HONK! Festival

21st Annual HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands; this year's on-site U.S. bands total 35, plus on-site video livestream participation from several international bands; w/plenty of ways for audience participation.

The HONK! Festival was catapulted into existence right here in the Somerville-area in 2006, initially with 3 local bands, 8 from across the U.S., and 1 travelling in from Vancouver. And yes, HONK! has grown. There are now over 20 independent HONK!s (plus related activist street band gatherings) operating around the world. With 35 U.S. bands participating on-site specifically in Somerville/Cambridge this October. Let's just say, there is a reason for that phenomenon! With the local Festival still under the ongoing coordination of HONK!'s founding band, the Good Trouble Brass Band (fka Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band).

The 2026 list of HONK! on-site band participants, with further details on each, can be found at honkfest.org/2026-festival/bands-2026/. The full HONK! schedule will be made available in early October. In the meantime, keep checking for updates at honkfest.org/2026-festival/press-2026/, instagram.com/honkfest/, and facebook.com/honkfestival. Links to opportunities for fest-goer participation, and ways to volunteer in advance and on the day, can all be found on the homepage: honkfest.org.