Governor’s Ball 2026 officially begins today, June 5, as thousands of fans descend on Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens for the first day of one of the summer’s biggest music festivals. With Lorde, KATSEYE, and Baby Keem leading Friday’s lineup, Day 1 promises a packed schedule spanning indie, alternative, rap, and pop across three stages.
Gates open at 11:30 a.m. ET, with music starting shortly afterward on the GovBallNYC Presented by Verizon Stage, Snapchat Stage, and The Grove. The opening hours spotlight emerging artists and local talent before the festival ramps up into a star-studded evening program.
The day begins with School of Rock Queens at 12:00 p.m. on the Verizon Stage, followed by Kids Rock for Kids at 12:15 p.m. on The Grove. The Backfires then take over the Snapchat Stage at 12:30 p.m., helping kick off a full afternoon of performances from rising acts including Whatmore, Old Mervs, Absolutely, Audrey Hobert, and Confidence Man.
Crowd sizes are expected to swell throughout the afternoon as several fan-favorite performers hit the stages. King Princess takes over the Snapchat Stage at 2:30 p.m., while Del Water Gap and Arcy Drive continue the indie-focused momentum.
As evening approaches, scheduling conflicts become unavoidable for attendees hoping to catch every major act. Mariah the Scientist will perform on the Verizon Stage from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., setting the tone for a run of high-profile performances leading into the festival’s headline slots.
One of the biggest draws of the day arrives when KATSEYE takes the GovBallNYC Presented by Verizon Stage from 6:35 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The global girl group continues its rapid ascent with a coveted evening slot that places them directly before Friday’s headliner.
At the same time, hip-hop fans will be preparing for Baby Keem, who is scheduled to command the Snapchat Stage from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Lorde closes Day 1 on the Verizon Stage beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Scroll below to see the complete Friday lineup and full Governor’s Ball NYC 2026 Day 1 set times.
FULL FRIDAY LINEUP & SET TIMES
GovBallNYC Presented by Verizon
• 12:00–12:30 PM School of Rock Queens
• 1:00–1:30 PM Whatmore
• 2:00–2:30 PM Audrey Hobert
• 3:15–4:00 PM Del Water Gap
• 4:45–5:30 PM Mariah the Scientist
• 6:35–7:30 PM KATSEYE
• 8:30 PM Lorde
Snapchat
• 12:30–1:00 PM The Backfires
• 1:30–2:00 PM Absolutely
• 2:30–3:15 PM King Princess
• 4:00–4:45 PM The Dare
• 5:30–6:30 PM Pierce the Veil
• 7:30–8:30 PM Baby Keem
The Grove
• 12:15–12:45 PM Kids Rock for Kids
• 1:15–1:45 PM Old Mervs
• 2:15–3:00 PM Confidence Man
• 3:30–4:15 PM Arcy Drive
• 4:45–5:30 PM Turnover
• 6:00–7:00 PM The Beths
• 7:30–8:30 PM Flipturn
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