On February 20th-22nd, Innings Festival took to the scenic Tempe Beach Park waterfront for its eighth annual event. Innings Festival brings all the major music festival energy one would expect from such an event, but with a twist, incorporating the culture of Major League Baseball and spring training, making it unique to all the other events out there. The event, which coincides with the kick-off of spring training in Arizona, is typically a two-day festival; however, 2026 saw the expansion of the festival to three days, bringing not only an all-star musical lineup to the stage, but also some of baseball’s greatest legends. This year’s headliners included Mumford & Sons, twenty one pilots, and Blink-182.
Day One
Gates opened at 12PM sharp, and fans at the main entrances made a mad dash towards Home Plate, hoping to secure a coveted barricade spot. Those who were not looking to ride the rail all day made their way over to Right Field for the first act of the day.
Los Angeles-based folk band Fat, Evil Children kicked things off over at Right Field Stage, performing tracks from their 2024 debut album "Fat Evil Dogs, Fat Evil Cats, Fat Evil Bears, Fat Evil Rats" and their 2025 EP "Can’t Stop," to those who turned up early to make the most out of their day. Over at Home Plate, ‘70s-influenced singer-songwriter Tyler Ballgame, perhaps the perfect choice for the baseball themed festival, brought his theatrics to the main stage, entertaining the crowd with tracks from his debut album, released only a few weeks prior.
Back at Right Field Stage, fans were treated to a performance from Congress The Band, perhaps my favorite discovery of the weekend. The indie rock band from Charleston, South Carolina, took the stage in matching Congress baseball jerseys, announcing, “We’re Congress the Band. We’re not political at all, it’s Congress Street.” Their performance marked their first in Arizona and the furthest west they have ever played, and despite only having a handful of original tracks, they drew in the audience with their charisma, a tight performance, and good vibes overall. Fans could be heard throughout the day expressing how much they loved the set, referring to the band as an “up and coming” that they were excited to watch grow.
Over at Home Plate, Marcy Playground brought the nostalgia with “Sex and Candy,” while the baseball fanatics made their way over to Left Field for a chance to interact with MLB legends Jake Peavy, Dontrelle Willis, and Brandon Crawford, as well as softball star and Olympic medalist Jess Mendoza. Fans put their baseball skills to the test, trying their hand at speed pitch and in the batting cages, while others waited for their chance to chat with Mendoza, Willis, Crawford, and Peavy, who posed for photos and signed memorabilia.
OK Go impressed the crowd with their stage presence and crowd engagement, taking time between tracks to take questions from fans. Someone expressed disappointment that there wasn’t any confetti, to which frontman Damian Kulash responded, “There’s a river right there…think about that...you could have had a great day if it wasn’t for nature,” which had the crowd cackling. Despite the frequent confetti explosions they have come to be known for, they had fans dancing and singing along to tracks like “Get Over It,” “Upside Down & Inside Out,” and, of course, “Here It Goes Again.” Kulash and Andy Ross would later join former MLB pitcher and baseball broadcaster and analyst Ryan Dempster for his Off The Mound interview segment where fans would learn of Ross’ intense love for America’s favorite pastime.
GROUPLOVE brought an explosive energy that had fans captivated from the moment they took the stage. It was impossible to take your eyes off frontwoman Hannah Hooper with her flaming red hair swinging through the air as she danced around the stage with a carefree spirit, even joining fans in the pit for “Ways To Go.” Back at Right Field Stage, indie pop band Peach Pit brought good tunes and humor to the stage, sharing stories behind tracks like “Black Licorice,” noting that the song’s metaphor didn’t land during their recent trip to Scandinavia where the treat is regarded more highly than in America.
The sun set as fans gathered at Home Plate for longtime favorites Goo Goo Dolls. Frontman Johnny Rzeznik and bassist Robby Takac have been at it for 40 years and are showing no signs of slowing down. The two worked the stage, kicking and shredding the guitar while taking fans on a journey through their vast discography, working in all the favorites, as well as tracks from their most recent release, Summer Anthem. A chorus of voices rang out as the crowd sang along to songs like “Slide,” “Black Balloon,” and my personal favorite, “Sympathy.” Making my way over to Right Field, fans sang along to “Iris” with such fervor that their voices could be heard on the other side of the park and beyond. A staple in the rock scene, Goo Goo Dolls are a great addition to any festival lineup and will always be a crowd-pleaser.
