The Newport Folk Festival unveiled the first act in its rolling 2026 lineup Thursday, announcing that Hayley Williams & Friends will perform on the opening day of the three-day event.
Williams, the Paramore frontwoman, is set to take the stage Friday, July 24, at Fort Adams State Park, where the iconic festival will celebrate its 67th year.
“We are beyond excited to announce that Hayley Williams & Friends will be heading to the Fort this summer,” organizers said in a statement.
The announcement comes just one day after tickets for the festival sold out within seconds of going on sale Wednesday via the DICE app. Single-day passes were priced at $118.45, with two-day and three-day options at $226.60 and $314.15, respectively.
Williams is no stranger to the Newport stage. She appeared as a surprise guest during the 2025 festival, joining Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers for a Newport edition of The Ally Coalition Talent Show. During that set, she debuted her song “Mirtazapine” and covered Modern English’s “I Melt With You.” Her 2026 appearance marks her first official billing at the festival.
The Newport Folk Festival is known for its tradition of rolling lineup announcements in the months leading up to the event, as well as unannounced collaborations and surprise guests that have become a hallmark of the gathering.
Additional artists for the July 24-26 festival are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The Newport Festivals Foundation, which produces the event, is a nonprofit organization that provides free music lessons, summer programs and instruments to young people nationwide.
