Guitar Legend John McLaughlin makes a rare return to US soil, performing Saturday and Sunday, September 26,27 at the charity concert hosted by his dear friend Eric Clapton in Austin, Texas.
Incidentally, John performed with Shakti in Austin, Texas three years ago in September 2023. It was the final concert of the band.
Official Press Release
ERIC CLAPTON’S CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2026
SEPTEMBER 26-27 AT MOODY CENTER IN AUSTIN,TEXAS
THE FESTIVAL WILL FEATURE THE GUITAR CENTER EXPERIENCE AND LEGENDS COLLECTION WITH GUITAR/GEAR EXHIBITS FROM ERNIE BALL, FENDER, GIBSON, MARTIN, & PAUL REED SMITH
AUSTIN, TX (March 30, 2026) —– Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2026 returns to Texas, taking place September 26-27 in Austin, Texas at Moody Center. It will be his seventh festival and is being held in celebration of the 28th anniversary of the 1998 founding of the Crossroads Centre Antigua. The event will feature main stage concerts and muti-artist collaborations by some of the best guitarists in the world from across multiple musical genres. Among numerous Crossroads veterans returning this year will be Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Billy Gibbons, Buddy Guy, Sonny Landreth, John Mayer, Del McCoury Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Jimmie Vaughan, while Trey Anastasio, Tommy Emmanuel, Julian Lage and Pete Townshend will be making their Crossroads debuts. As in past Festivals, Eric Clapton will perform both nights. A detailed list of artists is featured below.
Guitar Center returns as the exclusive retail partner of the Crossroads Festival 2026, continuing its longstanding support of the event and its mission to benefit the Crossroads Centre Antigua. This year, Guitar Center will bring its presence to life through The Guitar Center Experience, an immersive destination at the venue where fans can explore gear, connect with leading guitar brands including Fender, Gibson, Martin, PRS and Ernie Ball, and engage in hands-on interactive moments throughout the weekend. Guitar Center will offer on-site retail, giving attendees access to an exclusive curated collection tied to the festival. The experience will also feature a rare showcase of iconic guitars from Guitar Center’s Legends Collection, including Eric Clapton’s 1956 Fender Stratocaster, “Blackie”, and the 1964 Gibson ES-335 he played in Cream, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan’s legendary 1965 Fender Stratocaster, “Lenny”, offering fans a closer look at instruments that have shaped history, alongside a celebration of guitar culture and its icons. Continuing its legacy of honoring legends, Guitar Center will induct an artist – to be announced – into its famed RockWalk onsite during the Festival. Pre-show admission to the Guitar Center Experience will be open daily two hours before showtime to ticketholders only. For more information, please visit CrossroadsGuitarFestival.com.
Tickets for the event will go on sale Friday, April 3rd at 10am local time (CDT). More information can be found at www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com
Artist Lineup as of today (listed alphabetically):
Trey Anastasio
Joe Bonamassa
Eric Clapton
Gary Clark Jr
Tommy Emmanuel
Billy Gibbons
Buddy Guy
Ben Haggard
Sierra Hull
Marcus King
Sonny Landreth
Julian Lage
Taj Mahal
Pedro Martins
John Mayer
Del McCoury Band
John McLaughlin
Keb’ Mo’
Dirk Powell
Robert Randolph
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Daniel Santiago
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Pete Townshend
Jimmie Vaughan
Bradley Walker & Brothers of the Heart
“We are thrilled to welcome the legendary Eric Clapton and his Crossroads Guitar Festival to Moody Center. Out of the more than 380 concerts we’ve hosted since opening in 2022, this is poised to be one of the most iconic events ever to take place in our arena. It represents the very best of live music—bringing together world-class artists, passionate fans, and an unforgettable atmosphere right here in the Live Music Capital of the World,” said Michael Owens, SVP of Entertainment for Moody Center.
The Crossroads Center Antigua booth will have staff available to help individuals and families learn more about the treatment philosophy and programs at the Centre, and how to begin the process of addiction recovery and what to expect along that journey.