Only three days remain until the handpan community gathers once again at Stronghold Castle in Oregon, Illinois. From September 17 to 20, 2026, Heartland Hangout will fill this remarkable place with music, workshops, spontaneous jams, new friendships and the unmistakable warmth of the handpan world.
This is our final announcement before the festival begins and our opportunity to wish the organizers, artists and every Heartlander a truly wonderful gathering!
A Handpan Gathering in the Heartland
Heartland Hangout was created as an intimate and welcoming gathering where handpan players and enthusiasts can learn, perform, listen and simply enjoy being together.
The festival welcomes players of every level, including complete beginners. Guests do not even need to bring their own handpan, as additional instruments are available. This makes the gathering accessible to people who are only beginning to discover this fascinating musical world.
The 2026 event will be the third Heartland Hangout. In just a few years, the festival has developed its own warm identity, combining quality musical education, inspiring performances and plenty of unhurried time for genuine human connection.
Music Inside a Castle
One of the most memorable things about Heartland Hangout is its venue.
The festival takes place at Stronghold Castle & Retreat Center in Oregon, Illinois. Its castle interiors, courtyards and surrounding natural spaces create an unusual and atmospheric setting for a handpan weekend.
Workshops and concerts are complemented by open mic performances, informal conversations and fireside jams that may continue long after the scheduled program ends.
Meals and accommodation are part of the gathering experience, allowing participants to remain together throughout the weekend rather than dispersing after every concert. It is exactly this kind of shared time that often turns a music festival into a real community.
The Heartland Hangout 2026 Lineup
This year’s featured artists and educators are:
- Mar Loi
- Amy Naylor
- Mumi
- Dan Mulqueen
Together, they bring a wide range of musical backgrounds, creative approaches and teaching experience to the festival.
The program includes performances, workshops and opportunities to explore rhythm, melody, improvisation and composition. Participants can also deepen their practice through focused master classes.
Alongside the scheduled program, Heartland Hangout leaves room for one of the most valuable parts of any handpan gathering: the music that happens spontaneously.
Open mic sessions, casual jams and unexpected collaborations give participants an opportunity to become part of the festival’s sound, whether they are experienced performers or only beginning their musical journey.
For those remaining after the main weekend, the gathering will continue with the HeHo Afterglow Retreat from September 20 to 23, offering additional time for learning, music and connection.
Supporting Heartland Hangout Since the Beginning
Namana Bags has supported Heartland Hangout since its very first edition in 2024, and we are delighted to return as a festival sponsor in 2026.
Our connection with the festival is also a personal one. We have known organizer Sarah Paz Hyde for many years and deeply appreciate the care, energy and dedication she brings to the handpan community. Sarah is also one of the organizers of Super Bloom Women’s Handpan Gathering, another beautiful festival that Namana Bags is proud to support.
Watching Heartland Hangout grow from its first gathering into its third edition has been very special for us.
Supporting festivals is not only about presenting our products. It is about helping to create spaces where musicians can meet, learn from one another, share their creativity and keep the international handpan community connected.
A Custom Namana Bags Case for the Raffle
For the Heartland Hangout 2026 raffle, Namana Bags has created a custom ST-H02+syn handpan case valued at $358.
The case was produced especially for the festival and features custom embroidery based on the Heartland Hangout design. It is not a standard item selected from our catalogue, but a unique festival gift created to celebrate the character and identity of this gathering.
The winner will receive a protective and practical handpan case, custom-made especially for Heartland Hangout 2026.
We love creating custom raffle prizes because they allow us to combine what we do best with the individual spirit of every festival we support. Long after the gathering is over, the case will continue travelling with its new owner and carrying a small piece of Heartland history with it.
Only Three Days to Go
The preparations are nearly complete. In just a few days, guests will arrive at Stronghold Castle, handpans will fill its rooms and courtyards with music, and Heartland Hangout will begin its third chapter.
We are delighted to draw attention to a festival created with such care for the handpan community. Heartland Hangout is not only a program of performances and workshops. It is a space for shared experiences, unexpected musical encounters and friendships that often begin when people gather around the instrument they love.
We wish Sarah, the entire organizing team, the artists and all the participants an inspiring Heartland Hangout 2026. May these days be filled with beautiful music, meaningful connections and memories worth carrying home.
And to everyone taking part in the raffle, we hope our custom Namana Bags case finds a wonderful new home!
Heartland Hangout 2026
September 17 to 20, 2026
HeHo Afterglow: September 20 to 23, 2026
Stronghold Castle & Retreat Center
Oregon, Illinois, USA
Festival website: heartlandhangout.com
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