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Holiday Cheer!

We’re sliding into the holidays in high spirits—thanks to you!

Big Ears 2026 is shaping up to be our boldest and most exuberant festival ever. Your response has been overwhelming, once again breaking all previous records. And we’re committed to showing our appreciation by delivering a mind-blowing Big Ears experience this coming March. You’re going to love it!

What’s Still to Come?

Well, there’s quite a bit. We’ve been hard at work exploring some new ideas and performance concepts that promise a whole new dimension to the Big Ears experience, adding at least two new “venues” to the Big Ears universe. It’s coming into focus at long last and we look forward to sharing with you soon after the first of the year.

We have an especially exciting Big Ears Film Festival to unveil—packed with rare screenings and even a North American premiere or two, with some very special guests joining us. We have a robust series of artist conversations and speakers, a rapidly evolving program of live podcasts, very special art exhibitions and installations, and, yes, a few new artist additions and special concert programs to reveal, as well.

Buckle your seat belts… March 26 - 29 is less than four months away.

We wish you and yours a peaceful and joyful holiday season!

The Big Ears Team

Three Nights of Big Ears in NYC Next  Month!

We’re thrilled to collaborate with our friends at Montreal’s Heavy Trip and Brooklyn’s Public Records to host three nights of programs during New York’s International Performing Arts conversions of APAP/Winter Jazzfest/Under the Radar and beyond. Some of our favorite artists are performing. If you’re in NYC that week, please come join us!

David Byrne Tiny Desk

David Byrne’s Tiny Desk Concert is sure to give your day and your week a lift. He’s bringing his “Who Is The Sky?” tour to Big Ears for two performances, reserved seat, additionally-ticketed shows on Thursday and Friday, March 26 and 27, of the festival weekend. You don’t want to miss this.

The Avetts & Mike Patton on CBS

This past weekend, AVTT/PTTN—the new collaboration between The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton—performed a three-song set on CBS Saturday Morning. Here’s “Dark Night of the Soul,” from their self-titled debut album released in November.

Their full world-premiere live performance takes place at Big Ears this March, and tickets are on sale now. Festival passholders receive preferred pricing, so secure your pass for the best access to this landmark debut.

Why Separately-Ticketed, Reserved Seat Shows?

This year, the two David Byrne shows and The Avett Brothers / Mike Patton collaboration at the Civic Auditorium as well as the Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian concert at the Tennessee (which is now sold out), require a separate, reserved-seat ticket.

This allows us to offer these in-demand concerts to those most interested—with guaranteed admission and reserved seat tickets—while keeping the broader festival experience as open and accessible as possible for everyone.

The beautiful thing is, those who simply want to attend Big Ears—the same as it ever was, you might say—can still do so and will have more shows and events to choose from than ever before during the festival weekend, with more surprises yet to come.

The heart and soul of the Big Ears experience is a dance that balances the preservation of the festival’s essential character while exploring and sometimes embracing new opportunities, ideas, and possibilities.

However you choose to approach your Big Ears adventure in 2026, you’re in for an unforgettable experience. We can’t wait to see you in March.

Thanks again for your continuing support!