Our batch of 2026 music festivals have officially kicked off in our books with Governors Ball in Flushing Meadows, Queens and it still doesn’t feel like it actually happened…these music fest weekends seem to go by faster and faster each year.
Although there was an unfortunate passing storm, safety is always top priority at these things so the Saturday afternoon lineup was shortened to accommodate festival-goers seeking shelter as soon as possible. That said, it also meant that Kali Uchis’ set was unfortunately cancelled for the day so that the extremely, highly anticipated Saturday night headliner Stray Kids could have a chance to perform. Guess that means we’ll have to catch her another time very soon!
All in all, from inclement weather, to last minute set changes, and a whole lot of music togetherness, we’re sure to keep Gov Ball weekend top of mind as one of the coolest music experiences around.
Check out our recap of The Top 12 artists we saw at Governors Ball 2026.
2hollis
If there was a set designed to jolt the crowd into motion, 2hollis was it. Considering it was an early afternoon time slot, the crowd was wired up and ready to dance. Before the start of the set, I wound up chatting with another festival-goer visiting from Chicago, only for us to discover the artist was also originally from the Windy City – go figure! Intrigue was already at a high, and the beats and bass demanded my attention, so I found myself stopping by to check out the electric energy. What I had intended to be more of a casual stop in between sets, it turned into an appreciation of the genre-bending mix of rap, rock, and electropop.
A$AP Rocky
What’s a festival headliner without a lighting & strobes disclaimer and a delayed set time? Even with a shortened stage time, Lord Flacko’s reputation preceded him as he came to wrap up the 2026 Gov Ball weekend in style. Despite the time constraints, the energy never dipped and Rocky delivered an arena-level spectacle of a performance on his Queens stop of his Don’t Be Dumb tour. And as if the moment wasn’t already big enough, there was indeed a Rihanna sighting in the crowd which added another layer of hype that I just was not ready for, turning an already memorable and high level set into some bragging rights to last me through the summer.
Blood Orange
After their Saturday afternoon set was cancelled due to weather, Blood Orange made a welcomed return the next day, stepping in with a full performance at the Snapchat stage. Last minute set changes and cancellations are no fun, especially if the band you came to see got cut, so it came as a huge relief to many fans when they were so graciously performing the next day. Their setlist was filled with all the fan favs and despite everything, their performance carried on with smooth, and unhurried confidence that made up for the disruption from the day prior.
Clipse
Bars. On. Bars. Clipse delivered the kind of set that reminded everyone why their place in hip hop history is so secure – although, honestly, for the diehard fans I don’t think this was even in question. For those in the crowd who didn’t know their history like that, even from the outside it was impossible not to recognize how significant this performance felt. Everywhere you looked, heads were nodding in unison against the razor-sharp verses. The performance wasn’t flashy, or over-produced, it was simply artists who are masters of their craft, and for that, I have to give their Gov Ball set my utmost respect.
Geese
Finally! This was the fest lineup act I was anxiously waiting for all weekend. Geese brought one of the weekend’s most effortlessly cool performances that was just pure rock and roll. With a timely shout-out to the New York Knicks, this Brooklyn based group was worth the wait and gave the crowd those much needed cathartic sing-alongs and moshing one can only hope for at festivals.
Japanese Breakfast
JBrekkie? More like JPreggie! In one of the more unexpectedly tender moments at Gov Ball, Japanese Breakfast frontwoman Michelle Zauner debuted her baby bump for all festival go-ers to see. It was hard not to feel some type of way when the band’s already aching and longing songs carry deep, personal meaning, but to then layer family photos of the singer’s late mother as the backdrop to many of the setlist resulted in a super intimate and emotional performance in a way that I personally was not expecting going into this set. It was one of those shared music experiences that I think can only be explained as “you just had to be there.”
Jennie
So, listen. I’m convinced Jennie didn’t just perform at Governors Ball. She actually owned Governors Ball. I might be aging myself, but in all my years of attending festivals, I’ve only seen a crowd of this magnitude move toward a stage with that level of urgency once before and it was when Ozzy Osbourne played Lollapalooza in 2012 alongside Black Sabbath. My jaw dropped then just as it did this time! In both instances, there was just an unmistakable sense that something special was about to happen. Kicking off the set with pyrotechnics, tight choreo, and a super sweet nod to her dance crew, Jennie delivered every bit of anticipation that was the talk of the weekend; she’s a true rockstar.
Radio Free Alice
My Saturday morning Gov Ball weekend kicked off with the sounds of Radio Free Alice ringing across the festival grounds. Having just barely (and regrettably) missed their performance a week earlier at Chicago’s Do Division Street Fest, it was especially rewarding to see them take on a much bigger stage and absolutely shred it! Their sharp post-punk energy and familiar sound made for a perfect festival welcome and I cannot wait to see them on many more summer line-ups.
Ravyn Lenea
These days, it’s hard to ignore the impact of viral TikToks that just absolutely skyrocket an artist’s song, and while “Love Me Not” propelled Ravyn Lanea up the charts, she is just so much more endearing than a viral song. She held what I can only describe as an ethereal stage presence, blending smooth vocals and grace that captivated the crowd. There was a warmth and charm to her performance that made it feel both intimate and delicate, soulful and magnetic.
Slayyyter
This set was soooo much fun. The dials were turned up to 10 and then some on this one. Although everything felt a little chaotic and loud, it added to the larger than life presence that is Slayyyter that left a lasting impression. If there is just one single takeaway from Gov Ball, it’s this: DO NOT SNOOZE ON SLAYYYTER.
Villanelle
While trying to find some shade from the beaming Saturday afternoon sun at The Grove stage, I stumbled upon one of the weekend’s most intriguing discoveries: Villanelle. Fronted by Gene Gallagher, the son of Liam Gallagher (you may have heard of him from a little band called Oasis), Villanelle carries on a musical lineage that’s hard to ignore. It took a few songs for their set to fully grab my attention, but once they locked into a gritty sound reminiscent of Nirvana, you bet I was all in. Judging by the crowd of classic rock fans (dads), I knew I was witnessing an upcoming band whose raw and nostalgic energy was one to remember. Definitely one of the more under the radar acts of the weekend.
Wet Leg
To put it in the most simplest of terms: babes. Wet Leg is a band made up of just pure babes. This was my personal must not miss act of the entire weekend, and for a band who still is pretty early in their catalog, the stage presence and confidence was on the level of a band who has been doing this for decades. Pure charm from start to finish, a self-assured group with complete control of the stage, this was closest to what I’ve seen to a flawless set that will be echoing in my brain for years to come.
Written by: Alex Alvarez
