Ella Langley at Railbird Music Festival | Lineup, Setlist & Tickets
Ella Langley at Railbird Festival 2026
- Ella Langley performs Sunday, June 7 at Railbird in Lexington, Kentucky.
- She’s 3rd-billed behind headliner Tyler Childers and Zach Top.
- Expected 8–10 song festival set with full Dandelion album material.
- No camping at Railbird — Lexington hotels and Airbnbs required.
Ella Langley brings her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 to horse country.
On Sunday, June 7, Langley takes the stage at Railbird Festival 2026 — the roots-forward, bourbon-soaked gathering at The Infield at Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky. By this date, her sophomore album Dandelion will have been in the world for nearly two months. She’ll have completed Stagecoach, Rock The Country, and approximately six Dandelion Tour arena dates.
She’s third-billed on Sunday behind headliner Tyler Childers and Zach Top — two of the most authentic voices in modern country. The setting matters: a 150-year-old harness racing infield, bourbon in the air, and an audience that leans Americana and roots rather than mainstream pop-country. If Stagecoach is the spectacle, Railbird is the craft. Langley fits both worlds, and that’s exactly why she’s here.
Railbird Festival 2026 — Event Overview
| Festival | Railbird Festival 2026 (6th edition) |
| Tagline | “Music. Bourbon. Equine.” |
| Full Dates | June 6–7, 2026 |
| Ella Langley’s Day | Sunday, June 7, 2026 |
| Venue | The Infield at Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky |
| Organizer | C3 Presents / Live Nation |
| Sunday Headliner | Tyler Childers |
| Langley’s Billing | 3rd on Sunday (behind Childers and Zach Top) |
| Set Time | TBA (typically mid-afternoon at this billing level) |
| Stages | 3 stages: Limestone, Elkhorn, and a third |
| Other Sunday Acts | Muscadine Bloodline, Houndmouth, Shane Smith & The Saints, Shakey Graves, Margo Price, Willow Avalon, Carter Faith |
| Saturday Headliner | The Lumineers |
| Gates | 12:00 PM both days |
| Children | 8 & under free with ticketed adult (GA/GA+ only) |
| Camping | 12:00 PM both days. |
Railbird was founded in 2019 at Keeneland, moved to Red Mile in 2023 after a one-year hiatus, and has grown into one of the premier roots, country, and Americana festivals in the United States. The name itself comes from horse racing — a “railbird” is a fan who hangs on the rail, close to the action, as the horses barrel past. For one weekend each June, the term applies to music instead.
Expected Setlist for Railbird
Festival sets at Railbird typically run 30–45 minutes for artists at Langley’s billing level. By June 7, she’ll have a month of Dandelion Tour arena dates behind her — meaning the setlist will be fully integrated with new album material that was still fresh at Stagecoach in April.
- “Hell At Night” (BigXthaPlug) — Tape intro. Sets the energy.
- “Country Boy’s Dream Girl” — High-energy live opener from hungover.
- “nicotine” — Fan favorite. Emotional slow-down moment.
- “paint the town blue” — Most-played song across all tours (56+ performances).
- “Here for the Party” (Gretchen Wilson cover) — Every full-band show since career start.
- “Be Her” — Co-written with HARDY. By June, a proven live staple.
- “Dandelion” — Album title track. Released Jan 30, 2026.
- “you look like you love me” — Solo version. No. 1 Country Airplay. CMA Award winner.
- “Choosin’ Texas” — Hot 100 No. 1. Co-written with Miranda Lambert. RIAA Platinum.
- “weren’t for the wind” — Always the closer. Second country radio No. 1.
The Railbird audience leans more toward roots and Americana than a typical arena crowd. Don’t be surprised if Langley adapts — an acoustic moment, a deeper Dandelion cut, or a surprise nod to the Kentucky setting are all plausible. For the full headlining setlist, see our dedicated setlist page.
Tyler Childers, Zach Top, and the Sunday Lineup
Sunday at Railbird is built around authenticity. Tyler Childers — the Lawrence County, Kentucky, native whose raw Appalachian storytelling has made him one of the most revered voices in modern country — anchors the bill as headliner. Zach Top, whose traditional-sounding “I Never Lie” reached No. 6 on Hot Country Songs and No. 24 on the Hot 100, holds the second slot.
Langley’s placement at No. 3 positions her as the chart-topping crossover act on a day loaded with roots depth. Below her on the bill: Muscadine Bloodline, Houndmouth, Shane Smith & The Saints, Shakey Graves, and Margo Price — artists whose catalogs span outlaw country, folk-rock, and Southern Americana. It’s a lineup that rewards songwriting craft over production polish.
The contrast with Saturday is deliberate. That day’s bill, headlined by The Lumineers and featuring Caamp, Mt. Joy, and The Wallflowers, leans indie-folk and alt-Americana. Sunday is the country day — and Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” (co-written with Miranda Lambert, produced by Ben West) sits naturally between Childers’ mountain poetry and Zach Top’s Strait-influenced traditionalism.
