The lineup for Sam Smith joining the host as co-headliners for the gathering Jan. 15-19, 2026.
Others set to play the festival, which spotlights women or nonbinary artists over four days of music, include Lucius, Joy Oladokun, CMAT, Allison Ponthier, Jensen McRae, SistaStrings, Jasmine.4.t, Autumn Nichols, Arroba Nat, the Carlile Family Band and the Marshgrass Mamas.
Related Stories
Also promised is a Titans of Americana set, which will include some special guests who are yet to be announced). Comedian Kristin Key, a big hit at the 2025 edition of the festival, will return for 2026.
Popular on Variety
Smith is the first Girls Just Wanna Weekend headliner to rock a full set of facial hair, but as their fans and most followers of pop music know, the artist came out as nonbinary in 2019. Smith’s inclusion marks a new milestone for inclusivity at the top of the bill, given the festival’s commitment to representing not just female-identifying but nonbinary artists.
“We might need this one more than ever,” Carlile wrote on her Instagram account, alluding to the collective mood among much of the natural audience for GJWW since last January’s festival, which coincided with the very last days of the Biden administration. “But what can I even say about this lineup? I’m so proud of it. The diversity in genre, humanity and in spirit is exactly who we all are as a community. This celebration is a force for good. This is who we get to party with people! January can’t come soon enough.”
This past winter’s show had Shania Twain, Muna and Maren Morris as Carlile’s co-headliners, with Brandy Clark and others as support. Others who have done the festival in its first six years include Sarah McLachlan, Janelle Monae, Sheryl Crow, Indigo Girls, Sara Bareilles, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna, Yola, Wendy & Lisa, Patty Griffin, Allison Russell and Celisse.
The festival takes place at Mexico’s Barceló Maya Resort. Ticket packages for the 100x Hospitality-produced festival are all-inclusive, including accommodations and food and drink as well as nightly concerts, afternoon poolside performances, seminars, workshops and some offsite excursions.
Attendance at the festival tends to be mostly — but far from entirely — female or nonbinary. Publicity materials describe “a welcoming environment for the predominantly LGBTQ+ audience,” although there, as well, GJWW does draw a sizable contingent of straight attendees as well.
Carlile has her first album in four years, “Returning to Myself,” due in October. At this past January’s festival, during one of her two weekend performances, the artist premiered material she had just recorded for the album, and asked the audience not to film that, with which they complied.
For a look at Variety’s coverage of last January’s festival, read “Shania Twain and Brandi Carlile on Teaming Up for an All-Female-Headliner Festival, and Why Women Supporting Women Is Always ‘Right on Time’.”
