Brite Winter Announces 2026 Music Lineup

Bundle up, and rock out. Brite Winter is gearing up for a day full of music, art and fun on Saturday, Feb. 21 in its new Cleveland home, the Waterloo Arts District.

Today, the festival announces its music lineup, featuring headlining band LoConti. The funk-rock band, led by brothers Henry and Michael LoConti, previously played the festival in 2023, where the group showcased its catchy grooves and high-energy performance.

In the past year, the band experienced tragedy when Michael died in a late-February car accident. Since then, LoConti has regrouped, bringing on Billy Carrick, a producer and friend of the band, as its current drummer.

RELATED: LoConti Plays On With New Purpose After Tragedy

“They played Brite two years ago, and were one of my favorite acts at that festival year. I'm really excited about having them back,” says Emily Hornack, Brite Winter’s co-founder and executive producer. “They’ve had a rough year as well, with some personal loss. We're just really excited to have them playing Brite again. They just bring such great energy, and they're such amazing musicians.”

The lineup is packed with a variety of local and regional talent representing a variety of sounds, picked by Brite Winter’s music director Brent Kirby. He worked with neighborhood partners like Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present & Future and local music aficionados to piece together the full 37-band lineup, according to a news release.

“Our music liaisons put tremendous care into shaping this year’s lineup, building a mix of genres that gives every fan the chance to find their favorites while discovering something new,” Kirby said in the news release.

In 2026, Brite Winter moves from its previous home on the East Bank of the Flats to the eclectic, artsy neighborhood on Cleveland's East Side. The move was driven around finding a community-based feel for the fest, Hornack says.

RELATED: Brite Winter Music Festival Finds a New Home in Its 16th Year: What We Saw

“Being on the East Bank of the Flats in more of a neighborhood format last year felt really good; it felt good to be with actual neighbors and not just in a parking lot,” she says. “This move to Waterloo is a much bigger extension of that.”

The festival will make use of Waterloo’s eclectic arts and music spaces like the Beachland Ballroom, Treelawn and Praxis Fiber Workshop. Plus, expect art installations, fire pits and family-friendly programming.

Check out the full lineup below:

• LoConti

• AJ & the Woods

• Country Honk

• Nuke Franklin

• AWESOME*QUEST!

• DANA

• Rent For Cheryl

• Adam Paddock

• Dave Zup & Joey Aich

• Retro Pharoah

• AllTheHipe & Astral Housefly

• Dreadlock Dave

• Sadhu

• Anya Van Rose

• FAWX

• School of Rock

• Armand Rashad

• Guy Snowdon & The Citizens

• Shortt Stories

• Assault

• Hooked Like Helen

• The Sweet Spot

• Austin & The Syd Experience

• Kid Tigrrr

• Thicarus

• Bittersweet Revenge

• Lea Marra

• Time Cat

• Black Voltron

• Liz Bullock

• Touchdown Jesus

• Cellophane Jane

• Matt Moody

• Yacobucci

• Church of Starry Wisdom

• Mr. Jeff

• Youth Pallet

For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.

Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.