M3 Rock Festival: Tom Keifer, Queensryche & Buckcherry at Merriweather Post Pavilion

M3 Rock Festival 2026

Merriweather Post Pavilion is our home of rock, roll, and everything cool when it comes to concerts and happenings going on throughout the city. Located right in the heart of Columbia and forever one of the most iconic outdoor venues on the East Coast - we’re oh so excited to welcome the M3 Rock Festival back home for another year of leather jackets, big hair, face-melting guitar solos, and pure rock-and-roll nostalgia to take control of our whole bodies and weekend. Every spring as the weather finally breaks from the cold and festival season officially gets on GO mode, our M3 boys take over Merriweather for a weekend that feels like a time machine straight back to the glory days of arena rock - lights cigarette smoke and all, and its THEN that we realize : there’s truly no place like home. 

The M3 Rock Festival first launched back in 2008, and from day one it was designed specifically for Columbia. The name itself says it all: May, Metal, Merriweather. At a time when few festivals were catering to classic hard rock and glam metal fans, M3 stepped in and filled the gap — celebrating the bands that ruled rock radio, MTV, and sold-out arenas throughout the ’80s and early ’90s. What started as a one-day gathering quickly grew into a full weekend destination festival, pulling fans from all over the country who return year after year like clockwork.Over the years, M3 has hosted an absolutely legendary roster of acts — from glam metal icons and hard-rock staples to cult favorites and reunion lineups you won’t catch anywhere else. This year’s lineup keeps that tradition alive, stacking the bill with genre legends, fan favorites, and high-energy performers who know exactly how to command a stage like Merriweather. Expect massive choruses, guitar harmonies that hit just right, and crowds singing every word back at the band.

More than anything, M3 is critical to kicking off the summer at Merriweather the right way. It sets the tone for the entire season: aka we’re going loud, proud, communal, and unforgettable. Tickets move fast for a reason, and once you’ve experienced M3 under the pavilion lights, you’ll understand why this festival isn’t just an event… It's a Columbia tradition. SO that’s why we can’t wait to see you folks, that’s why you need to get over to the show! Tickets are GOING - so don’t wait, grab yours today! And we’ll see you real soon right at the turn of the season, on May 2!