10 Acts to See at Capitol Hill Block Party 2026

This weekend in Seattle, Capitol Hill Block Party returns to Capitol Hill for a three-day festival of some of music’s biggest names in pop, alternative, and rock music. The festival, which first launched by Jen Gapay back in 1997 as a one-day event, has been a staple in Seattle’s live music scene and prioritizes spotlighting local acts all weekend long. This year, Seattle acts like Lovely Colours (alternative rock), Emi Pop (Spanish power pop), slone (indie pop), and dsrt flwr (R&B), to name a few.

Since its inauguration, Capitol Hill Block Party has featured numerous heavy hitters over the years including Chappell Roan, Odesza, A$AP Rocky, Charli xcx, and others.

We attended our first Capitol Hill Block Party in 2025: it scaled back as just a two-day event and actually became 21+ for the first time. But this year, it’s back for three days, which means even more music to discover!

We’ve compiled a list of acts we’re most looking forward to below: see you in Seattle!

Between Friends | 6:30-7:15pm | Main Stage

Consider Between Friends the perfect pregame show before Day 1 headliners Magdalena Bay and MUNA. The sibling duo’s dreamy pop with blends of electronic and rock is sure to transport listeners to a nostalgic time of their lives while still keeping them on their toes with ever-evolving, genre-blurring sounds found across their eclectic discography. They had an amazing performance at Lollapalooza this year, Between Friends is a group you don’t want to miss! If you can’t catch their festival set, don’t fret! The WOW! TOUR! will bring them back to Seattle and cities across the country later this year. – Jan

Ninajirachi | 8:20-9:20pm | Daydream Stage

Ninajirachi’s set at Capitol Hill Block Party is shaping up to be one of the sneaky-best bookings on this year’s bill. The Australian producer’s set—who just debuted to a wildly-packed crowd on a side stage at Lollapalooza in Chicago—will be the festival’s jolt of glitchy, Y2K-coded club energy. It’s also the prime chance to catch her performing tracks off of I Love My Computer, the album that’s turned her from a dance-scene favorite into a headliner-in-waiting (mark my words). This is exactly the kind of set that turns curious walk-ups into new fans, and if you’re into EDM, this set is one not to miss. – Kristin

Frost Children | 10-11pm | Daydream Stage

You’re going to want to plug it in for Frost Children at CHBP, where sibling duo Angel and Lulu lead the charge in the hyper-pop scene. The pair are standout producers, with credits alongside Kim Petras, Porter Robinson, and Danny Brown. Expect a set that seamlessly blends hyper-pop, rock, punk, and electronic music into an exhilarating, genre-defying performance.

Their most recent EP, Tweaker Poem, channels the unsettling reality of fan stalking into a striking collection of songs. After escaping to Japan, the duo turned the night of sleep deprivation into a creative spark resulting in a project that explores the darker side of life as artists, particularly the impact of parasocial relationships and internet stalking. We’re just a little obsessed with their ingenuity to say the least. Frost Children’s frenetic set at Daydream stage will be the perfect rager to your Friday night, I know I’ll be there for sure. – Jan

Muna | 10:40-close | Main Stage

For the past decade, MUNA has been redefining synth-pop with emotionally charged songwriting from an unapologetically queer perspective. Since forming in 2013, trio Katie Gavin, Naomi McPherson, and Josette Maskin have poured their hearts into every release, creating music that resonates with listeners far beyond the dance floor. Their new album, Dancing on the Wall, is no exception. 

