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
MAINx24 Parade 2025 LIVESTREAM
Bonnaroo 2026 Lineup Day! LIVE on The What Podcast
Bonnaroo Lineup Behind the Scenes - Interview With AC Entertainment
Bonnaroo 2026 Lineup Breakdown with Cory & Tuba: Early Release, Big Changes, and What to Expect
Beth's Bonnaroo 2026 Spotify Playlist
Enter our Bonnaroo 2026 ticket giveaway at thewhat.co/win! We've got two tickets to give away with a camping pass!
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🎧 LISTEN LINKS
Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic
📱 SOCIAL LINKS
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thewha
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