Worth noting: Langley performs at Pikeville, Kentucky’s Appalachian Wireless Arena on July 23 as part of The Dandelion Tour — deep in Tyler Childers’ home territory, just six weeks after Railbird. The artistic and geographic overlap between these two acts is one of the underappreciated storylines of the 2026 festival season.
The Bourbon Hideout & Kentucky Festival Culture
Railbird is not just a music festival. It is a Kentucky cultural experience, and that distinction matters.
The festival’s Bourbon Hideout features hand-selected barrels from some of the state’s finest distilleries, curated in collaboration with Justin Sloan and Justin Thompson of Lexington’s Justins’ House of Bourbon.
For attendees exploring beyond the stages, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail runs through the surrounding region. Lexington itself is the Horse Capital of the World, and Red Mile — established in 1875 — is one of the oldest harness racing tracks in the United States.
The food vendor lineup includes vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options alongside Southern staples. Free water stations are positioned throughout the grounds. The festival is all ages, with children 8 and under admitted free on GA and GA+ passes when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
One critical logistical note: Railbird does not offer on-site camping. Unlike Stagecoach, there are no car camping lots, RV hookups, or glamping packages. Fans traveling from outside Lexington will need to secure hotel or Airbnb accommodations. The festival offers a Crewfare hotel partnership with exclusive rates near the venue.
Railbird 2026 Tickets, Passes & VIP Experiences
Tickets are available through Front Gate Tickets and Ticketmaster. Multiple sources indicate passes are selling fast. A Sunday-only pass is available for fans attending solely for Langley’s performance. Layaway plans start at 50% down.
Railbird Festival 2026 Pass Types & Key Perks
| Pass Type | Key Perks |
|---|---|
| 1-Day GA (Sunday) | Access to all 3 stages, food & drink vendors, Bourbon Hideout, and free water stations |
| 2-Day GA | Access for both festival days. Layaway plans available. |
| GA+ | Shaded lounges, lawn games, air-conditioned restrooms, and mobile charging stations |
| VIP VIP | On-field viewing at Limestone & Elkhorn stages, private bar, dedicated food vendors, VIP Lounge access, lockers, and express merchandise checkout |
| Platinum Premium | All VIP perks plus complimentary hors d’oeuvres, Platinum parking, and premium air-conditioned facilities |
| Superfecta NEW 2026 | On-stage viewing at all 3 stages, front-of-house soundboard access, private golf cart transportation, and cabana hospitality staff |
| Cabana | Private cabana in the VIP Lounge area. All guests, including children, require a paid Cabana ticket |
The Superfecta tier is new for 2026 and represents Railbird’s most premium experience: on-stage viewing at all three stages, access to the front-of-house soundboard position, and private golf cart transportation between stages with a dedicated cabana hospitality team. For fans who want to see Langley from the stage itself, this is the tier.
For Ella Langley tickets beyond Railbird — including her sold-out Dandelion Tour arena dates and other 2026 festival appearances — visit the tour dates page.
Where Railbird Fits in Ella Langley’s 2026 Tour Schedule
Railbird occupies a mid-tour position in Langley’s 2026 calendar, falling during a stretch that bridges her headlining arena dates and her summer festival circuit:
- May 7–June 26: The Dandelion Tour (headlining arenas: Toledo, St. Louis, Estero, Savannah, Oklahoma City, Independence, Salem, Wilmington)
- June 7: Railbird Festival, Lexington, KY (festival set)
- June 13: Braves Country Fest, Atlanta, GA (festival set)
- July 10: Cowboys Music Festival, Calgary, Canada (festival set)
- July 23: The Dandelion Tour resumes, Appalachian Wireless Arena, Pikeville, KY
By June 7, Langley will be deep into the Dandelion era — road-tested, confident, and performing with the full creative vision that Miranda Lambert helped shape in the executive producer’s chair. Railbird is not the debut of the new material. It is the festival where the new material has been broken in, polished, and delivered to an audience that prizes songwriting above all else.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day does Ella Langley perform at Railbird 2026?
Ella Langley performs Sunday, June 7, 2026, at The Infield at Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky. She is third-billed behind headliner Tyler Childers and Zach Top.
What songs will Ella Langley play at Railbird?
Her festival set is expected to run 8–10 songs over approximately 35–40 minutes, including “Choosin’ Texas,” “weren’t for the wind,” and fully integrated Dandelion album tracks. The complete headlining setlist is available on our setlist page.
Who headlines Sunday at Railbird 2026?
Tyler Childers headlines Sunday at Railbird 2026. Zach Top is second-billed, followed by Ella Langley in the third position.
How much are Railbird 2026 tickets?
Ticket tiers range from 1-Day GA to the new Superfecta experience with on-stage viewing and golf cart transportation. Passes are available through Front Gate Tickets and Ticketmaster, with layaway plans starting at 50% down.
Is there camping at Railbird Festival?
No. Railbird does not offer on-site camping. Fans traveling to Lexington should book hotels or Airbnbs, with exclusive rates available through the festival’s Crewfare hotel partnership