This was one of my most anticipated albums of the year, and it somehow keeps getting better with every listen (“Mary Jane” and “Buzzkiller” are my personal favorites!) Katie’s vocals shine against the album’s experimental ’80s-inspired production while every track feels thoughtfully curated, making the record a delicious listen from start to finish. With a no-skip discography and an electrifying stage presence, MUNA will be a standout act at CHBP. – Jan

Momma | 5-5:45pm | Main Stage

Following the release of their excellent 2025 album Welcome To My Blue Sky, which the team at Staged Haze ranked at #21 on our list of best albums released in 2025, Momma is deep into a touring run across North America, including several festivals, before heading out on the road again this fall in support of the English rock band BASEMENT. Catching Momma in this kind of setting feels like the sweet spot before things get even bigger for them, and their ’90s-inspired fuzzy, alternative rock is packed with guitar-driven nostalgia that is perfect for a West Coast audience. – Kristin

JIGITZ | 6:15-7pm | Main Stage

Usually EDM isn’t my thing, but there’s usually a few artists, like Ninahirachi, who becomes an exception to my rule, and Brooklyn-based DJ jigitz is one of those as well. Everything he’s put out has managed to pull me in: his recent run of features has been stacked, from “car crash” with Charlotte Plank (a staple in my workout playlist) to “thumbs” with Lamb to his most recent release, “can’t be nothing but what i am,” with glaive. Catching that live, in a set built for the dancefloor, feels like it could be one of the most surprising highlights of the whole weekend.  – Kristin

Vika & The Velvets | 9-9:45pm | Nuemos Stage

If you’re looking for a little bit of love and luck, Vika & the Velvets is the CHBP band for you. Hailing from Spokane, Washington, this rising indie rock group is quickly making a name for itself, landing spots at major local festivals and building momentum. 

Vika captures the spirit of indie rock with their deep blues influences and psychedelic flourishes, creating sounds that are both soulful and immersive. Embracing her unique perspective and musical edge, Vika invites listeners into her band’s world that’s rich with emotion, grit, and vibrant energy. Try your luck with Vika & the Velvets and maybe fall in love! Don’t miss their set on Saturday at the Neumos stage. – Jan

Instant Crush | 1:45-2:30pm | Main Stage

Don’t sleep on Seattle’s own Instant Crush at CHBP. One of the festival’s hometown acts, the band has built a reputation for turning raw emotion into explosive, hook-filled indie rock that feels for the internally emotional and refreshingly current. Instant Crush channels y2k alternative and emo energy through a modern indie-pop lens. Their debut album, I’M SORRY I DIDN’T BITE MY TONGUE, pairs vulnerable, diary thoughts with loud and fast production, capturing the emotional highs and lows of young adulthood with honesty and intensity.

Instant Crush is all about pushing their sound, visuals, and performance to the next level, aiming to build a world that’s bolder and more ambitious than ever. For festival goers looking to discover a rising local act in the heart of Seattle, Instant Crush is one set worth seeing before they break onto a larger stage. – Jan

Haute & Freddy | 3:55-4:40pm | Main Stage

Haute & Freddy are the flamboyant alt-pop duo of Michelle and Buzz and Lance Shipp; their performances blur the line between concert and spectacle, embracing camp and chaos as their 18th-century-esque escapade feels entirely their own in this modern world. Their first single, “Scantily Clad,” created all the rage among their adoring fanbase, along with the theme in Ren Faire speak and attendees dressing as jesters and mime clown attire. Their debut album, Big Disgrace, which dropped in March, has kept this duo’s momentum rocketing as they expand their theatrical horizons. 

Haute & Freddy pull inspiration from musical theatre, obscure synthesizers, and underground club culture: this duo illuminates songs that are as bold as they are infectious. The fun and glam Capitol Hill will be graced with will be sure to give festival goers FOMO who miss out on them. – Jan

Work Wife | 7:45-8:30pm | Neumos Stage

I only recently discovered the Brooklyn-based band Work Wife, but from here on out, I’m absolutely locked in. Their brand of melodic, mellow indie rock draws easy comparisons to artists like Men I Trust, Faye Webster, and Tommy Lefroy, but there’s a warmth to the group’s songwriting that makes it feel distinctly unique. Coming off their debut LP Parade, which dropped last year, I have a hunch that their live show will feel intimate and comforting, and a perfect send off to summer. – Kristin

Check out last year’s Capitol Hill coverage HERE and all of our previous festival coverage HERE.