Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame guitarist Tom Morello announced the Power To The People Festival–a non-partisan celebration of peace, justice, solidarity, music, and community action–will take place on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.
Morello is on tour with Bruce Springsteen and announced the festival onstage at Nationals Park during the set on Wednesday night, May 27. The pre-sale begins on Friday, May 29 at 10 a.m. EST, and the general ticket sales begin on Saturday, May 30 at 10 a.m.
The one-day festival will feature a powerhouse lineup of musicians, some collaborating, offering intimate performances alongside artwork and a DJ set by artist Shepard Fairey, who also designed the poster. Artists and activists performing include Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Brittany Howard, Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black (featuring Roman Morello, Revel Ian, Yoyoka Soma and Hugo Weiss), Serj Tankian, Cypress Hill, Killer Mike, grandson, Taylor Momsen, Matt Cameron, The Linda Lindas, and Tom Morello.
Curated by Morello, the festival celebrates the power of music and collective action to inspire change.
“The Power To The People festival is about freedom, justice, equality and rock and roll,” Morello said. “It’s about the power everyday human beings have when they come together through music, art, community, and action. We’re honored to bring this incredible lineup to the DC area for a day that celebrates the spirit of activism, creativity, and hope.”
In addition to great music across two stages, attendees will be able to talk to people from nonprofit groups, advocacy organizations, artists, and community partners, who will be gathered in the festival’s Freedom Village.
Freedom Village will be an immersive space helping people learn how to get involved in civic engagement, grassroots organizing, education, mutual aid, and projects with social impact.
A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales, plus 100 percent of the net proceeds from VIP tickets will be donated to VoteRiders and to HeadCount. VoteRiders is a nonpartisan organization focused on eliminating ID barriers to the ballot box so that every eligible voter can cast a ballot that gets counted. HeadCount is a national nonpartisan organization that meets young people where they are – concerts, festivals, and online – to help them register to vote, learn about elections, and take action.
Tom Morello’s reputation precedes him when it comes to combining music and activism. His 2011 L.A. Rising event at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum featured performances from Rage Against the Machine, Muse, Rise Against, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Immortal Technique. He has long been a leading voice for social justice and labor movements across the United States and around the world. His solo work with The Nightwatchman and his role in Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave cemented him as one of modern rock’s most influential guitarists and outspoken activists.
Additional participating organizations, activations, and special guests for the Power To The People festival will be announced in the coming weeks. Those interested can sign up for Friday’s pre-sale at this link.
