The National have confirmed their only 2026 show. For their first performance since the end of 2024, the New York-via-Ohio musicians will play a special "and friends" set at San Sebastián, Spain's Kursaal Donostia on October 18.The show is part the AB100 weekend and celebration curated by The National's Aaron and Bryce Dessner.
An announcement about the event explains, "We are excited to announce our first performance since 2024 (and only show in 2026) as part of @__ab100__, a landmark weekend of music and celebration set in the Pays Basque on October 17th & 18th. AB100 is less a traditional festival than a gathering of artists, friends, and collaborators. At its heart, AB100 is a celebration of friendship in music, shining a light on the deep connections fostered by @aarondessner and @brycedessner and the community of artists they have brought together on the occasion of their 50th birthdays. The two-day programme unfolds across Biarritz and San Sebastián before culminating in a special one-off performance by The National & Friends at the Kursaal Donostia in the Spanish city."
Kevin Morby, Ben Howard, Jon Hopkins, Mina Tindle, Ragnar Kjartansson, Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Perry, Anaïs Mitchell, Ye Vagabonds, Lisa Hannigan, Angie McMahon, Kate Stables and Pomme are among the weekend's featured performers and collaborators. Additional acts will be confirmed in the coming weeks. The festivities will kick off in Biarritz on October 17 with an evening billed as Mixtape that the Dessners are slated to host. Hopkins will both perform and offer a DJ set.
As previously reported, Justin Vernon recently covered Morby after he missed the Eaux Claires festival, which the Bon Iver visionary co-founded with Aaron Dessner, due to the birth of his first child.
