SEATTLE — One of Seattle’s biggest festivals of the summer, Bumbershoot, is back this Labor Day weekend at Seattle Center.

Hometown indie-rock heroes Death Cab for Cutie are headlining the festival for the first time in a decade, following the release of their new hard-hitting studio album, “I Built You A Tower.” They are joined on the marquee by one of the biggest names in hardcore punk right now, Turnstile, coming from Maryland. For the first time this year, fans will also be able to come and go from the festival as they please (with the purchase of a special wristband).

Following the tragic mass shooting that took place at Seattle Center earlier this summer, security protocols at the festival remain firm: Seattle Center said in a statement on Instagram that “new security measures” are being implemented at its campus. Representatives from New Rising Sun, which produces Bumbershoot, said that they are working with Seattle Center, the Seattle Police Department and third-party security companies to ensure the safety of festivalgoers. All attendees and staff should expect to go through metal detectors when they enter (or reenter) the venue, with SPD officers and emergency medical services on-site.

Here's what else to know for this year's festival — from music to food and drink.

Music

Beyond Death Cab and Turnstile, this year’s lineup includes other marquee acts. There’s boygenius’ own Lucy Dacus, who is stepping in to replace Japanese Breakfast, as well as cerebral R&B artist Blood Orange, still fresh off his 2025 album “Essex Honey,” and masked alt-cowboy Orville Peck, who has been slowly teasing out his next album, “Mule,” set to release mid-September. Also in attendance is Long Island’s De La Soul, the monumentally influential “hippies of hip-hop” who are likely to perform hits from their back catalog that was not fully available on streaming until 2023 due to years of licensing battles.

Bringing in the post-punk darkwaves are Molchat Doma from Belarus, alongside the transgressive electroclash of Peaches (parents, proceed with caution). If you still can’t get enough dancing, electronic jungle duo Chase & Status will be at the helm of Bumbershoot’s thumping after party at Level 1 (a separate ticket is required).

But Bumbershoot is Seattle’s festival, and locals are — as per usual — holding down the front lines. Nineteen out of 45 total musical acts hail from the Pacific Northwest, including the Olympia-grown goliaths of rock, Bikini Kill, anchored by Kathleen Hanna (also of Le Tigre fame) and Tobi Vail, who pioneered the riot grrrl movement. Representing the small but exceedingly mighty Seattle hip-hop scene are Burien rapper Travis Thompson and Oblé Reed, whose album “Line Leaders” was included in The Seattle Times’ best albums from Washington artists last year. A new generation of local talent will also be on display, including Juliet Daniel’s spunky art pop, Lucha Luna’s Latin electro percussion and Anthers’ noise rock, among many more.

Other acts you definitely don’t want to miss are Die Spitz, the snarling female-fronted heavy metal group from Texas who have been rapidly on the rise since signing to Jack White’s record label in 2025; Racing Mount Pleasant, a brassy seven-piece indie-rock band from Michigan who toured with Geese and released their self-titled album last year; and Meat Hair, who may or may not be the improvisational side project of Seattle’s indie-rock darlings Deep Sea Diver (but you didn’t hear it from us).

Art, comedy, cats, etc.

As is Bumbershoot’s nature, the festivities don’t stop at music. Bumbermania, the over-the-top professional wrestling spectacle hosted by SOS Pro Wrestling, is returning for its fourth consecutive year with the title championship belt on the line. You can attend from 2 to 4 p.m. and 8 to 10 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. A stone’s throw away in Gravity Park, watch BMX stunts and skateboarding throughout each day, including live demos from some of the Pacific Northwest’s best riders.

New this year is Una the Mermaid, a professional mermaid (yes, they exist) who will be viewable in a 900-gallon glass aquarium tank all weekend long. The tank — which Una built from scratch — will emulate a vintage sideshow attraction for visitors to approach and interact with.

Comedy programming has outgrown its previous home in the Dome District and will take over the Children’s Theater across campus (the Comedy Coop) for the first-ever Bumbershoot comedy showdown, in partnership with Laughs Comedy Club, to crown a best Seattle comic. Winners will have their own headlining slots throughout the festival. Also be sure to swing by the Magic Dome, featuring daily showcases from local close-up magicians and illusionists, and the Puppet Playhouse for improvisational puppet theater, including all-ages shows and late-night adult-only shows.

Back by popular demand is the Cat Circus, which historically has the longest lines and the cutest critters. Produced by Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, all of the cats in the “circus” will be available for adoption, running 1 to 7 p.m. both days.

There will also be Euro bungee jumping (not off the Space Needle, as some might be envisioning); the annual Fashion Runway, featuring some of the region’s most prominent fashion collectives and innovators; and screenings from Pacific Northwest filmmakers at VIDEORAMA. Make sure to take a peek at the numerous visual art installments that will snake throughout campus, like HistoryLink’s “PROTEST!” exhibition, which puts Seattle’s history of uprising and collective action on display, from the 1919 General Strike to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

For a schedule breakdown of everything, go to bumbershoot.com/schedule.

Running around between all of these activities is sure to work up an appetite. Plenty of food and drink options will be available all throughout the festival, including returning local favorites like Big Island Poke, Good Dog Hot Dogs, Sam's Crab Mac & Cheese, Kottu, Dumpling Tzar and many more. Acclaimed restaurants will also be there, including Restaurant Homer, Communion, Local Tide, Mamnoon Fine Foods, Lenox and Spice Waala.

BumBEERshoot is also back, but is now located on Fountain Lawn overlooking the Recess District, where festivalgoers can snag their favorite local beer, including the specially made nonalcoholic Bumberbrew. VineShoot and Cocktail Corner will also offer drinks throughout the day. All these offerings will be available throughout the festival on both days; BumBEERshoot and VineShoot are 21-and-older starting at 9 p.m., and Cocktail Corner is 21-and-older all day.

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Bumbershoot

Sept. 5-6; Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle; accessibility info: bumbershoot.com/accessibility; tickets start at $100.50 single-day, $170.50 two-day pass (fees included), with an additional fee for a reentry wristband, kids 10 and younger free with add-on ticket; bumbershoot.com

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