World's Largest Brat Fest

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courtesy Brat Fest

A whole lot of grillin' goin' on at a past World's Largest Brat Fest.

A whole lot of grillin' goin' on at a past World's Largest Brat Fest.

There’s nothing like a Memorial Day weekend cookout to kick off the summer season. World’s Largest Brat Fest supersizes that idea, presenting plenty of activities and entertainment while raising funds for more than 100 local nonprofits. Three music stages feature a cornucopia of regional favorites and headliners you may not expect at a free festival (Canadian country star Meghan Patrick, '90s hard rockers Slaughter, and rap legends SugarHill Gang among them). It all kicks off ahead of the fest proper from 6 a.m.-9 a.m. on Friday with “Take Your Brat to Work Day,” where you can buy enough brats to feed your officemates an only-in-Wisconsin breakfast. 

media release: Grills will once again be sizzling and music will fill the air as the World’s Largest Brat Fest® returns to Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison over Memorial Day Weekend, May 22–24, 2026. The three-day, family-friendly festival will feature FREE admission, FREE parking, and FREE live music, welcoming more than 100,000 attendees from across Wisconsin and beyond.

Seventy-five local, regional, and national musical acts will perform throughout the weekend, with Priscilla Block, Great White, The Lovin’ Spoonful, and Rhett Walker headlining the Grand Stage and Main Stage. Additional notable performers include Sugar Hill Gang, C&C Music Factory, Bucky Covington, Bobaflex, Slaughter, Meghan Patrick, and Natalie Layne.

Schedule: 

May 22: Main Stage: Cryptic Writing 11 a.m., Richard Hildner Armacanqui, 11:50 a.m., Beaches & Cream 12:55 p.m., Matthew Schmidt 1:45 p.m., Ironplow 2:55 p.m., Sunspot 3:55 p.m., Aeternum 4:55 p.m., Before Vegas 5:55 p.m., Bobaflex 7 p.m.; Island Stage: Silence the Sirens 11:10 a.m., Mudfire 12:10 p.m., Take Back the Sun 1:10 p.m., Jesse Bauman 2:10 p.m., Buck Neck-ed 3:10 p.m., Shawn Schell 4:10 p.m., John Teague Band 5:10 p.m., Mighty Electric 6:15 p.m.; Grand Stage: Mad City Funk 12:45 p.m., Yard Dogs 1:40 p.m., Autumn Reverie 2:40 p.m., My Own Prison 3:40 p.m., Mickey Magnum & the Mayhem 4:40 p.m. Michael Alexander & Big Whiskey 5:40 p.m., Bucky Covington 6:45 p.m., Priscilla Block 8 p.m.

May 23: Main Stage: Mane Thompson 11 a.m., Racing Pulses 11:50 a.m., John Masino Band 12:55 p.m., Dem Horny Funkers 1:55 p.m., Bree Morgan & the ChillBillies 2:55 p.m., Power Take Off 3:55 p.m., Lewis Brice 4:55 p.m., Lonely Ones 5:55 p.m., Madison County 7 p.m.; Island Stage: Super-Lit 11:10 a.m., Ron Denson 12:10 p.m., BAMM 1:10 p.m., The Bedspreads 2:10 p.m., West on 12 3:10 p.m., Mars Hall 4:10 p.m., The Hounds 5:10 p.m., Charm School Rejects 6:15 p.m.; Grand Stage: Ty Smith & the Minor Offenses 12:45 p.m., Frank Martin Busch & the Names 1:40 p.m., Wild Planes 2:40 p.m., Anthony Nix & the Home Town 3:40 p.m., Meghan Patrick 4:40 p.m., Kendell Marvel 5:40 p.m., Slaughter 6:45 p.m., Great White 8 p.m.

May 24: Main Stage: Heartland Church Band 9 a.m., Grace + Max 11 a.m., Project Brave Band 11:50 a.m., Howard Gripp 12:55 p.m., Erin Oakley 1:55 p.m., Jorden Michael 2:55 p.m., Sean Rodriguez 3:55 p.m., Natalie Layne 5 p.m., Rhett Walker 6:30 p.m.; Island Stage: Mason Meyer 11:10 a.m., TJ Stone 12:10 p.m., Katie Scullin 1:10 p.m., La Combi 2:10 p.m., Michael Brooks Band 3:10 p.m., The Ramble 4:10 p.m., Kings of Radio 5:10 p.m., LoveMonkeys 6:15 p.m.; Grand Stage: Pilot 12:45 p.m., Foo Foo Dolls 1:35 p.m., Shallow Side 2:35 p.m., Rick Monroe & the Hitmen 3:40 p.m., Royal Bliss 4:40 p.m., C&C Music Factory 5:40 p.m., SugarHill Gang 6:45 p.m., Lovin' Spoonful 8 p.m.

“Last year was an incredible year for Brat Fest,” said Tim Metcalfe, Brat Man and festival organizer. “We had great weather, outstanding sponsors, and unbelievable community support. “Because of that, we were able to donate over $130,000 to local nonprofits, which is truly what Brat Fest is all about.”

The Brat Fest Marketplace will also return in 2026, featuring local businesses, makers, and organizations. This year’s expanded layout will include a Vendor Alley, an additional outdoor area of vendors leading into the Kid Zone and Farm Zone --enhancing the family-focused experience and providing increased visibility for vendors and exhibitors.

Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to reach out directly to learn how they can be part of this iconic community event.

• Nonprofits & School Organizations: Applications accepted online through March 13, 2026, at BratFest.com

• Sponsors: Email Eric@IntentionalPurposeEvents.com

• Vendors/Exhibitors: Can apply directly at bratfest.com

Additional details regarding music schedules, food offerings, activities, and programming will be announced and updated in the coming months at BratFest.com.

Brat Fest volunteer portal opens at 10 am on April 4: https://bratfest.com/giving-back/volunteer-information/

World’s Largest Brat Fest® has been held every Memorial Day weekend since 1983 as a fundraiser for local charities and has grown to support more than 100 nonprofit organizations annually. Since moving to Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center in 2005, Brat Fest has become one of the Midwest’s largest community festivals, featuring free admission, free parking, live music, fireworks, a carnival, family attractions, and of course, brats. To date, more than $2.75 million has been donated to local charities. The event was founded by Tom and Margaret Metcalfe in front of Metcalfe’s Market, a Brat Fest sponsor which is now part of the C&S family of companies. For complete festival details, visit BratFest.com and follow Brat Fest on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (@bratfest / @bratfestofficial).