Outside Lands

The first Outside Lands took place in Golden Gate Park on August 22–24, 2008. Its official poster named Radiohead, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Jack Johnson as the three daily headliners and displayed the logos of Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly and Starr Hill Presents.⁠[3][4]

The city entered a 2009–2013 use permit with Another Planet Entertainment LLC in April 2009. A 2012 amendment extended it through 2021. Golden Gate Park remained city-owned.⁠[5]

Ranger Dave debuted in 2010 and became a recurring festival mascot.⁠[4]

Grass Lands, a cannabis-culture experience, and the Ranger Ruth character arrived in 2018. This marks the area’s introduction, not the start of on-site cannabis sales.⁠[4]

KQED reported that residents sought a maximum decibel limit during the extension debate. The board did not adopt that limit, instead requiring additional monitoring and complaint handling. Organizers described real-time volume adjustments, while residents raised concerns about sound reaching surrounding neighborhoods.⁠[6]

In April 2019, San Francisco adopted Resolution 156-19, extending the Outside Lands permit through 2031. It set a $2.5 million minimum permit fee for 2019, increasing by $75,000 annually, plus separate per-ticket charges.⁠[7][5]

In 2020, the virtual Inside Lands combined archival performances with newly recorded material, interrupting the festival’s annual in-person sequence.⁠[4]

The in-person festival returned over Halloween in 2021 and introduced SOMA, a space centered on house music.⁠[4]

Dolores’ joined in 2023 as an open-air stage for San Francisco’s queer and trans nightlife communities.⁠[4]

In 2024, City Hall introduced a wedding venue at McLaren Pass.⁠[4]

A May 2026 Bay Area Council Economic Institute report estimated $97.5 million in regional output from Outside Lands on August 8–10, 2025, including $71.8 million in San Francisco and 24,795 hotel room nights. Its survey and IMPLAN methodology used 6,992 responses across three different concert weekends, not solely Outside Lands. These are economic-impact estimates, not festival revenue or profit.⁠[8]

The city listed August 7–9 for the 2026 festival. The announced daily lineup included Charli xcx on Friday, the Strokes and the xx on Saturday, and RÜFÜS DU SOL on Sunday.⁠[1][9]

On August 5, 2026, organizers announced an official Amazon Music livestream through Amazon Music, Prime Video and its Twitch channel. The schedule began at 3 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time each day and listed artists including Charli xcx, the Strokes and the xx.⁠[10]

As of October 2026, the website lists August 6–8, 2027 for the next edition. An August 2026 announcement introduced the Eager Beaver presale ahead of the lineup reveal in 2027. The website marks that presale as sold out, which does not mean all subsequent ticket releases are sold out.⁠[2][11][12]

The 2027 ticket page lists GA, GA+, VIP and Golden Gate Club. GA+ adds amenities such as a dedicated lounge; VIP includes designated stage-viewing areas; Golden Gate Club adds enhanced food, drink and on-site transport. Shuttle passes and suites are also offered. Ticket types differ in services as well as price.⁠[12]

The 2026 Taste of the Bay Area announcement described 100 restaurants and 53 cuisines, with businesses including Perry’s, Original Joe’s and Balboa Cafe. Food is a distinct curated component, including festival-specific collaborations.⁠[13]

The inaugural 2026 Artists in Residence program, curated by Christine Koppes, featured María Alejandra Guzmán Capron and Oliver Hawk Holden. Works included the suspended textiles of Tree Dancers, collaborative Bay Benches seating, and sculptures depicting bison and Ranger Ruth.⁠[14]

Listed partners include Chase, Amazon Music, Verizon and Toyota. Toyota’s 2026 Wandergrounds activation combined vehicle displays, interactive riddles and customized tote bags. Public materials do not disclose the sponsorship amount.⁠[15][16]

Outside Lands Works is a donor-advised fund at the Tides Foundation supporting music and arts education. The Mission, located in Hellman Hollow, hosted nonprofit partners including Women’s Audio Mission, HeadCount and Youth Art Exchange in 2026.⁠[17][18]

Organizers reported an 89% waste-diversion rate in 2025, keeping about 330,000 pounds out of landfill. Measures included water refill stations, reusable cups in selected areas, composting, and some solar and battery-powered equipment. Waste diversion does not establish carbon neutrality.⁠[19]

The city guide encourages public transit, shuttles, cycling and walking, and provides noise and traffic contact information and park-closure notices. Public channels include the website, @sfoutsidelands on X and @OutsideLands on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry, whose catalog contains annual recaps, lineup announcements and performance clips.⁠[1][20][21]