Top Concerts for September/October 2026 

Fall is coming, and what better way to celebrate than via music? What concerts are you excited about? 

Here’s our roundup of the best concert options in the DC area for you to take action on. Get in the mood for the big acts touring through our city, or take a chance on local artists in our small venues. Of course you don’t have to choose just one option, do as many concerts as you can handle, and then a few more. 

With so many shows in September, it was hard to pare the list down to a somewhat reasonable 25 standouts. But I cheated and put a bunch in the Bonus section. I take pride in that level of cheating. 

As always, find local music in yellow. This is where both your opportunity and commitment to support local businesses and artists meshes into reality. If you’re worried about the optics of going to too many concerts, I won’t tell anyone. 

September 

Mike D @ 9:30 Club (9/1/26) Sold Out 

Empire of the Sun @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (9/4/26) 

Robyn @ The Anthem (9/8 & 9/9/26) First Night Sold Out 

Margo Price @ The Birchmere (9/9/26) 

Bandits on the Run @ Songbyrd Music House (9/11/26) (NYC-based Bandits on the Run bring a mix of indie pop and folk, and are touring for their newest album, Rough Magic. They have made a name for themselves with three-part harmonies and an assortment of eclectic instruments including the accordian, suitcase kick, and cello. They are also actors that have appeared on Broadway, and streaming shows/films. Get to the Byrd for some Bandits!) 

Charlotte Sands w/ OUT IN FRONT @ Union Stage (9/11/26) (The rock trio from Los Angeles, OUT IN FRONT, is opening on Charlotte Sands’ tour, riding the high of their latest single, “Medicine” (via AWAL). Lead vocalist and songwriter Madie Renner shares, “It came together really fast–in three hours–one of the fastest songs we’ve ever made. It poured out of me after forgetting my dad’s birthday on tour and feeling so terrible. It was a reality check moment that punched me in the gut.” On the song’s bassline, Renner adds, “We felt like we were missing a bass-driven track on the project, so we called up our bass player, Ryen, and he came in with this nostalgic, groovy riff that became the foundation of the song. It was one of those rare moments where everything just clicked with producer Joel Ferber.“) 

Southfield w/ Acid Red Dress + Caroline McQuaig @ The Pocket (9/11/26) 

Sara Bareilles @ The Anthem (9/12 & 9/13/26) (Sara Bareilles is thankfully back on the road, touring for both her new album, Good Grief, and a documentary of the same name (opens in theatres September 2). The doc showcases an intimate, unfiltered portrait of Sara’s return to the recording studio for the first time in seven years. It also documents her creative process that becomes a profoundly personal, ultimately hopeful meditation on loss, grief and the power of music to heal. See the movie and find your way to The Anthem for two great nights of music.) 

Laveda w/ Massie + Pinky Lemon @ Pie Shop (9/14/26) 

Angine de Poitrine @ The Atlantis (9/15/26) Sold Out 

Ghostly Kisses @ Songbyrd Music House (9/15/26) 

Dominique Fils-Aimé @ Bethesda Jazz & Blues (9/16/26) 

A Shrewdness of Apes w/ Fix Your Hearts + Jerry-X @ Jammin Java (9/16/26) 

Soda Blonde w/ Ryan Wright @ Union Stage (9/17/26) (Ryan Wright is local! I last witnessed her live last year at Pie Shop.)

Perennial @ Comet Ping Pong (9/18/26) (Connecticut’s Perennial is touring for their latest album, Modernism (via Ernest Jenning Record Co.), releasing the same day as their DC show! Join this three-piece punk band for a night of high energy and bombastic music!) 

The Sweet Spot w/ Argo and the Violet Queens + Spilt Milk @ The Pocket (9/18/26) 

Bikini Kill @ The Fillmore Silver Spring (9/19/26) 

Brandon Flowers @ 9:30 Club (9/20/26) (Brandon Flowers of The Killers!) 

