Portola Music Festival returned to Pier 80 in San Francisco on September 26–27, 2026, bringing together electronic music fans, legendary artists, rising talent, and some seriously great festival outfits.
On the bus heading to the festival, I overheard a conversation between two guys. “How old are you, bro?” “I’m 29.” “I’m 30. We’re getting too old for this shit.” Meanwhile, I’m sitting there in my late 40s, wondering what they’re talking about. I’m still ready to go!
One of the best things about Portola is seeing how people show up. The festival outfits were fantastic, with plenty of creativity and personality on display. It’s always fun to see people treat a festival as an opportunity to express themselves.
It was also great to see horsegiirL back at Portola, this time playing a bigger stage in front of more fans. Watching artists grow and reach larger audiences is one of the most rewarding parts of following live music. My personal highlight was seeing Mike D from the Beastie Boys. Some artists just hit differently, and that was a special moment for me.
I also noticed what felt like a strong Swedish theme in the booking, with artists like Robyn, Swedish House Mafia, Zara Larsson, Tove Lo, and oskar med k on the lineup. Was that intentional, or did Sweden just happen to have a very good year?
I saw fewer friends than I normally do at festivals, but that didn’t stop me from having a blast. Sometimes you spend the whole day trying to coordinate meetups. Other times, you just go with the flow and enjoy the music.
Portola says no totems, yet I noticed plenty of inflatable ones mounted on extended pointers. So, are those technically contraband, or have we found a loophole?
Cell service was another story. There was practically no signal, and some text messages arrived hours after they were sent. One festivalgoer suggested downloading Bitchat, a messaging app that uses Bluetooth to connect nearby phones without relying on cellular service or Wi-Fi. Messages can hop between phones running the app, extending the network beyond direct Bluetooth range. Of course, it only works if enough people nearby are using it, but it’s an interesting DIY solution to staying connected when thousands of phones overwhelm the local network.
Then there was the trash situation. I didn’t see enough trash cans around the festival grounds, and by the end of the night, the wind was sending empty tin cans rolling across the grounds like tumbleweeds in a desert. It was a very San Francisco way to end the evening.
One thing Portola absolutely got right was transportation. The shuttle buses made getting to the festival easy, and leaving at the end of the night was surprisingly fast. Anyone who’s spent an hour or more trying to escape a festival crowd knows how much that matters. Good music is essential, but the experience around it makes a difference, too. Getting thousands of people in and out efficiently is no small feat.
Portola 2026 was another reminder that there’s no expiration date on enjoying live music. You can be 29, 30, or in your late 40s and still have plenty of energy left for a full day of dancing, discovering artists, and making memories. I may have seen fewer friends than usual, but I heard great music, enjoyed the outfits, caught a personal highlight with Mike D, and left with plenty to talk about.
… and apparently, I’m not too old for this $hit. See you at the next one.
Full Lineup (in alphabetical order) 🎶
ADÉLA • Airwolf Paradise • Azzecca • Baby J • Bassvictim • basspunk. • Beltran b2b Ben Sterling • Ben UFO • Brunello • Channel Tres • Chloé Caillet • Clearcast • Daphni • Dean Turnley • Despacio • DJ Shadow • DOG BLOOD (Skrillex & Boys Noize) • ear • Erika b2b sfcowboy • Fatboy Slim • Fcukers • Felly Fell • Four Tet • Gelli Haha • Groove Armada • horsegiirL • jigitz • JT • Jyoty • Kelela • KETTAMA • Marlon Hoffstadt • Max Styler • Mel C • MGNA Crrrta • Mike D • Mind Enterprises • Mochakk • nate sib • nimino • Ninajirachi • oskar med k • Overmono • Parcels • Prospa • Ranger Trucco b2b Alisha • riria • Robyn • Sam Alfred • SG Lewis (Live) • Silva Bumpa • Six Sex • Skepta • Soulwax • Swedish House Mafia • Tiësto • Torren Foot • Tove Lo • Tricky • underscores • VTSS • Zara Larsson • Zulan.