UK artist Myles Smith, who found viral success on TikTok, headlined the Right Field Stage with a performance that absolutely radiated joy. Accompanied by a band of five, every person on that stage was having fun, and it was contagious. The audience could not help but smile as Smith’s silky smooth vocals filled the air, serenading the crowd with tracks like “Wait for You,” “Solo,” and his newest release, “Drive Safe.” Fans were treated to a mashup of “River” with Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” which had everyone singing in unison. Voices echoed across the park as Smith closed out a joyous set with the massively successful hit “Stargazing.”
A chill settled over Tempe Beach Park as the crowd gathered at Home Plate, bundled up in their picnic blankets in an effort to keep warm, as they anxiously awaited the evening’s headliner. It was a special day for Mumford & Sons as it was the release day of their new record, “Prizefighter.” The band made a stop over at Arizona’s favorite local record store, Zia Records, for an album signing earlier in the day, before taking Home Plate for an album release party with 30,000 of their closest friends.
Being that Mumford & Sons is one of my favorite bands, their set was one of my most highly-anticipated, and they did not disappoint. Marcus Mumford and company took to the stage, kicking things off with a track from their new album, “Run Together,” before continuing on with fan favorites “Babel” and “Little Lion Man.” The band showcased their talents with the variety of instruments that make up their unique sound, including an upright bass and a banjo, and also incorporated a horns section into their performance, adding even more depth to their musical production. When Mumford wasn’t heckling the crowd, he could be seen jumping from kick drums and moving about the stage, passionately playing his instruments while serenading the crowd. During “Ditmas,” Mumford jumped down to the barricade, doling out high fives as he ran the edges of the crowd.
Given the celebratory nature of the day, the band treated the audience to additional tracks off of the new album, including “Prizefighter,” “Rubber Band Man,” and “The Banjo Song.” While many of these songs were new to the crowd, they were well-received, as the crowd sang along where they could and danced, letting out roaring cheers at the conclusion of each. Beloved anthems from each of their records were woven throughout the setlist, including tracks like “Lover of the Light,” “Awake My Soul,” and “The Cave.” They warmed up the crowd with blasts of Pyro with “Truth,” and wrapped the night with “I Will Wait” and an explosion of fireworks.
Fans left the park buzzing with excitement, reminiscing over the day's highlights and counting the hours until they would return for Saturday's twenty one pilots takeover.
Day Two
The atmosphere for Day Two shifted. While Day One saw fans donning their favorite team’s baseball jerseys, Day 2 overwhelmingly belonged to twenty one pilots. The park swarmed with members of the “Skeleton Clique,” hands and necks smeared with black paint, dressed head to toe in "Clancy" and "Trench"-inspired outfits. Fans who had arrived as early as 3AM bolted for the barricade as the gates opened, ready to hunker down for the day for a chance to experience their favorite duo up close and personal.
Before the headliners could take Home Plate, fans were in store for a stellar musical lineup. The Backfires, who refer to themselves as “a rock band from both sides of the Atlantic,” kicked things off at the Right Field stage. The band was a favorite discovery of the day for many, as they wowed the crowd with tracks from their debut album, This Is Not An Exit. If you enjoy bands like the Arctic Monkeys and Catfish and the Bottlemen, you’re sure to enjoy The Backfires.
Over on the main stage, Catie Turner was stepping up to bat for her long-awaited debut in Arizona, and she did not disappoint. The American Idol alum took time between songs like “Play God” and “Shrinking Violet” to share the meaning behind her tracks, many of which carry some heavy themes. She playfully dedicated songs to “anyone with depression” and declared the audience a safe space for fans to take comfort in their neurosis. Her vulnerable lyrics, beautiful voice, and relatable charm made for an A+ performance. Turner would later take the Left Field Stage for a surprise acoustic performance hosted by Jersey Mike’s, a treat for fans left craving more and for those who may have missed her grace Home Plate.
As the day progressed, fans bounced between Right Field and Home Plate stages for nostalgic performances from acts like Deer Tick, Vertical Horizon, and Silversun Pickups, while also making sure to stop by Left Field for meet and greets with MLB stars Mark Grace, Shawon Dunston, and Torri Hunter, and for a more intimate glimpse into the lives of the day’s musical and baseball legends in interviews with Ryan Dempster.
