In this episode of The What Podcast, Bonnaroo veterans Beth and Bryan share their first impressions of the Bonnaroo 2026 lineup, breaking down what truly stands out and what feels different. They discuss genre balance, booking reactions across the Bonnaroo community, and ongoing questions around female artists and headliner representation. From headline-level conversations to deeper observations about where the festival is heading, this episode offers thoughtful, honest perspective for both longtime attendees and newcomers planning their next Roo.

Before diving into Bonnaroo 2026, the hosts catch up after a short break, and talk about recent experiences including MAINx24 in Chattanooga, and Portugal. The Man at The Caverns along with other festival news from around the country. They also take a nostalgic look back at the Bonnaroo 2002 DVD, and reflect on how the festival has changed over time before wrapping up with some contest entries. There's still time to enter, for a chance to win two tickets to Bonnaroo 2026 with a camping pass! Visit thewhat.co/win for details on how to enter, or call the hotline at (423) 667-7877!

Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

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(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:35) Brief History of The What Podcast

(00:07:41) MAINx24 and Portugal. The Man

(00:16:53) Jazzfest and Other Festivals

(00:21:22) Bonnaroo 2026 Updates and Lineup Thoughts

(00:46:19) Bonnaroo 2002 DVD

(00:49:40) Final Lineup Thoughts

(00:55:09) Contest Entries

(01:04:24) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

thewhat.co/win

instagram.com/ethorpephoto

MAINx24 Parade 2025 LIVESTREAM

Bonnaroo 2026 Lineup Day! LIVE on The What Podcast

Wet Leg: Tiny Desk Concert

Bonnaroo Lineup Behind the Scenes - Interview With AC Entertainment

Bonnaroo 2026 Lineup Breakdown with Cory & Tuba: Early Release, Big Changes, and What to Expect

Bonnaroo 2002 Official DVD

Beth's Bonnaroo 2026 Spotify Playlist

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The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at [email protected] or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.