Automatic @ The Atlantis (9/21/26) 

Telescreens @ DC9 (9/24/26) 

All Things Go Music Festival @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (9/25-9/27/26) (Back for another round of epic music! I have yet to see this festival in its current form at Merriweather, but I wistfully recall the days it was held behind Union Market. What a time to be alive!)

The Pretty Reckless @ The Fillmore Silver Spring (9/26/26) (I just learned that Taylor Momsen, lead singer of The Pretty Reckless, will join the remaining members of Soundgarden for a half-time concert at the NFL Season Opener in Seattle. Taylor will take on Soundgarden’s vocal duties that Chris Cornell perfected. In case you needed that information. Hell yes! I definitely need that information, as I’ll be there! Also, The Pretty Reckless come to Silver Spring, and that is also awesome.)

Flowers for the Dead w/ Color Palette + Hotel Sewing Kit @ Songbyrd Music House (9/26/26) 

Gorillaz @ Capital One Arena (9/26/26) 

Post Sex Nachos @ Pearl Street Warehouse (9/27/26) (You can do anything post sex, but nachos does sound like an excellent choice. This indie rock band from Missouri is touring to support their forthcoming album, Big Bad (self-published), due out September 18. They are turning “life’s heaviest feelings into something you can dance to, blending genre-bending energy with humor, heart, and emotional honesty”. I checked Pearl Street’s food menu, no nachos, but they do have loaded tots. Join for the music, stay for the post concert tots.)

October 

Snail Mail & Soccer Mommy @ The Fillmore Silver Spring (10/1/26) (Check out a review of a previous Snail Mail concert at the same venue.)

Magic Item w/ Dr. Horsedoctor + Rain Shears @ The Pocket (10/1/26) 

Broadcast: One Year of Transmission @ Transmission DC (10/2-10/4/26) (A three-day celebration of music for the one year existence of Transmission (former Rock and Rock Hotel spot).) 

Weezer w/ The Shins + Silversun Pickups + The Gathering @ Capital One Arena (10/2/26) (Quite the supporting lineup for Weezer. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen them live, plus I always enjoy Silversun Pickups.)

Olivia Rodrigo w/ Wolf Alice @ Capital One Arena (10/3 & 10/4/26) Sold Out (Olivia is probably nice, but Wolf Alice is excellent!) 

Power to the People Festival @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (10/3/26) 

Indigo Girls w/ Linda Perry @ The Anthem (10/4/26) 

Ella Boh @ Songbyrd Music House (10/6/26) (Dark pop artist Ella Boh, from Los Angeles, is coming to DC as part of her BLURRY Tour. Self-written and self-produced (with co-production from Stint), she just released an expanded version of her BLURRY DELUXE EP (via Bamboo Artists) with three new songs. The new material dives into obsession, vulnerability, identity, and emotional addiction. A good reason to head over to Songbyrd and get a beautiful stamp on your Byrd concert loyalty card. Or a good reason to get one!) 

Foster the People @ The Anthem (10/7/26) 

KINDA EVIL w/ Shame Shame + Knifing Around @ Pie Shop (10/8/26) 

she’s green w/ Witches Exist + smush @ DC9 (10/9/26) (Minneapolis indie pop band she’s green describe their shoegaze/dream pop inspired music as ‘moss music’ – for wandering in the forest, getting lost, and discovering the magic of nature. Guitarist Liam Armstrong adds, “I always think about this experience I had as a kid, seeing a stump that was filled with moss. It gave me the feeling that there are smaller worlds.” The band formed in 2022 and our embarking on their first headling tour, also in support of their new EP, swallowtail (via Photo Finish Records). They’ve come through DC a couple times already, I saw them at DC9 last year. Give them a listen and lock in your ticket!)

