Punk Island 2026 Recap!

Artwork by @youdontevenknowwhatyouvebecome

A little over a week ago, I saw one of the most fulfilling shows of my life. On June 27th, 2026, a very rainy day, I traveled to Randall’s Island for the first time and saw more than 15 bands, including some I’d never seen before and beloved local bands I’ve seen multiple times! I met new people and reconnected with others in the music community. It was such a beautiful experience, and I already cannot wait to go again next year.

Punk Island is a DIY, all-ages, free annual music festival that began in 2008 and is organized by a collective of punx in New York City. This past year, they featured seven stages and more than 80 bands playing throughout the day. There were also zine workshops and zines for sale, but unfortunately I didn’t get to participate. However, I saw a ton of bands I want to highlight because even with all the rain, mud, and clouds, they still put their all into their performances.

I got there around 11:30 am and started to scope out the place. I checked where each stage was, planned which bands I wanted to see, and calculated how fast I could realistically run between sets across the park. I stopped by to say hi to a few bands and organizers I knew to talk about what we were excited to see. Although it was kind of overcast and I was super uncomfortable, being soaked within 20 minutes of being there, I was still so excited to see what the day had in store for me. The entire festival was packed with pent-up energy even on the gloomy day.

The first set I want to highlight is SISTAH’s set at the Sista Rosetta Stage. I stumbled upon it while waiting for my first planned set at 1 pm. It was amazing. Her voice was beautiful and majestic, almost enchanting everyone walking by and making them stop whatever they were doing to watch the rest of the set. The rain even stopped momentarily throughout the entire performance. As someone who helped organize the stage said, it was black girl magic. With just her voice and electric guitar, SISTAH delivered a soul-grunge sound that will forever be remembered by me and everyone else in the audience. She ended the set with a cover of “Freak on a Leash” by Korn, citing the 2006 MTV Unplugged performance featuring Amy Lee of Evanescence. SISTAH brought so much raw emotion and expression to the stage. I hope to see her again soon. She was just added to a bill at The Attic in Brooklyn on July 25th. Go and support her and the other awesome bands that day! You can follow SISTAH on Instagram @sistahpunk to keep up with her.

The next set I stumbled upon was by the veteran alt-rock, pop-punk duo Last Minet at the Pigeon Pack Stage. The girls rocked out even as the rain came down hard. They had a fun, punchy sound that reminded me of Warped Tour bands. The singer-drummer duo worked perfectly with the guitarist and bassist, who they said learned the set very recently! Their music was very catchy, and I’m excited to dive into their discography. They just celebrated their 20th anniversary in June! I hope to see another set of theirs soon. You can find them on Instagram @last_minet to keep up with them, as they’re releasing a new EP this fall!

Umiris with crowd. Photo by @sofialisena

I found my way back to the Sista Rosetta Stage after spotting a huge crowd around it and hearing some gnarly vocals. I was amazed. I only caught the last few songs of Brooklyn-based band Umiris’s set, but they were definitely memorable! Goth rock with a bit of a nu-metal twist; Umiris might quickly become one of my favorite bands. The entire audience was moving, dancing, and moshing. The lead singer was so talented, effortlessly switching between gravelly, screamy vocals and soft, ethereal singing. The bass was heavy and rhythmic, which explained the whole crowd's nonstop movement. I hope to see their full set very, very soon. You can find them at @umirisband!!!

Seraphine’s Cleaver. Photo by @sofialisena

I was so excited to learn that Seraphine’s Cleaver was performing at the festival this year! They’re definitely one of my favorite bands in the New York City scene right now. I caught their set at the Insecurity Hits Stage. The rain was starting to hit hard again, which was perfect, as it set the mood for their gothic, post-hardcore sound that feels ghostly and haunted. They were amazing, as always, with each member giving their all, moving around and interacting with the crowd. The lead singer, Sarah, wrote a poem on her typewriter, as always (under the tent, of course), and then gave it to an audience member. The bassist, Kooky, even handed her bass to a crowd member at the end so she could mess with the pedals. Everyone watching was enthralled, mesmerized by the band’s passion. As I say to everyone I know, they are a band you definitely do not want to miss and NEED to see if you're in the New York area. Definitely one of my favorite performances of the day. You can catch Seraphine’s Cleaver this Friday, July 10th, at The Broadway, alongside other amazing fem-led acts! You can follow them @seraphinescleaver to keep up with them!

Fan with Kooky’s bass. Photo by @sofialisena

I found myself at the Sista Rosetta Stage again, where I discovered an amazing fusion of alternative sounds. Reya Flowers is a New York City artist who perfectly blends shoegaze, grunge, post-hardcore, R&B, and nu-metal. It was just them with a microphone and instrumental backing, capturing the audience’s attention. People were truly feeling the music. The dark, gloomy atmosphere complemented Flowers’ grungy, melancholy music; it felt cathartic. They ended the set with a cover of “Chop Suey!” by System Of A Down, and everyone went insane! Screaming along to the song in the rain, moshing hard, grabbing the mic, it was truly a great thing to witness and be a part of. I’m very excited to dive into their discography and see them live again. You can check out Reya Flowers on Instagram @reya.flowers! They released their most recent EP, Streets, Vol. I, on the day of the festival, go listen to it!

