Skip the FOMO: 10 Capitol Hill Block Party 2026 Sets Worth Planning Your Weekend Around
Capitol Hill Block Party returns to Seattle this weekend, bringing three days of breakout artists, hometown favorites, and some of indie and pop's biggest names to the heart of Capitol Hill. From Parcels and Magdalena Bay to Wet Leg, MUNA, and a stacked lineup of rising talent, here are the 10 sets you won't want to miss.
Capitol Hill Block Party 2026
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Photo Credit: CHBP24 EricTra
Capitol Hill Block Party is here once again! The three day long festival runs from Aug. 7-9 and lives in the heart of the arts district in - you guessed it - Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA. What started way back in 1997 as just a small, one day event featuring five bands and a few DJ’s, has grown into an internationally recognized block party featuring some of the biggest names in Pop. Past acts include: Remi Wolf, Still Woozy, Kaytranada, The Beaches, CHAPPELL ROAN, The Dare, Porter Robinson, and Slayyyter. Some of these artists weren’t even headlining at the time, and now they’re some of the biggest names in their respective genres. Capitol Hill seems to know how to pick the perfect up-and-coming artists.
Speaking of up-and-coming artists, Capitol Hill tries to book as many local artists as possible. From dreampop band Beach Vacation, to the nu-metal alt-rap electronic pop of TeZATalks, you’ll find everything you want and more in these local bands, so make sure to come at the start of the day and spend some time around the smaller stages. You might just find your next favorite artist!
Now, I think it’s time we go over some of these bands that we’re most excited to see!
Photo Credit: EricTra
Photo Credit: Porter Robinson \\ EricTra
10. Avalon Emerson & The Charm: From San Francisco, DJ and music producer Avalon Emerson takes the stage with her new band, The Charm for an Indie-pop set. Her newest album “Written into Changes” sounds like a blend of early Dido and HAIM, and I don’t know about you but that sounds absolutely wonderful to me. Standout tracks: “Eden,” “Astrology Poisoning,” and “Jupiter and Mars.”
9. Haute & Freddy: From Los Angeles, Haute & Freddy are a duo that’s been on my radar since their single “Shy Girl” dropped in April 2025. With an aesthetic built around Renaissance paintings and a sound inspired by 80s new wave. Their debut album Big Disgrace is loaded front to back with bangers. Standout tracks include: “Dance The Pain Away,” “Shy Girl,” and “Sophie.” Don’t miss this set!!
Photo Credit: Slayyyter \\ Bella Petro
8. Oxis: From Los Angeles, Oxis is a prolific electro-pop artist who has released nine albums since 2023, all named Oxis 1 through 9. Every single song she has produced is named after a fish species! How cool is that?! Oxis performs her music by live looping and building tracks layer by layer. Her set feels very intimate and close because of this, like you are there with her in the bedroom or closet when she created them in the first place. I was fortunate enough to see her open for Magdalena Bay last year and I can’t wait to catch her again! Standout tracks include: “Long Sardine,” “Knifefish,” and “Fry.”
7. Between Friends: A brother and sister duo that got their start in 2013 on America’s Got Talent, Brandon and Savannah Hudson have been dominating their space recently. I was able to catch their set a few months ago and I’ve been itching to see them again. Their on-stage presence and dynamic, along with their crowd interaction makes them a must see! Standout tracks include: “affection,” “Bruise,” “Smiley,” and “Eyes On My Baby.”
Photo Credit: @antonephoto
6. Gelli Haha: If you like the color red, you’ll love Gelli Haha. From Boise, ID, Gelli Haha has one of the most colorful stage designs and acts I’ve seen. Utilizing props and mini trampolines during live performances, Gelli Haha performs with a sense of childishness and fun that is infectious to everyone who is fortunate enough to see her. Standout tracks: “Bounce House,” “Dynamite,” and “Klouds Will Carry Me To Sleep.”