As evening settled in, The Fray took Home Plate. Although the band is gearing up for an album release in just a few short weeks, the band took fans on a journey through their early years, performing tracks from albums like "How to Save a Life," which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Fans belted the lyrics to anthems like “All At Once,” “Over My Head,” and “How to Save a Life.” With frontman Joe King having been settled into his role as lead vocalist for some time now, any skepticism about the band’s ability to make a comeback without their former lead vocalist has dissipated. The magic that made The Fray so beloved in the first place remains, and their performance is one you don’t want to miss.
The heavy-hitting performances continued with Dashboard Confessional taking the stage at Sunset. Frontman Chris Carraba took the crowd on an (emo)tional journey through his discography, transporting the elder emos in the crowd back to simpler times through tracks like “The Best Deceptions,” “Stolen,” and “Vindicated,” fans belting all the lyrics while reliving their youth. The performance, which marked their second appearance at Innings Festival and first show of the year, was “hands down” one of the best of the weekend.
While twenty one pilots were the clear favorite of the weekend, Cage the Elephant was a close second, coming out swinging and giving twenty one pilots a run for their money. Those who were unfamiliar with the band or who had never seen them live stood awestruck as Matt Schultz performed with an unrelenting energy and pyrotechnics lit up the night sky. Brad Schultz leapt from the stage, shredding guitar as fans at the barricade hoisted him above. The brothers continued their antics through a 19-track setlist, bringing out all the favorites and rounding out their performance with “Come a Little Closer.”
The impressive performances continued, with Lord Huron closing out Right Field, bringing the magic of their Cosmic Selector Tour to the Innings Fest stage. Playing between two incredible acts known for their high energy is no easy feat, and Lord Huron handled that with stride. Their set allowed fans to slow down a bit and soak in the storytelling. They opened their set with "The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1’s" “Who Laughs Last,” which found frontman Ben Schneider surrounded in a cloud of rolling fog, passionately singing into a payphone which projected his face onto the screen. Fans let loose, dancing and singing along to the moody tunes. Anticipation was high as the set ended with a string of fan favorites, “Meet Me in the Woods,” “The Night We Met,” and “Not Dead Yet,” and fans quickly made their trek back to Home Plate for the evening’s grand finale.
As a casual fan of twenty one pilots’ mainstream tracks, I wasn’t sure what to expect of their live performance, and all I can say is: consider me sold. The opening notes of “Overcompensate” rang out as a masked Josh Dun took to the drums for an extended intro, which concluded with Tyler Joseph launching himself into the air, flying through an explosion of sparks as he started into the track’s first verse. I watched as a sea of 30,000 fans kept in time with Joseph’s bars, spitting verses and throwing fists in the air, voices reverberating across Tempe Beach Park, and from that moment on, I was hooked. As the duo started into “The Contract,” Joseph found himself atop a platform in the GA pit, hoisted by the fans below. His balance was impeccable as he swung his mic through the air, performing the track from their 2025 album Breach. As he returned to the stage, the duo shed their "Clancy" era masks, and continued with the live debut of “Center Mass,” during which the crowd chanted “Josh Dun is my dad” following each verse. The track would be the first live debut of three for the evening.
While the duo’s set as a whole was mindblowingly incredible to say the least, there were a few moments that stood out as truly memorable. During “Drum Show,” all attention was on drummer Josh Dun, as the track in particular showcases his skills, not only on the drums but also on vocals. The band paused mid-set to address an emergency in the crowd, and when given the all clear, Dun descended the stairs and approached a scaffolding that must have been three stories high. They really mean it when they sing “he’s putting on a drum show.” Dun proceeded to climb the scaffolding to unveil a drumset on a platform at the top, finishing out “Drum Show,” as well as “RAWFEAR” before returning to the stage after an outfit change. As he pounded the drums, Joseph returned to his own platform, held by the fans below. It was tough to decide who to watch!
Fans were also treated to the live debut of “One Way,” which was mashed up with Milky Chance’s “Stolen Dance,” and “Drag Path,” a track which was originally released as a special purchase only and has blown up recently with a TikTok Trend. The duo re-recorded the track, changing up the arrangement in a way to still honor the exclusivity of the original. Released to the world only a few days prior, fans went wild over the track’s debut.
A young fan was selected from the crowd to join the duo on stage for “Ride.” Despite being so young, she was not at all fazed by the tens of thousands of faces staring back at her as she crushed the chorus, a very sweet moment for the crowd and a core memory created for the fan.