Crowd enjoying Reya Flowers set. Photo by @sofialisena

Then I ran over to the Insecurity Hits Stage once again (as you can see, this was one of my favorite stages of the day) when I heard some crazy beats coming from the speakers. ABBATIA, who came all the way from Philadelphia, put on a high-energy performance and made everyone around them fall in love with them. As I have been saying for the past three years, there is something special about the current Philly scene across all genres, and this band is a great example of it. The alternative hip-hop, punk group got everyone dancing and jumping in the rain. They constantly interacted with the crowd, giving fans a chance on the mic and moshing along with them. Unfortunately, their set was cut a bit short due to rain-related technical difficulties, but it was still a very strong performance. Everyone was begging them to still keep going; it was that good. It was definitely one of my favorites of the day, and I truly hope they come back to New York soon, as do many other people in the crowd, as they were asking for the band’s name and Instagram. You can find them @abbatia_ on Instagram!!

first president of japan. Photo by @sofialisena

Have you ever enjoyed a show or performance so much that you genuinely didn’t stop smiling the entire time? That was my experience with first president of japan. I saw them at Purgatory for the first time about two months ago, and I was obsessed with their unabashed expression and eccentric performance. If you haven’t seen them yet, you have to see them at least once in your life; I PROMISE you, you won’t regret it. Many people agree, as the small Brooklyn Transcore Stage was crowded with fans to see them. It was definitely one of the largest crowds I saw all day. The band members, as always, were super animated, constantly moving around, going into the crowd, and interacting with everyone. The guitarist even ran into the Harlem River during one song and came all the way back in time for the next. The mosh pit was active and muddy, truly displaying the band's punk grit. I can’t even begin to explain how fulfilling it is to see them live; the only words I have are “the most fun you’ll ever have.” You can find them @firstpresidentofjapan and listen to their latest EP, Your Recommended Daily Intake of FirstPresident ofJapan, which came out earlier this year, on all major streaming platforms!

After seeing mostly alternative acts, I was craving some hardcore, so I made my way across the park, where My War was tearing up the Back To The NYHC Roots Stage with a ton of punk and hardcore covers. This was definitely another of my favorite sets; the crowd was insane, with everyone doing multiple piles and circle pits, moving everywhere, pool noodles and frisbees flying. Everyone got so excited when their favorite songs came on, singing along as loud as possible. It was truly beautiful to see so many people I know in the crowd having an amazing time. They sang classics with other NYHC musicians who are staples of the scene, like “I Love Living In The City” and “If The Kids Are United.” It was so much fun trying to capture moments with my camera, as my experience of the set knew no bounds of time. It was truly unforgettable for me and, I think, for most other people there as well. Follow them on Instagram @mywarnyc for updates on live shows, and listen to some of the lost demos they recently released on streaming platforms!

Crowd takes the mic. Photo by @sofialisena

And of course, I walked back across the park to the Insecurity Hits stage to see one of the most hopecore bands I’ve ever known, Allapartus. The NYC-based group knows how to rock out to feel-good melodies while also addressing important issues, such as the rise of fascism in this country. During this set, they emphasized the importance of community and how DIY shows and events like Punk Island help foster it, especially during times like these. They are a tight-knit group with great chemistry every time they play. Their set was spirited, joyful, and optimistic, a great morale boost as I was getting especially tired of all the rain. Thankfully, for the last few songs, the rain stopped! They played their newest single, “If It Hurts,” which was great to see! I was so delighted to see them again. You can catch them at their next show on July 31st at the East Williamsburg Ecno Lodge (DM @collective.scream for the address). Follow the band on Instagram @allapartus to keep up with them!

Last but certainly not least, I ended my day at The Pigeon Pack Stage, where I caught most of Ratas En Zelo's set. Ratas En Zelo is an all-Latina immigrant group based in NYC that has been in the scene since 2014. They are unapologetically punk and, as they describe it, estrogen-fueled, each wearing matching rat ears. With most of their songs in Spanish and an accordionist in their lineup, their sound perfectly blends Latin folk music with punk. There was a mosh pit right in front of the lead singer throughout. They were funny, constantly talking and interacting with the crowd. As they played, the sun finally started to come out, making this set the perfect end to my first Punk Island. I cannot wait to see them again. Please follow them @ratasenzelo, and you can find upcoming shows around the country here!

Crowd at the Back to the NYHC Roots Stage. Photo by @sofialisena

This was genuinely one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, and that says a lot, since I’ve been to over 100 shows. I think everyone who loves punk, hardcore, or even alternative in the NYC scene should experience Punk Island at least once in their lives. I truly cannot wait until next year. If you were there, make sure to check out punkislandportraits.com to download any photos you may be in if you haven’t already!

Please follow @punkislandnyc to stay up to date on the next one. Throughout the year, they host benefit shows to fundraise for the festival, keeping it going and free for all! If you want to support the cause and donate, you can do so at https://punkislandnyc.org/donate.

Until next year!

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