Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival 2026 — Day on the Water, Music All Evening

🕑 Estimated read time: 7 minutes

Eleven days. Dozens of professional songwriters. Multiple venues across Pensacola Beach and downtown Pensacola. Most of it free. The Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival is one of the Gulf Coast’s most unique events — intimate, unhurried, and the kind of experience that makes you wonder why you’ve never made the trip before.

The Pensacola Beach portion of the festival runs October 8–11, 2026 with shows starting as early as 3pm and running until midnight at venues ranging from Bamboo Willie’s to Flounders to The Sandbar Sunset Bar and Grill — which sits steps from the Frisky Mermaid dock on Santa Rosa Sound. The formula writes itself: morning on the water, afternoon drifting into the evening, and live music until the Sound goes quiet.

Here’s everything you need to plan a Songwriters Festival weekend on Pensacola Beach.

About the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival

The Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival brings professional Nashville and regional songwriters to Pensacola Beach for an eleven-day run of performances in intimate venue settings. Unlike a traditional music festival, this event is built around the craft — songwriters performing their own material in the round, often telling the stories behind the songs before they play them. It’s the kind of show where you discover that a song you’ve heard a hundred times was written in twenty minutes, or that the person on stage wrote three of your favorite country records.

Shows are free at most beach venues. A handful of ticketed listening room events and special shows are available for $30. The full festival runs October 1–11 with additional shows at downtown Pensacola venues — the beach schedule runs October 7–11.

The Perfect Songwriters Festival Day

The Songwriters Festival schedule hands you an ideal structure for a Pensacola Beach day without even trying. Beach shows start between 3pm and 5pm at most venues — which means your entire morning and early afternoon is yours. Here’s how we’d build it:

Morning: Book a dolphin cruise on the Frisky Mermaid. The 9:35am departure gets you on the water early, before the October sun gets too warm, and back at the dock before noon with dolphins spotted and coffee earned.

Afternoon: Rent a pontoon and spend a few hours on your own terms — cruise to Sand Island, anchor in a quiet cove, or dock for lunch at a waterfront restaurant. October on Santa Rosa Sound is calm, clear, and genuinely beautiful. You’ll be back at the dock by 3pm with time to walk to your first show.

Evening: The Sandbar Sunset Bar and Grill is literally steps from our dock at 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd — tie up the boat and walk straight to the show. Bamboo Willie’s, Paradise Bar & Grill, and Flounders are all within walking distance. Grab dinner between sets, stay for the late show, and call it a perfect Pensacola Beach day.

Beach Venue Schedule by Day

All artist lineups are subject to change. Check the official Pensacola Beach schedule for the most current information before attending.

Wednesday, October 7 — Opening Night

The Sandshaker kicks off the beach portion of the festival with Local Legends Open Mic Night hosted by Zachary Diedrich. A low-key, community-driven start to what becomes a very full weekend.

Thursday, October 8

Thursday is the first full day of beach shows and the pace picks up significantly. Shows start at 4pm and run until midnight at multiple venues simultaneously.

Holiday Inn Beach Resort — Shows from 4–6pm featuring Anne Buckle, Caitlin Evanson, Lauren Lucas, Nick Biebricher, Kevin Swanson, Justin Touchette, Dave Gibson, and Greg Crowe. Perfect for an early evening start before dinner.

Paradise Bar & Grill — Running 4:30pm through 8pm with Ukaladies, Ivey Campbell, Sadie McLayne, Kiersi Joli, Brook Faulk, Kat Deal, Pauline Reese, Erin Enderlin, Emma Zinck, Carlyle Griffin, Bridgette Tatum, Lauren Lucas, and Julianna Rankin.

Flounders Chowder House — Four rounds from 7–10pm featuring Jessie Ritter, Goldie Lahr, Grace Michelle, River Gibson, David Gautreau, James Adkins, Frank Carson, Cecilia Castleman, Aliyah Good, Chris “Mudbone” Caldwell, Daryl Wayne Dasher, and Sadie McLayne.

Bamboo Willie’s — Two rounds from 7–9pm with Katie Dineen, Kayla Connick, Devan Dunlap, Anne Buckle, Jerry Vandiver, and Caitlin Evanson.

The Sandbar Sunset Bar and Grill — Country Strong (Ticketed $30) — The premiere Thursday night event. Host Zachary Diedrich opens at 5:15pm followed by Dylan Altman, Dana Hunt Black, Mitch Rossell, Ray Scott, Karen Staley, Monty Holmes, Brice Long, Mark Nesler, Casey James, Sam Banks, Jeffrey Steele, and Anthony Smith through 10pm. This is the show to buy tickets for on Thursday.

The Sandshaker — Open mic night welcoming all songwriters, hosted by Zachary Diedrich.