The set ended with Dun and Joseph in the crowd, balancing on fan-supported platforms, fans giving it their all, jumping and screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs as the duo passionately pounded drums coated in water, a celebratory ending for a set that absolutely knocked it out of the park. Fans were on an absolute high as they made their way out of Tempe Beach Park, ready for one final day of Innings Festival to round out the weekend.
Photo Credit: (1) Charles Reagan for Innings Festival, (2) and (3) Ismael Quintanilla for Innings Festival, (4) Dusana Karam for Innings Festival
Day Three
Days Two and Three offered a free fitness class on the festival grounds, put on by Peloton in the early morning. Kudos to those disciplined individuals who made it out to those classes, especially those who attended each day of the festival (my aching millennial back could never!). Those who didn’t make it out rallied for the final day of the all-star lineup, this time headlined by pop-punk veterans Blink-182.
The Ramona Flowers opened Right Field, bringing indie electronic tunes to fans who turned up early, braving the day’s unseasonably warm weather. LA-based alt-rock band Common People followed, and it’s no wonder that their catchy tracks and stage presence caught the attention of Cage the Elephant’s co-founder Brad Schultz. The band is gearing up to support Congress The Band on tour next month, a lineup definitely worth checking out. Up next, Artikal Sound System took the stage, declaring they wanted to be the crowd’s new favorite band. In addition to tracks from their 2025 album "Are You Smiling Yet?," the Reggae rock band, fronted by the soulful Logan Rex, played a cover of Paramore’s "Misery Business," demanding that “every motherf***er in this field be shrieking along” by the end of the song.
When fans were not trying their hand at speedpitch and batting or kicking back on a picnic blanket to discover new artists, there were plenty of activations hosted by Innings Festival sponsors to explore. Along with delicious cocktails, the Mi CAMPO Boombox, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Stand, That Tito’s Thing, and The High West Whiskey Train offered unique photo opportunities, exclusive swag, yard games like giant Jenga and Cornhole - even a claw machine. The GHOST Lounge offered free energy drinks from 5-6PM, which was the perfect time for a pick-me-up. The BeatBox Bullpen offered baseball card souvenirs and new party punch flavors, while Club Wyndham’s Outfield Lounge offered swag, a shaded seating area, games, and the ability to experience what it’s like to be a Club Wyndham owner.
Fans also had a plethora of food options to choose from that catered to most dietary needs, including options for those with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets. While you couldn’t go wrong with any of the choices, the stars of the weekend were undoubtedly The Drippin’ Chocolatier, which offered a variety of decadent chocolate-covered strawberries, and a potato swirl from the Potato Hut, both of which had (swift moving) lines at all times of the day. Pro-tip: plan to eat mid-afternoon to avoid longer lines in the early evening. Prices were typical for a music festival, ranging from 15-20 dollars for an entree on average. Although the Food village had the largest selection of options, fans could also locate hot dogs and taco stands throughout most of the festival grounds, and food vendors wandered the grounds offering a variety of snacks.
Back at Home Plate, Bowling For Soup took to the stage, bringing equal parts hilarious banter and pop-punk classics to the crowd. They won over the crowd with their goofy charm and tracks like “Girl All the Bad Guys Want” and “High School Never Ends,” and incited a massive singalong with “Today is Gonna Be a Great Day,” the Phineas and Ferb theme song. They leaned into a little playful rivalry, joking about being pleased with their time slot early in the day so that Blink-182 wouldn’t steal their jokes. The band then polled the audience, asking who was excited to see them, resulting in a roar of support, before following up by asking how many were excited because of “Stacy’s Mom,” which was also met with cheers. They playfully heckle the crowd, reminding them that it was a “Fountains of Wayne” song, before closing out their set with the track and their beloved “1985.”
Over at the Right Field stage, Eve 6 was the last of the rock bands to take the stage, treating fans to a dose of ‘90s nostalgia with anthems like “Here’s to the Night” and “Inside Out” before hip-hop took over. Big Boi, one half of the legendary hip-hop duo Outkast, was accompanied by Sleepy Brown for a set of both original tracks and Outkast classics, and Public Enemy, fronted by the iconic Flavor Flav and Chuck D, put on a politically charged performance.
Switchfoot brought one of the weekend’s most memorable performances. Having seen them perform before, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that they would knock it out of the park, but they continue to grow more and more impressive which each performance they give. Frontman Jon Foreman performs with a relentless energy while simultaneously radiating joy, making it impossible not to smile and sing along as they bring out all the nostalgic anthems, including tracks like “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move.” Foreman’s younger brother and Switchfoot guitarist Tim Foreman picked the cover song they would perform that day: Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” which saw Jon Foreman jump from the stage to stand on the barricade and incorporate fans in the action. Fans were living for their performance, jamming out to all the songs and disappointed only that it had to come to an end.
