SAY 'CHEERS' TO THAT! The Bon Iver co-founded Eaux Claires Festival will return for the first time in eight years at its new home of Carson Park this summer, July 24-25. Locals will be celebrating all of this week with a sold-out lineup announcement party, ticket pre-sales, and more. (Image via Eaux Claires, Knorth Studios)

It's time to step up to the plate! The official lineup for the 2026 Eaux Claires festival at Carson Park is almost here. The complete list of artists will be revealed to the world at 9am on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Thursday's official lineup announcement will follow a sold out "ballpark-themed celebration," officiated by umpires Justin Vernon and Asher Weisberg tonight at The 410 Bar (410 Galloway St., Eau Claire).

Originally founded by Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Aaron Dessner (The National), Eaux Claires Festival is set to return with "more something, for more everyone," keeping festivalgoers open to new characters and uncharted pathways – while paying homage to the local of it all.

"At the heart of our 2026 edition, curated by Bon Iver, is music," festival organizers shared. "But along with our incredible roster of musicians, the Eaux Claires bullpen will feature some of the most intriguing names in the literary world, for readings, discussions and collaborations."

The lineup of Eau Claire's local businesses to offer presale access codes, pictured above at The Joynt (322 Water St.). (Image via Eaux Claires, Knorth Studios)

In keeping with the festival's origins in Wisconsin, attendees at tonight's free-to-attend event will have the chance to secure pull tabs of their own – courtesy of the Midwest fan-favorite, Lucky 22's Pull Tabs – for the chance to reveal artists slated to perform at the summer festival this July 24-25.

As the tabs are pulled and each "win" is secured, locals will be the first to unveil who will appear at Eaux Claires 2026. At The 410 Bar, folks will also  enjoy live performances by Eau Claire's sloslylove and The Golden Band – co-presented by local radio station Farewell Transmission Radio, through Converge Media.

But the fun doesn't stop there; as the official lineup is shared with the world the following Thursday morning, locals in the Eau Claire area will have the first opportunity to snag their festival tickets.

Beginning at 9am on Feb. 12, special access codes will be available to collect in person at six local businesses in and around downtown Eau Claire.

Eaux Claires 2026 "Local Presale" businesses include: 

The Local Store (205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire) - Open 9am-9pm
Leona's Pizzeria (406 Galloway St., Eau Claire) - Open 12pm-2pm / 4pm-8pm
Revival Records (128 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire) - Open 10am-6pm
Abraxas Wax (320 Graham Ave., Suite 102, Eau Claire) - Open 11am-7pm
The Joynt (322 Water St., Eau Claire) - Open 1pm-2am
Racy D'Lenes Coffee Lounge (404 Riverside Ave., Eau Claire) - Open 8am-2pm

Specially priced tickets for the 2026 festival will become available online through a "fan presale" at 9am on Friday, Feb. 13; all remaining tickets will go on sale at 11am.

The veil of secrecy and guerilla marketing which has traditionally surrounded much of the former Eaux Claires festival announcements only heightens the anticipation among fans and media alike. The official reveal will shed light on the artists, collaborators and immersive experiences which will define this year's installment of the highly-regarded event.

Follow along with Eaux Claires online at eauxclaires.com and Volume One online for continued updates.