Friday, October 9

Friday is the biggest single day of the beach festival — shows running from 2pm through midnight across eight venues simultaneously. This is the day to plan a morning dolphin cruise so you’re on the beach and ready when the music starts.

Native Café Listening Room (Ticketed $30) — An intimate afternoon show from 2–4pm featuring Carlyle Griffin, Kensie Coppin, Julia Kate, Jim McCormick, Monty Holmes, and Erin Enderlin. Limited seating — book in advance.

Holiday Inn Beach Resort — Afternoon shows from 3–6pm with Rachel Clearman, Lightyear Sisters, Christina Crystal, Tris Weeks, Goldie Lahr, Joel Shewmake, Josh Miller, Brent Loper, Wil Nance, Brian Davis, and Arlis Albritton.

Hilton Pensacola Beach — Three separate rooms running from 5–8pm. Room 1 (Aquamarine): Chris Wallin, Anthony Smith, Mitch Rossell, Craig Campbell, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Elisha Hoffman, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson. Room 2 (AquaVista): Matt Warren, Mark Nesler, Sam Banks, Bridgette Tatum, Erin Enderlin, and Emma Zinck. Room 3 (Emerald Coast): Jim McCormick, Karen Staley, Steven Dale Jones, Brice Long, Dylan Altman, Wynn Varble, and Lance Miller.

Paradise Bar & Grill — Running 4–8pm with Brook Faulk, Ivey Campbell, Caitlyn Mae, River Gibson, David Gautreau, James Adkins, Pearl Clarkin, Cecilia Castleman, Karli Ryan, Jason Byrd, Jason Duke, and Joel Shewmake.

The Pensacola Beach Resort / Salty Rose — Evening shows from 5–10pm with Stacy Clearman, Rachel Clearman, Aliyah Good, Frank Carson, Kiersi Joli, Jason Grove, Jerry Vandiver, Brent Loper, Greg Crowe, Dave Gibson, Bridgette Tatum, Ray Scott, Emma Zinck, and Joe Denim.

Bamboo Willie’s — Three rounds from 8–11:45pm with Pauline Reese, Star DeAzlan, Julianna Rankin, Tony Lane, Kensie Coppin, Monty Holmes, Kevin Swanson, Jason Grove, and Kristen Foreman.

Flounders Chowder House — Three rounds from 8–10pm with Caitlin Evanson, Kiersi Joli, Lauren Lucas, Mike Kinnebrew, Michael Magno, Greg Mihaly, Grace Michelle, Brennan Lowery, and Karli Ryan.

The Sandbar Sunset Bar and Grill — Evening shows from 6–9pm with Jason Justice, Donna Slater, Kevin Swanson, Greg Crowe, Dave Gibson, Chris “Mudbone” Caldwell, Daryl Wayne Dasher, Brook Faulk, Gary Nichols, Carlyle Griffin, and Julia Kate.

ARC Music and Sound — From 7–9pm featuring Michael Magno, Greg Mihaly, Dana Hunt Black, and Jeff Silvey.

Saturday, October 10

Saturday runs from noon through midnight and is the most packed day of the festival. If you can only pick one day to be on Pensacola Beach for the Songwriters Festival, this is the one.

The Pensacola Beach Resort / Salty Rose — Starts at noon with an afternoon of shows featuring Josh Miller, Butch Salter, Brandon Sandefur, Christina Crystal, Jonathan Puzan, Zachary Diedrich, Devan Dunlap, Katie Dineen, Jacob Palmer, Caitlyn Mae, Kiersi Joli, Ivey Campbell, Frank Carson, Mike Kinnebrew, Karli Ryan, Jim McCormick, Michael Magno, Tris Weeks, Monty Holmes, Steven Dale Jones, Tony Lane, Jason Byrd, Jeff Silvey, and Dana Hunt Black running from noon through 7pm.

Native Café Listening Room (Ticketed $30) — Afternoon intimate shows from 2–4pm with Jeff Silvey, Dana Hunt Black, Erin Enderlin, Lauren Lucas, Caitlin Evanson, and Jerry Vandiver.

Holiday Inn Beach Resort — Afternoon shows from 3–5pm with Star DeAzlan, Pauline Reese, Julianna Rankin, Carlyle Griffin, Julia Kate, Aliyah Good, Gary Nichols, Kensie Coppin, and Emma Zinck.

Hilton Pensacola Beach — Two rooms from 5–6pm with Karen Staley, Brian Davis, Wil Nance, Wynn Varble, Dylan Altman, and Chris Wallin.

Paradise Bar & Grill — Three rounds from 5–8pm with Goldie Lahr, Jessie Ritter, Rachel Clearman, Chris “Mudbone” Caldwell, Donna Slater, Daryl Wayne Dasher, Greg Crowe, and Dave Gibson.