As fans waited for Sublime to hit the stage, they could be heard singing “Happy Birthday,” honoring the late Bradley Nowell, as that day’s performance would have marked his 58th birthday. His son, Jakob Nowell, now frontman of Sublime, took a hit from a joint as he entered the stage and kicked things off with “April 29, 1992 (Miami).” He also took a moment to honor his father on his birthday before continuing on with tracks “Date Rape” and “The Ballad of Johnny Butt,” a Secret Hate cover. Their stage setup was a bit more elaborate than other bands on the bill and featured large inflatables resembling “Lou Dog,” Bradley Nowell’s beloved rescue Dalmatian who became the band’s mascot. While Lou Dog has long since passed, their new mascot, Melvin the Rottweiler, did make an appearance during the set, wandering the stage and making the dog lovers in the crowd go wild. Mixed in with the favorites were covers of songs from The Toyes, Bob Marley & The Wailers, and The Grateful Dead. Arizona’s own Gabo Fayuca, of the bilingual reggae-rock band Fayuca, joined Knowell and company on stage for “Caress Me Down,” before they ended their set with a run of hits, including “Waiting for My Ruca,” “ Ensenada,” “Same in the End,” and “Santeria.”
Blink-182 stepped up to the plate for the weekend’s finale and hit a grand slam. Proudly proclaiming they only practiced twice for what they shared would be their only performance of 2026, they proceeded to deliver a flawless set of all the hits, starting off with “Feeling This.” Since Tom DeLonge returned to the band in 2022, their chemistry has been spot on. In between songs, the trio had the crowd laughing with the classic crude banter and mom jokes they have come to be known for. Mark Hoppus shared, “The next song is emo, so stop f**king smiling,” and asked for fans to take out their phones to shine a light. It ended up being a partial ruse to get fans hold up their phones so that he could attempt to trigger Siri for an inappropriate joke, stating, “Hey Siri, text mom ‘what that mouth do,’ send.” It was a silly gesture one may not have expected before a song like “I Miss You.” The crowd had the spotlight for Tom’s famous “Where Are You” lyrics as he held out his mic and the audience’s voices carried across the park.
All eyes were on Travis Barker as the crowd was treated to not only one, but two play throughs of “F**KFACE,” a track that features Barker’s vocals and a raucous drum solo. The band did not play the track at all during their two years of touring, and played it twice for the fans at Innings Festival. As their set was winding down, the band declared they would forgo a traditional encore, instead opting to bang out all the heavy hitters back to back, rounding out their set with “What’s My Age Again,” “First Date,” and “All The Small Things,” before leading the crowd in a snippet of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and ending with “Dammit.” A flaming middle finger burned in the backdrop as the trio took their final bow.
Innings Festival aims to make the experience accessible for all, including accessible entrances, restrooms, food stalls, and viewing areas, use of American Sign Language interpreters, providing assistive listening devices for those who may be hard of hearing but do not use ASL, and offers an Access Center where powered wheelchairs can be charged.
The festival offers a variety of ticket types that allows you to invest in the type of experience you’d like to have while enjoying the festival, including: General Admission, General Admission +, VIP, Platimum, Center Field Bleachers, Left Field Reserved, Cabanas, and Bungalows. As someone who doesn’t love to be in a large crowd, I found the VIP accommodations, which included water and beer, a seated elevated viewing area, and air conditioned bathrooms, among other amenities, to be worth the price tag.
Daily lineups for Innings Festival are designed in such a way that fans are able to enjoy every act. With no overlap in set times, you can reasonably catch every artist on the lineup should you be willing to make the trek back and forth between Home Plate and Right Field. Fans should be sure to wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk between 9 and 10 miles daily if they’re looking to do it all.
The festival is family-friendly and all ages. Children 8 years and younger can attend the festival without a ticket so long as they are accompanied by an adult with a ticket, limited to two children per ticket holding adult. You can stop by guest services while on the grounds to register your child, which places a band around their ankle with information should they end up getting lost.
Innings Festival truly knocks it out of the park each and every year, delivering perfectly curated lineups and unique opportunities for all the baseball fanatics out there. It is a must-attend event with fun for all ages! We hope to see you next year for the 9th installment!
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