Denver’s Outside Festival is coming back for a third year, but it will have a brand-new name and location.
Dubbed the “SXSW of the outdoors,” the event has been rebranded as “Outside Days” and will take place in 2026 at Denver’s Auraria Campus. It’s scheduled for May 28-31.
“Denver’s outdoor spaces are where our city comes together to breathe, reconnect and to build the kind of community that makes us who we are,” says Mike Johnston, mayor of Denver. “This festival reflects the best of our city: creativity, connection and a shared love of the world beyond our front doors.”
Hosted by Outside Inc., the music festival and industry conference debuted in 2024 at Civic Center Park with more than 18,000 people in attendance. Last year, it returned to that location and expanded its offerings, drawing more than 35,000 attendees—a 94 percent year-over-year increase. However, Civic Center Park is now under construction, so the festival is moving down the road.
As the event’s footprint continues to grow, organizers are expecting more than 35,000 attendees in 2026.
“The huge growth between 2024 and 2025 shows there is a thirst for reconnection,” says Christopher Jerard, chief experience officer at Outside Interactive Inc. “So step away from your screens, gather the people you love and come listen to music, eat good food and feel joy, wonder and awe together. Let us surprise you. Come touch grass with us in Denver.”
The Outside Days Industry Conference begins on May 28 with the Outside Summit, a networking and thought leadership gathering for outdoor professionals. Back for a second year is Outside Ignite, a startup pitch competition that brings together founders and investors. Participants can choose between two new tracks for 2026: Attract, for innovators across the travel industry, and Endure, for endurance race directors and event organizers.
The music festival kicks off May 29, expanding from two to three full days of live music. The 2026 musical line-up includes big names like Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, Cage The Elephant, Tash Sultana, Goth Babe, Japanese Breakfast, The Flaming Lips, Dawes and more.
“Outside Days is so much more than a festival—it’s a movement,” says Jerard. “We believe the best days we have are the ones we spend outside, in community, with our friends and families.”
But there’s more than just music on the docket. The festival also has adventure film screenings, gear demos, yoga and wellness programming, culinary activations, career guidance and conversations with athletes, explorers, artists and industry leaders.
“Denver has proven itself as the natural home for this movement; a place where the outdoor industry doesn’t just gather, but where we actively shape what comes next,” says Robin Thurston, chief executive officer of Outside Interactive Inc. “What started as a bold vision has evolved into a platform where entrepreneurs pitch game-changing ideas, where policy makers and brand leaders forge new partnerships, and where thousands of people come together to celebrate why we do this work. The energy is undeniable, and it’s only growing.”
