Watershed Festival – 3 Day Pass at Gorge Amphitheatre

Watershed Festival - 3 Day Pass for July 31–August 2, 2026

Created by Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring and a six-time CMA Promoter of the Year, Watershed was first held at Gorge Amphitheater in August 2012, making 2026 its 14th year. It is the largest country music festival in the Pacific Northwest, often selling out 25,000+ passes in under 30 minutes.

Shedders, prepare for extreme weather; daytime temperatures often hit 100°F, while the Gorge winds can gust up to 40+ mph. But fear not, the local general store is amply stocked with over 10,000 bags of ice for the weekend! And the on-site market provides everything from custom cowboy hats to airbrush tattoos. Plus, you're never far from a  free water refill station.

Past Headliners

The King of Watershed, Dierks Bentley, headlined the first year alongside Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert and has returned to headline 3 more times. Luke Bryan has also headlined 4 times, and the next most common at 3 is Keith Urban, while the fan favorite headline set was provided by Carrie Underwood. Old Dominion is the only full band so far to make the move from Next from Nashville performers to Main Stage headliners, but Bailey Zimmerman is one new country star to get there the fastest.

Other headliners include Jason Aldean, Eric Church, outlaw Chris Stapleton, Brantley Gilbert, Miranda Lambert with a surprise appearance of Pistol Annies, The Zac Brown Band, Mr. Dangerous Morgan Wallen, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line setting the loudest sing-a-long, Kane Brown, Cody Johnson, Hardy, and more.

For 2026, well, it's early days yet, but rumors swirl about a Legends theme and maybe bringing back a 2012 headline list.

Stages & Activities: Beyond the Music

The obvious is the Main Stage, a huge naturally acoustic bowl built into the cliffside, you see it in all the pictures. The Next from Nashville Stage is in the plaza, this is where stars like Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson cut their teeth, and in the late night it becomes either a DJ set or Silent Disco.

A massive slip-and-slide and water gun zone keeps you cool in the T-Mobile Redneck Waterpark with a PM foam party, while those of you wanting to get high need to look no further than the Ferris Wheel, giving 360-degree views of the Columbia River. Then, for those foreigners among you, Moon Shine Line Dancing lessons are held by the Next from Nashville stage, because every red-blooded American is born being able to line dance!

Will all the cowgirls and boys head to the Pivot and show off their rodeo skills on the mechanical bull for a small donation to charity. If you don't know, the Pivot is the Times Square of the campgrounds, where you get your Shedder-Ade, and features food trucks, a stage, the all-important general store for all your icy needs, and sponsor booths for artist meet-and-greets. It's roughly a 1.5 to 2-mile walk from the main stage, so bring a drink!

Campers! Every year, one best-decorated campsite wins the Shedderville Award, getting VIP upgrades for the next year! And don't forget the Saturday morning 5K through the campgrounds (costumes highly encouraged).

The Gorge Amphitheatre

Opening back in 1986 as the Champs de Brionne Music Theater, a small 3,000-seat stage attached to a private winery. And although the map location is 754 Silica Road NW, the entrance road is Bob Seger Drive, the man who sold out the venue more than almost anyone. Today the venue holds a staggering 27,500 people and has taken home the Pollstar Best Outdoor Music Venue award nearly a dozen times.

Tickets

3 days of Watershed Festival at Gorge Amphitheatre from Friday, 31st July to Sunday, 2nd August 2026. Tickets are available right now from Ticket Squeeze. Don't miss the Bucket List country music festival event of a lifetime.