The Carolina Cutups at Raleigh Wide Open 2026 – photo © Maurice Melvin
This past weekend saw the 2026 edition of Raleigh Wide Open, the downtown street festival in Raleigh, NC which was launched when the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass convention moved from Raleigh to Chattanooga two years ago.
Old hands who attended WOB in Raleigh will recognize the layout, hosted on Fayetteville Street which is closed to vehicular traffic or the duration, with free admission to all. In addition to live music on multiple stages, the street is lined with food and craft vendors and thousands of people make the trek downtown to enjoy the scene.
Many thanks to the good folks at Pinecone, who manage the festival, for sharing these photos.
