Senior Staff Writer
September 20, 2026
Now in its 21st year, the HONK! Festival brings 35 U.S. brass and street bands to the Somerville and Cambridge area for three days of free, unplugged, politically charged music. Running October 9 through 11, 2026, the festival kicks off in Davis Square and the surrounding Somerville neighborhoods on Friday and Saturday, before a massive Sunday parade rolls down to Harvard Square — where it arrives in time for the square’s 47th annual Oktoberfest.
This year’s lineup spans the country: from the Rude Mechanical Orchestra (New York) and Brass Liberation Orchestra (San Francisco) to the Detroit Party Marching Band and Yes Ma’am Brass Band out of Austin. Local bands — including the founding Good Trouble Brass Band, School of HONK, and several other Somerville-based outfits — anchor the home turf. Six international bands from Brazil, Chile, Italy, England, Germany, and Canada will join via live video stream.
Beyond the performances, festivalgoers can participate directly. The pick-up ensemble Band Together welcomes players of any level, while ArtHONK! and Singing Resistance offer additional ways to join in rather than just watch from the sidewalk.