NEWPORT, RI | Newport Folk Festival’s final day feels like a victory lap, a closing chapter where the boundaries between artists dissolve completely. The 2026 festival finale proved no exception, delivering a balance of blistering political anthems, lush pop-country, and an all-star curtain call that will echo in Fort Adams history.
Tom Morello packed the Quad Stage tent to absolute capacity for an explosive, politically charged acoustic-and-electric set. He brought his teenage son, Roman Morello, on stage to shred guitar on a high-energy performance of the Rage Against the Machine classic “Killing in the Name.”
Rousing the crowd with rebellious riffs and singalong anthems, Morello brought a punk-rock urgency that reminded everyone of folk music’s long history as the music of protest.
“I make anti-racist songs for anti-racists,” said Morello. “I make anti-fascist songs for anti-fascists. And I make anti-Nazi songs for anti-Nazis. On his new song, “‘Date Night’ is really a ‘which side are you on?’ song. If any of that offends you, do the math. Oh, and Roman Morello wrote the killer riff in this tune.”
Meanwhile, Irish sensation CMAT brought country-pop flair and theatrical wit to the Fort Stage, showcasing cuts from Euro Country. The highlight came when she invited Brandi Carlile out for a joy-filled duet of “I’d Want U,” sparking one of the biggest crowd roars of the afternoon. “Do you like me?” CMAT cheekily asked, receiving a wave of applause and cheers. “Well, that’s good!”
Rolling Stone proclaimed CMAT’s stop at Newport a “star-making turn.” During the festival, she also performed a hilarious collab with Subway Takes, garnering nearly 2 million views across platforms.
Across the grounds at the Harbor Stage, Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards delivered a masterclass in storytelling, balancing bittersweet lyrics with her signature dry humor.
On the main stage, Father John Misty offered a cinematic performance seated at the piano, wrapping sharp, satirical lyricism in rich, sweeping arrangements that drifted out over the water.
As twilight settled, Brandi Carlile returned to the Fort Stage for her own headlining performance—a commanding, emotionally raw set highlighting tracks from Returning to Myself. “It’s exactly like home,” Carlile spoke of Newport. “It’s heaven to be back here… we’re on sacred grounds.”
Her soaring vocals on “The Story” shook the lawn, but it was her unexpected, thunderous cover of Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited” that left the audience stunned.
Then came the festival’s legendary final tradition: the unannounced, collaborative finale hosted by Nathaniel Rateliff & Friends. What began as a soulful set quickly became a historic moment when Dave Matthews took the stage to massive applause.
“Nautical fest! I’m a little bit nervous, but I’ll pretend that I’m not,” Matthews said. “You didn’t see me coming!”
But the true heart of the night arrived when folk royalty Joan Baez stepped out to join the ensemble. Surrounded by a stage packed with the weekend’s performers, the supergroup led the thousands in attendance through a tear-jerking, festival-wide singalong of “America the Beautiful.”
As the final chorus drifted out into the harbor and night fell over the fort, Newport Folk 2026 ended the only way it could—bound together by history, harmony, and hope.
