High Sierra Music Festival Moving to Nevada County Fairgrounds for 34th Annual Staging

High Sierra Music Festival, photo by Michael Pegram

High Sierra Music Festival has confirmed its 34th annual presentation and a new location for 2026. From July 2-5, the beloved Northern California institution will migrate from its longtime home at Quincy, Calif.’s Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds to the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, Calif. The festival’s change of venue promises new long-term stability and increased accessibility for fans, while maintaining its tradition of intimate, community-oriented musical celebrations.

“Since 1998, Quincy has been our home, our backdrop, and the setting for countless unforgettable moments,” shared High Sierra producer and curator Dave Margulies, who assumed the role previously held by founder Roy Carter last year. “Over 25 festivals, we’ve shared music, laughter, and community that will remain with us always. The warmth and support of Quincy and Plumas County have shaped High Sierra’s identity and helped it to grow into the beloved gathering it is today. For this, we are profoundly and forever grateful.

“While Quincy will always hold a special place in our history and our hearts, the move to Grass Valley offers us a path forward: more hotel rooms for our attendees, greater accessibility for artists and crews, closer proximity to the Bay Area, and the sustainability to keep High Sierra thriving for decades to come.”

High Sierra’s migration from its familiar footprint in the heart of the Plumas National Forest to its new backdrop, known as “California’s Most Beautiful Fairgrounds,” follows a triumphant return in July that featured a carefully curated mix of jam, bluegrass, Americana, alt-rock and global music. The 33rd annual presentation was a relief to the festival’s tight-knit community after an unexpected downturn in ticket sales brought the event to the brink of cancellation. Prior to High Sierra’s 2024 presentation, organizers announced that an economic crunch would cause “significant changes in 2025.”

“High Sierra’s soul remains unchanged,” Margulies expressed with the festival’s venue change announcement. “It’s still an intimate gathering of fewer than 7,500 attendees. While the spotlight is always on the music, it’s equally on the incredible community of people and the long-standing camps that create the container for High Sierra’s magic. Everyone involved—artists, crew, vendors, volunteers, and fans, all bring the absolute best of themselves. That’s the High Sierra way, and why the festival continues to shine every July 4th weekend for more than 30 years.”

Tickets for the 34th annual High Sierra Music Festival are on sale now at highsierramusic.com.