Carli Clesmere 
Live music, local art, cemetery grounds, and goats. Goatchella is one of Jersey City’s more unique summer traditions, and it returns for 2026 starting tonight. Held at the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery at 435 Newark Avenue, the two-day music festival fundraiser benefits the cemetery’s eco-friendly, invasive-weed-eating goats and overlooked sheep. This year’s festival takes place on Friday, June 26th, and Sunday, June 28th, after the Saturday show was rescheduled to Sunday as the rain date. Goatchella will feature live performances, DJs, art, fashion, food, and, of course, goats + sheep on site. Read on for more about the 2026 Goatchella Music Festival happening in Jersey City, New Jersey.
About the Event
Jersey City’s 2026 Goatchella Music Festival Fundraiser, presented by Dancing Tony, returns to the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery for a two-day live music benefit supporting the cemetery’s eco-friendly goat and sheep program. The festival will feature live performances from local bands, art, DJs, food, and, of course, goats + sheep on site.
This year’s festival takes place on Friday, June 26th and Sunday, June 28th. The Saturday show has been moved to Sunday due to rain. The full schedule is as follows:
Friday, June 26th
5PM: Gates
5:50PM: Young and Doomed
6:40PM: Good Teal
7:30PM: Knife City
8:20PM: Jawdust
9:10PM: Best Dressed Ghost
Between sets: DJ “Graveyard” Breath
Tickets for Friday’s performances cost $20 in advance, $30 at the gate, and $10 cash entry after 8PM.
Sunday, June 28th
2PM: Gates
2:40PM: Jersey GIANT
3:30PM: Lauren Rosato
4:20PM: Sumac Red
5:10PM: San Tropez
6PM: Cashmir
6:50PM: Strange Neighbors
7:40PM: Sky Pocket
8:30PM: TBA
Between sets: DJ Gender Cult
Tickets for Sunday cost $30 at the gate. JC Bike will also provide free valet bike lock-up on Sunday, and Sunday eats will be provided by El Chilango. Artwork for the festival is by Tim Shankweiler.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket and make a picnic out of the day. The event is carry-in, throw-out, and no glass containers, BYOB, bottles, or pets are allowed. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Since the event takes place on historic cemetery grounds, guests should use caution when walking around uneven terrain and should not lean on, sit on, or play around the gravestones. The lineup and order are subject to change.
This event is funded in part by a grant from the Jersey City Arts + Cultural Trust Fund.
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