5. Wet Leg: Fronted by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, the English band has been blowing up in recent years ever since Harry Styles covered “Wet Dream” way back in 2022, and most recently having their song “mangetout” featured in episode two of Heated Rivalry. If you haven’t heard of Wet Leg before… how?? Even my aunt knows about them! It’s not too late though, you can still catch their set as they close out the WHOLE festival on Sunday night at the main stage! Standout tracks: “mangetout,” “Wet Dream,” “liquidize,” “Chaise Lounge,” and “CPR.”
Photo Credit: Dora Jar \\ Bella Petro
4. MUNA: What is there really to say about MUNA at this point? You know them. You love them. From Los Angeles, MUNA has been around since 2013, and has been an iconic band in the LGBTQ+ space since their first album came out in 2017. A very openly queer band, their music and shows create a high-energy and welcoming environment to all that celebrates self expression and authenticity. Standout tracks: “Silk Chiffon,” “I Know A Place,” “Number One Fan,” and “Runners High.”
3. Ninajrachi: An Australian electronic producer, Ninajirachi is one of the best new artists on the scene right now. A self taught DJ, her most recent album “I Love My Computer” is a seminal work that covers the digital age we’re currently in. Breaking down relationships between people and artists and their computers and the psychological toll it can have. Her songs are incredibly high energy and masterfully produced and translate extremely well to the stage. I would not miss this set for the world. Standout tracks: “Infohazard,” “Delete,” “Fuck My Computer,” and “All At Once.”
Photo Credit: 100 Gecs \\ Briana Owusu
2. Magdalena Bay: Originally from Miami, now based in Los Angeles, Magdalena Bay is Mica Tenebaum and Matthew Lewin. An inseparable duo, they have been performing together since 2016. Magdalena Bay is like no other. With two incredible albums under their belt, they have a zero skip discography. With their own incredibly unique sound and aesthetic built around the early 2000s internet, their performances are a work of art. So much so that they just released a movie to go with their 2024 album Imaginal Disk. Their storytelling is immaculate even for festival shows, jam packed with hit after hit. Mag Bay are truly one of my personal favorites but there really is something for everyone here. Standout tracks include: “Cry for Me,” “Killshot,” “Secrets (Your Fire),” “Chaeri,” “That’s My Floor,” “Death & Romance,” and “Angel on a Satellite.”
Photo Credit: Dua Saleh \\ @arellanes.luis
1.Parcels: In my opinion, the most talented and skilled band working today. The five-piece band formed in 2014, features Noah Hill, Anatole Serret, Jules Crommelin, and Patrick Hetherington. There is no lead singer, there is no lead guitarist, there is no ego at all with this band. Everyone is a master at their respective instrument and every single member is more than capable of singing lead vocals for their songs or featuring Beach Boys-like five part harmonies.. Their music ranges from disco-like hits produced by Daft Punk like the song “Overnight,” to moody and ballad-like epics such as “Reflex.” It doesn’t even end there, because they can turn around and remix the same sad song to be an electronic trance four-on-the-floor banger. They literally did just that with the live version of “Reflex” from their second live album. I’ve seen Parcels both at a festival four years ago, and at their own show at Red Rocks last October, and they really can do it all. There is so much to dig into as all three of their albums sound completely different but still unmistakably Parcels, because no one can do it like they do. Truly do not miss this set at all! Standout tracks include: “Tieduprightnow,” “Tobeloved,” “Hideout,” “Somethinggreater,” “Safeandsound.”
Article by: Liam Duffy
Plug In. Tune Out.
A soundtrack inspired by the 2026 Capitol Hill Block Party lineup. Featuring the artists defining indie pop, alternative, dance, and electronic music right now. From the shimmering synths of Magdalena Bay and Parcels to the infectious energy of Wet Leg, MUNA, Haute & Freddy, Ninajirachi, and more. Whether you're getting ready for the festival or reliving the weekend afterward, these are the songs that make Capitol Hill Block Party one of the year's most exciting lineups.