David Byrne
One of the most iconoclastic and beloved artists of the past half-century, David Byrne returns to the stage in 2026 with two very special performances at Big Ears. As the creative force behind Talking Heads and the visionary mind behind projects like American Utopia—which evolved from an album and tour into a Broadway production and Spike Lee–directed film—Byrne has continually reshaped the possibilities of music, theater, and performance.
His latest album, Who Is The Sky?, finds Byrne collaborating with Grammy-winning producer Kid Harpoon and the adventurous Ghost Train Orchestra, with guest appearances by Hayley Williams, St. Vincent, and Tom Skinner. The album extends the optimism of American Utopia while pushing into new territory: story-songs rich with humor, intimacy, and philosophical inquiry, all set to inventive grooves and lush orchestral textures.
At Big Ears 2026, Byrne will offer festival audiences two unique experiences—performances that balance the cinematic sweep of his newest work with the inventive energy and wry playfulness that have always defined his art. It’s a rare opportunity to witness one of music’s most inventive thinkers at a moment of renewed creativity, still navigating the edge between the avant-garde and accessible pop.
