SAINT CHARLES, Iowa —
Hinterland, the popular Iowa music festival that expanded to four days this year, kicked off Thursday in St. Charles.
Video above: Hinterland Music Festival offering free passes for local residents
The festival has also added a new permanent stage, and the grounds have grown 130 acres to nearly 400.
Katseye headlines Thursday, followed by Lorde on Friday, Mumford & Sons on Saturday and Kali Uchis on Sunday.
Here's what you need to know.
Tickets
Festivalgoers can purchase one-day, two-day or 4-day tickets as well as camping, parking and shuttle tickets here.
To see how the Hinterland grounds are laid out, check out these maps.
WATCH: interland Music Festival offering free passes for local residents
KCCI forecast
Key times
Getting there
Drive and park: One must use the route assigned to their parking pass; North route I-35, exit 56; South route I-35, exit 47. Parking passes are not included with purchase of a ticket.
Camping: Campers arrive on Wednesday, July 29; Exit 52 for St. Charles will be open during this time. Lot Entrances:
All campers must be packed out by noon Monday.
Des Moines shuttle: Shuttle located at Southridge Mall, 1111 E. Army Post Road, Des Moines. The pickup/drop off location is on the northwest side of the mall; parking is free. Shuttle passes are digital tickets.
Rideshare or drop-off: Take I-35 to St. Charles; use the North route - Exit 56 to access the designated rideshare pick-up/drop-off location and parking lot at Gate C.
What to bring
KATSEYE will be the first headliner of the 2026 Hinterland Music festival, on Thursday, July 30.
Food and drink
Click here for the full list of food and drink vendors.
Day 1: Thursday, July 30
Headliner: KATSEYE will take the main stage at 10 p.m. The girl group's top tracks include hits like "Gnarly," "Gabriela" and "Pinky Up."
Lineup: beabadoobee 8 p.m.; ASHNIKKO 6:30 p.m.; Audrey Nuna 5:15 p.m.; Oklou 4 p.m.; Jane Remover 3 p.m.; Frost Children 2 p.m.; Porch Light 1 p.m.; Pixel Grip 12:30 a.m.; Nourished by Time 11:30 p.m.; Lipstick Homicide 6 p.m.; Duo Beats 4:45 p.m.
Things to explore: Check out the HinterMarket to do a little shopping at the festival. The HinterMarket features over 20 shops, most Iowa-owned; check out the list of vendors here.
Food and drinks: Check out smash burger combos, double burgers and a vegan burger option at Bussin' Burgers located on the East Concourse. Try specialty lemonades with mango, strawberry, lavender, watermelon and classic flavors at Lost Pelican Lemonade's mobile cart.
Lorde will be bringing her catalog of hits on Friday, July 31.
Day 2: Friday, July 31
Headliner: Lorde will take the main stage at 9:30 p.m. The Grammy-winning artist is known for hits like "Ribs," "Greenlight," "Supercut," "Royals" and "Teams."
Lineup: MUNA 7:30 p.m.; Snow Strippers 6:15 p.m.; Paris Paloma 5 p.m.; Sofia Isella 4 p.m.; Wisp 3 p.m.; Saint Avangeline 2 p.m.; Ninajirachi 12:30 am; Between Friends 11:30 p.m.; Leslie & The Ly's 5:45 p.m.; Sarah Tonin 4:30 p.m.; Crooked Torus 2:30 p.m.
Things to explore: Explore the new hiking trails throughout the campgrounds, with nearly 3.5 miles of beautifully wooded paths.
You’ll find plenty of surprises, including covered bridges, art installations, lemonade stands, a silent disco, a disc golf course and more. The trails will be lit at night, making them easy to enjoy throughout the festival weekend. After Hinterland, the trails will remain open year-round.
Food and drinks: Don't miss Winn and Sara's Kitchen, located on the West Concourse. They're the back-to-back Best New Food Contest winners at the Iowa State Fair.
Enjoy specialty coffee and caffeine boosts to stay energized all day, featuring Vanilla Ice, Mocha Magic, Cara Mellow, Rocke Man, plus churros at Chaotic Coffee, located on the East Concourse.
Frank Hoensch
Mumford & Sons will take the stage on the third night of the festival.
Day 3: Saturday, Aug. 1
Headliner: Mumford & Sons will take the main stage at 9:45 p.m. Their most popular hits include "Little Lion Man," "I Will Wait" and "Rubber Band Man."
Lineup: Jessie Murph 8 p.m.; The Format 6:30 p.m.; Santigold 5 p.m.; CMAT 3:45 p.m.; Julia Wolf 2:45 p.m.; Waylon Wyatt 1:45 p.m.; Amble 12:45 p.m.; Buffalo Traffic Jam 12:30 a.m.; The Brook & The Bluff 11:30 p.m.; Quintron & Miss Pussycat 3:15 p.m.; Derry & the Dirty Dishes 2:15 p.m.
Things to explore: Need to recharge before another day of music? Partake in daily yoga at 9 a.m. by the Campfire Stage. These Vinyasa yoga classes led by Mayce from Mindful Healing Co. will focus on connecting body with breath, relaxation, mindfulness and letting go. After, there will be a 10-15 minute sound bath during savasana to bring awareness inwards and fully immerse in the soothing sounds. All levels welcome, just bring a mat/towel & water.
Food and drinks: Looking for wraps, melts, acai bowls, lemonade drinks, cookies, bars and cinnamon rolls? Try Main Street Cafe & Bakery, located on the West Concourse. If you want fresh lemonade paired with a sweet treat, visit Hopper's Mini Donuts on the West Concourse.
Randy Holmes
Hinterland 2026 will wrap with singer Kali Uchis on Sunday, Aug. 2.
Day 4: Sunday, Aug. 2
Headliner: Kali Uchis will be the final headliner of the weekend to take the stage at 9:30 p.m. The American-Colombian singer has hits like, "Telepatia," "Moonlight" and "Melting."
Lineup: Young Miko 7:30 p.m.; Geese 6 p.m.; Wet Leg 4:45 p.m.; Suki Waterhouse 3:30 p.m.; Audrey Hobert 2:15 p.m.; Samia 1:15 p.m.; Haute & Freddy 12:15 p.m.; Gouge Away 12:30 a.m.; Die Spitz 11:30 p.m.; Jeffery Lewis 4:15 p.m.; Koo Koo 3 p.m.
Things to explore: Don't forget to check out Hinterland's Miniland. Curated by Des Moines' own Ramona Muse Lambert, Miniland is a creative experience for all, focused on DIY art, music and a welcoming spot for families to gather throughout the festival. Guests are invited to try their hand at button making, patch making, keychain construction, etc.
Food and drinks: To eat some mac and cheese variations — lobster mac, pork mac, buffalo chicken mac and corn dogs — stop at Coast 2 Coast Events from Arizona on the East Concourse.
To end the weekend on a sweet note, stop at Melona Ice Cream on the East Concourse for refreshing ice cream bars in fruit flavors, including melon, mango, strawberry, coconut and more.
To view the full list of food and drink vendors click here.