward to. There will be a wide variety of options throughout the grounds, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices, along with desserts and coffee. A few of the spots already on my list includeGet BAKED Stuffed Pretzel Rolls, Smash & Grab, and Taco Papi. The DoorDash Food Village is another destination worth checking out, bringing eight local restaurants together in one place. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, Hungry AF, Louisiana Bistreaux, Ru San’s Kennesaw, Trap Wingz, Nakato Japanese Restaurant, Tribe and Spice, and Tin Drum will all be represented. I tried some of the restaurants featured in the Food Village at another festival earlier this year and was impressed with the food, so I am especially excited to see what is being served up at Shaky Knees.

Atlanta is expected to be very hot and humid throughout the weekend, so staying cool should be a priority. Sunscreen, comfortable shoes, a reusable water bottle, and anything else that helps you handle the heat should be part of your festival bag. Make sure to take advantage of opportunities to sit in the shade, grab some water, and cool down between sets. With three full days of music ahead, taking care of yourself will go a long way toward making it through the entire weekend.

Before heading to Piedmont Park, fans should also take a few minutes to review the official festival guide. It includes information about getting to the festival, directions, rideshare information, the festival’s bag policy, permitted and prohibited items, box office information, accessibility, health and safety, locker rentals, and re-entry. Taking a few minutes to look through that information ahead of time can make getting into the festival much easier.

I also highly recommend stopping by the official Shaky Knees merchandise pop-up before the festival begins. The pop-up opens Thursday, September 17, giving fans an opportunity to grab their festival merch before the gates open. Getting your merch early can help you avoid waiting in line inside the festival and gives you more time to watch performances, grab food and drinks, and explore the activations throughout the weekend.

For those who still want to keep the party going after the festival grounds close, be sure to check out the Shaky Knees late-night aftershows. This year’s lineup includes Jimmy Eat World, Congress the Band, Peach Pit, The Rapture, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Cartel, Geordie Greep, Knocked Loose, Modest Mouse, Fcukers, Hot Mulligan, Nate Sib, The Two Lips, and Villanelle. Many of the shows have already sold out, but limited tickets remain for some of the artists, so it is worth checking the aftershows lineup before the weekend begins. I will personally be making my way to the Cartel and Hot Mulligan aftershows, and I cannot wait to keep the music going into the early hours. Even better, $1 from every aftershow ticket sold will go to Songs For Kids, an organization that provides music mentorship for kids with illnesses, injuries, and disabilities.

Shaky Knees has also partnered with This Must Be The Place, which will be onsite throughout the weekend providing free naloxone and resources focused on fentanyl awareness. It is another important resource for fans and a reminder that taking care of one another should always be part of the festival experience.

One thing fans should know before heading to Atlanta is that Shaky Knees 2026 is completely sold out. Those still looking for tickets can check the festival’s verified resale platform for available tickets. If you already have your ticket, now is the time to start planning your weekend and figuring out which artists are at the top of your list.

With an impressive lineup, four stages, plenty of food and drinks, interactive activations, and aftershows taking over Atlanta at night, Shaky Knees Music Festival has everything needed for a memorable festival weekend. Whether you are heading to Piedmont Park for The Strokes, twenty one pilots, Gorillaz, Turnstile, Wu-Tang Clan, Geese, or hoping to discover your next favorite artist, there will be plenty to experience from the moment you arrive until the final set ends Sunday night.

Come prepared for the heat, make your schedule, arrive early, and most importantly, leave yourself some time to explore. I cannot wait to spend the weekend at Piedmont Park photographing the music, discovering new artists, trying some of the food, and experiencing everything Shaky Knees has to offer. We hope to see you there!

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