Downtown Fort Collins is about to turn into one massive venue crawl. FoCoMX dropped its 2026 lineup on March 13, revealing roughly 450 Colorado bands slated to play across about 40 stages in and around Old Town. The two-day showcase runs Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, with weekend passes starting at $60 and climbing to $75 during the festival. Sets are stacked across bars, breweries and theaters, packed into a tight downtown grid.
According to Westword, the announcement details 450 local acts spread across forty stages and includes an editor-curated list of standout picks from the full roster. The outlet also directs readers to the festival's official site for the complete schedule and venue breakdown.
What to expect
Organizers, the Fort Collins Musicians Association in partnership with Odell Brewing Co., describe FoCoMX as one of Colorado's largest all-Colorado music showcases, now in its 17th year, with a mix of indoor and outdoor stages centered on downtown Fort Collins, according to FoCoMA. Shows are set to run rain-or-shine, and many venues will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so building a game plan ahead of time is strongly encouraged.
Editor picks highlighted by Westword include DOGTAGS, Gasoline Lollipops, Slow Caves, White Rose Motor Oil and Velvet Daydream, among dozens of others. The publication rolled out a 55-act shortlist while noting that the full lineup runs into the hundreds over the two days.
Tickets, wristbands and box office
Advance weekend tickets are listed at $60, while general-admission wristbands are $75 if purchased during the festival, per the FoCoMA FAQs. Wristbands are valid for the entire weekend. The official festival box office and ticket pickup will be hosted at Organic Alternatives, 346 East Mountain Ave, with specific hours posted for both April 24 and 25 on the FoCoMA site.
Release party and volunteering
The lineup release party was held at Odell Brewing Co. on March 13, where organizers also encouraged would-be volunteers to grab shifts in exchange for festival passes, according to The Colorado Sound. Volunteering remains a popular strategy for locals who want to see a lot of music without paying out of pocket for a wristband.
For anyone planning to dive in, expect plenty of walking, some venue hopping and a lot of tough choices. Mapping out a schedule ahead of time can pay off with surprise discoveries. With hundreds of Colorado artists packed into one weekend, FoCoMX is again lining up to be one of the prime spring weekends for uncovering new local favorites.