The Landing — From 6:30pm with Jessie G, Matt Wynn, Jamie O’Neal, Andy Griggs, Rodney Good, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson.

The Sandbar Sunset Bar and Grill — Four rounds from 6–10:30pm with Pauline Reese, Star DeAzlan, Kristen Foreman, Matt Warren, Sam Banks, Wil Nance, Bridgette Tatum, Brian Davis, Arlis Albritton, Lost Saints, Jonathan Puzan, Justin Touchette, Kevin Swanson, and Zachary Diedrich.

Bamboo Willie’s — Three rounds from 8–10pm with Pearl Clarkin, Cecilia Castleman, Caitlyn Mae, Robert Wayne Walkup, Matt Williams, Nathan Robinson, Chris “Mudbone” Caldwell, Daryl Wayne Dasher, and Brook Faulk.

Flounders Chowder House — Three rounds from 8–10pm with Jason Duke, Joel Shewmake, Jason Grove, Joe Denim, Ray Scott, Brent Loper, James Adkins, Brandon Sandefur, and Stacy Clearman.

Sunday, October 11 — Festival Finale

Sunday is the official finale and the most ticketed day of the beach schedule. The Beach Church opens the morning with a special 9am set featuring Gary Nichols, Kensie Coppin, Matt Williams, and Stacy Clearman — a uniquely Pensacola way to start a Sunday.

The Pensacola Beach Resort / Salty Rose — Opens at 11am with Lost Saints, Karen Staley, Zachary Diedrich, Gary Nichols, Kensie Coppin, Stacy Clearman, Robert Wayne Walkup, Nathan Robinson, and Brandon Davis, followed at 2:30pm by Greg Mihaly, Donna Slater, and Nick Biebricher.

Bamboo Willie’s — PBSF Finale (Ticketed $30) — The closing event of the entire festival. Doors at 2pm featuring Jessie G, Matt Wynn, Anthony Smith, Brian Davis, Josiah Siska, Elisha Hoffman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Jamie O’Neal, Rodney Good, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, The Band Loula, and Gary Nichols through 6pm. This is the must-have ticket of the weekend.

Get Out on the Water Before the Music Starts

Every Songwriters Festival beach venue is within walking distance of the Frisky Mermaid dock at 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd — and The Sandbar Sunset Bar and Grill is literally next door. Which means you can step off the boat and walk straight to a show.

October dolphin cruises are some of the most consistent of the year. Pods are actively feeding in Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay through fall, the water is calm, and with fewer boats on the Sound than in summer the dolphins have the run of the place. Morning shared cruises depart at 9:35am and run about 90 minutes — back at the dock well before the first shows start.

→ Book a Dolphin Cruise

Rather explore on your own schedule? A half-day pontoon rental gets you on the water from morning through early afternoon — time enough for Sand Island, a secluded beach stop, or a dock-and-dine lunch before the music starts. Our all-tritoon fleet includes GPS, a reference binder with dock-and-dine restaurants and anchorage spots, and no prior experience required. Starting at $295, half day and full day options available.

→ Reserve a Pontoon Rental

Where to Stay for Songwriters Festival Weekend

Several of the festival’s beach venues are also hotels — the Holiday Inn Beach Resort and the Hilton Pensacola Beach are both hosting shows, which makes staying there an obvious choice if you want to walk straight from the show to your room. The Hampton Inn is also a festival venue and is within easy walking distance of the Frisky Mermaid dock.

For a full breakdown of how close every major Pensacola Beach hotel is to our dock, check our Pensacola Beach hotel proximity guide.

One important note: Songwriters Festival weekend fills up on Pensacola Beach. October 8–11 is not a slow fall weekend — book accommodations early if your dates are set.

Plan Your Songwriters Festival Visit

Book your cruise or pontoon rental now. October availability is much better than summer but festival weekends do fill up. If you know you’re coming for the Songwriters Festival, lock in your morning water activity so that piece of the weekend is handled.

Most beach shows are free — just show up. The Sandbar Thursday night show ($30), the Native Café listening rooms ($30), and the Bamboo Willie’s Sunday finale ($30) are ticketed and worth buying in advance. Everything else at the beach is walk-in.

Check the official schedule before you go. Artist lineups are subject to change — always verify at songwriterspensacolabeach.com before heading to a specific venue.

October weather on Pensacola Beach. Expect low-to-mid 80s during the day, cooler evenings in the 60s–70s. A light layer for the open-air evening shows is worth packing. The water is still warm enough for snorkeling and swimming through October.

→ Book a Dolphin Cruise

→ Reserve a Pontoon Rental