Formerly known as Outside Festival, Outside Days in Denver is returning for its third year — and this one promises to be better than ever.
Although our beloved Mile High City is overrun with incredible concerts and shows every night of the year, proper music festivals have a notoriously difficult time maintaining their staying power. We’ve seen the comings and goings of countless events, making it an extra-special treat when one of them not only sticks around but also grows year after year.
Outside Days (hosted by Outside Magazine) is quickly becoming one such gathering, and its newfound popularity shows in its rising attendance. In 2024, the first edition brought in 18,000 visitors. 2025 jumped to over 35,000. This year, with an expansion from two days to three, it seeks to grow even bigger.
The main draw, naturally, is the lineup. It features an incredible mix of indie, alternative, and rock, with Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, and Cage the Elephant headlining each night. Rounding out the undercard support is a curated merging of well-loved artists and rising stars, including Goth Babe, Tash Sultana, The Flaming Lips, Japanese Breakfast, Grouplove, Dawes, Eggy, and more.
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When you’re ready for a break from the music, you can try your hand at yoga, climbing, or mountain biking. Embrace air conditioning at one of the talks and panels offered by notable outdoor enthusiasts. Past years have featured Alex Honnold, David Blaine, Matt Lyons, and Shaun White, among a wide range of other professional athletes, comedians, actors, activists, and writers. If you need a little downtime, check out one of the acclaimed outdoor documentaries and films presented throughout the weekend.
The festival is coming soon (May 29-31), so get your tickets now here. This event is all-ages, with children under 12 admitted for free. Due to ongoing construction at Civic Center Park, Outside Days 2026 will temporarily be held at Auraria Campus.
With a little bit of luck and a lot of local support, Outside Days has the potential to become a landmark event for Colorado. It draws together two of the city’s most prominent communities (namely, outdoor and music enthusiasts) in an organic way that is deeply true to the spirit of Denver. This year’s edition is shaping up to be something extra special, and we hope to see you there.
