Thursday night marked the official kickoff to Oshkosh Waterfest 2026, and holy smokes, what a way to start the summer! The legendary Hairball band rolled into town to headline the night, and as anyone who has seen them knows, this band always brings the heat—both literally and figuratively! From towering arena-rock anthems to mind-blowing stage pyrotechnics, they set the stage on fire a few different times and absolutely blew the crowd away.
But before the headliners turned the volume up to eleven, the incredible American English took the stage. As a premier Beatles tribute band, they kicked off the night wonderfully. They are a load of fun, completely capturing the magic of the Fab Four and getting the early crowd singing along to every classic hit. They set the perfect high-energy vibe for the entire evening.
Of course, it wouldn't be a classic Wisconsin outdoor show without a little weather drama. The skies looked a bit iffy for a moment, and we even got hit with a small bit of rain. But Mother Nature had a spectacular surprise in store. As the rain cleared, an absolutely stunning, brilliant rainbow stretched across the sky. It was so breathtaking that it stopped everyone in their tracks—even American English paused their set to mention its beauty and look out at the horizon!
Down on the water, a nice crowd of boaters lined up along the wall, tying off to catch the tunes and enjoy the ultimate party on the water. Between the incredible live music, the rock 'n' roll pyrotechnics, the floating crowd, and that perfect rainbow, it was overall one hell of a great night in Oshkosh nightlife.
We were right there in the action capturing the magic! Check out our exclusive photos and a few videos below to relive the 2026 Waterfest kickoff!
