Bon Iver Becomes Bon Dylan for Eaux Claires Return

Justin Vernon has revealed the Bon Dylan project, a one-time-only performance set for the return of the Eaux Claires Festival in 2026. The concept, teased in the festival’s initial announcement, is exactly what it sounds like: Bon Iver dressed as 1994-era Bob Dylan, playing a suite of songs from across the great man’s career.

A video released today outlines the plan. Vernon explains that the idea came about a year ago when Dylan came through his hometown. “I went with my dad and about 16 of my friends,” he says in the clip. “I’ve lived here for 44 years. And it’s been too long to remember since the town felt that together. So we thought we’d better get the festival back going.”

The video is soundtracked by a rehearsal recording of “Not Dark Yet,” captured last month. It’s a slow, faithful take, with Vernon’s voice leaning into the weight of the original. The set will be a dedicated cosplay performance, not a one-off joke. Vernon’s commitment to the bit suggests something stranger and more sincere than a mere gimmick.

Eaux Claires returns after a multi-year hiatus, and the Bon Dylan show anchors its lineup with a clear editorial move: Vernon is using his own platform to stage a tribute that feels personal, not promotional. For a festival that always leaned into the weird and the communal, this fits.