Every August, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park transforms into a cultural carnival of beats, bites and Bay Area spirit. But Outside Lands 2025 might be the festival’s most ambitious year yet. From surprise orchestral sets to drag raves under the redwoods, this year's lineup isn’t just stacked, it’s genre-bending, inclusive and certainly original.
So what makes this edition (set for Aug. 8-10) unmissable? Let’s break it down.
Of course, the headliners are always some of the first to catch everyone's attention. And this year is no different, with an eclectic ensemble made up of Doja Cat launching on Friday with a dazzling pop spectacle, which is sure to light up the park; expect costume changes, TikTok anthems, and laser precision.
Beck will be bringing a rare orchestral set, blurring indie, classical and performance art. It's either genius or madness. Probably both. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Tyler, the Creator makes good on past cancellations with what fans are surely hoping will be his most high-concept set yet.
Indie darlings Vampire Weekend are pulling double duty this year, opening and closing the day on Saturday with two separate sets. And then Sunday goes soulful with Hozier, groovy with Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals and a little bit cosmic with Glass Animals and Jamie xx closing things out.
Whether you're a techno truther, sad-girl indiehead or old-school hip-hop lifer, you're also covered this year.
The SOMA Tent returns as an all-day warehouse rave with names like Black Coffee, Floating Points, Claude VonStroke, and BLOND:ISH spinning deep into dusk. Dolores’ (the queer club haven inside the fest) gets its own wild lineup with the likes of Rebecca Black, drag luminaries and Bay Area nightlife staples like Oasis Arts and Polyglamorous. And of course, you have to catch Gracie Abrams, FINNEAS, Doechii and Jorja Smith on the side stages before they graduate to headliner status.
This might be the only music festival on Earth where you can catch Tyler, the Creator, eat a caviar hot dog and get legally married before sundown. Married? Yes, at Outside Lands City Hall, you can exchange vows for the first time or host a recommitment ceremony on the festival grounds. Then maybe celebrate at Grass Lands, the fully legal cannabis zone, which is returning for a seventh year.
It's worth noting, a limited number of three-day general admission tickets are still available and single-day passes start at $235, as of this writing. VIP three-day passes have sold out, but single-day VIP tickets are still available. If you're considering going to Outside Lands this year, you may want to act fast.