Six Foot Blonde @ Union Stage (10/9/26) 

beabadoobee @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (10/10/26)  

Two Door Cinema Club w/ STRFKR @ The Anthem (10/11/26) 

BALTHVS @ The Atlantis (10/13/26) (Colombian psychedelic trio BALTHVS has released their new single, “Pale Blue Dot”, from their sixth album, MANIFEST (via Mixto Records). It comes out on Friday, October 7. BALTHVS shares, “We are fans of Carl Sagan and his cosmic message, and we wanted to write a song praising global unity and call awareness to our precarious position in the universe. Why destroy the one place that we call home, while there is nowhere else to go anyway?” Their message is important, but the sound is airy and laid back, mixing in elements of psychedelia, groovy funk, disco, Latin cumbia, among others. Definitely a similar vibe to Khruangbin. Should be a peaceful show.) 

Pretty Bitter w. Pulses. + Padfoot + thisdogllhunt @ Black Cat (10/16/26) (Local favorites Pretty Bitter are coming to the Black Cat for their album release party. The album is Pleaser, and their sound can be described as synth/dream pop/rock (and other superlatives). Come out and support local music and buy records/CDs and merch!)

The Tallest Man on Earth @ Lincoln Theatre (10/17/26) 

The Snuts @ DC9 (10/19/26) (I caught this Scottish indie rock band at The Atlantis a couple years ago, and recommend you check them out.)

The Damned w/ Flamin’ Groovies + The Courettes @ 9:30 Club (10/21/26) 

L7 @ Howard Theatre (10/21/26) 

Rachel Bochner @ DC9 (10/22/26) 

Porch Light @ The Atlantis (10/23/26) (Porch Light, another band from Minneapolis, will be heading out on the road for their first headlining tour, The Hush Tour. They released an EP, Navy Blue, in 2025, and have started to release new music this year. Their single, “Arctic” (via Mom + Pop) explores the tension between longing and commitment, and the desire for deeper connection with a relationship. Will be a good show!) 

The Hails @ The Atlantis (10/28/26) 

IAN SWEET w/ meg elsier @ DC9 (10/20/26) 

Judah & the Lion @ The Fillmore Silver Spring (10/31/26) 

Bonus! 

(For when someone slips you a note saying “Seek help, you go to too many concerts” and you write back, “Thank you”.) 

James Taylor & His All-Star Band @ Wolf Trap (9/1 & 9/2/26)  

Czonka + Snack Truck + Cash on the Nail @ Rhizome DC (9/11/26) 

Alicia Witt @ Jammin Java (9/15/26) 

John Fogerty + Steve Winwood @ Wolf Trap (9/15/26) 

Anna Graves @ Pearl Street Warehouse (9/15/26) 

Bermuda Search Party w/ Miki Fiki + Argo and the Violent Queens @ Songbyrd Music House (9/17/26) 

Angine de Poitrine @ Lincoln Theatre (9/17/26) Sold Out 

Kim Gordon @ Black Cat (9/18/26) 

Alex Alavi & The Funky Breakfast w/ Keegan Del Rio + Miss Moon @ Songbyrd Music House (9/19/26) 

The Milk Carton Kids @ 9:30 Club (9/21/26) 

Drag Talk @ Pie Shop (9/24/26) 

Julia Wolf @ 9:30 Club (9/28/26) 

Sex Pistols & Frank Carter @ 9:30 Club (9/29/26) 

Phoebe Bridgers @ Capital One Arena (9/29/26) 

Snooze w/ A Shrewdness of Apes + Right Chipper @ Pie Shop (9/30/26) 

Shaboozy @ The Anthem (9/30/26) 

Home Rule Music Festival @ Alethia Tanner Park (10/3/26) 

The Chicks @ The Anthem (10/6/26) Sold Out 

Capitol Hill Porch Fest (10/10/26) (What?!?! A porch fest for the Capitol Hill neighborhood?! Hell yes, finally! But also, damn you for picking the same day as Snallygaster!! Damn you!!) 

Snallygaster (10/10/26) (Not a music festival, but the best beer festival in DC has lots of good music throughout the day!) 

Brian Fallon & The Painkillers @ Black Cat (10/11/26) 

Andrew McMahon @ 9:30 Club (10/17/26) Sold Out 

Five for Fighting with String Quartet w/ Lace and Lee @ The Birchmere (10/20/26) 

Beck @ The Anthem (10/25/26)