Swedish DJ Alesso to Headline Crimson Jam 2026

Swedish DJ and producer Alesso will headline Crimson Jam, the College’s annual outdoor back-to-school concert, Harvard College Live, a new student organization spun off from the College Events Board, announced Thursday afternoon.

Alesso, whose full name is Alessandro Lindblad, is a Grammy-nominated artist best known for his electronic dance music, including “Heroes (We Could Be),” “Calling (Lose My Mind)”, and a remix of OneRepublic’s “If I Lose My Mind”. He has collaborated with high-profile artists including Usher, Katy Perry, and Hailee Steinfeld.

The Dean of Students Office described Alesso in a press release as “one of EDM’s top artists,” noting that he has performed at music festivals such as Coachella and Electric Daisy Carnival.

“Having Alesso be Harvard College Live’s first official performance is a dream come true!” Associate Dean for Student Engagement Jason R. Meier wrote in a Thursday statement.

“We’re beyond excited to welcome a global icon like Alesso to the Yard. We know it’s going to be an amazing night and can’t wait to dance the night away with everyone,” he added.

The concert is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4 in the Old Yard at 5:30 p.m., following students’ first week of classes and the Student Organization Fair, which will be held in the Yard earlier that afternoon.

The Yard will be closed from noon to 1o:00 p.m. that day to accommodate the events, and students will be required to present their HUIDs to enter during that period. According to the College, dinner will also be provided in the Yard while most dining halls are closed.

Student acts The TGs and Yael Danon will take the stage before Alesso based on their performances at Battle for Yardfest and Yardfest, the spring concert hosted by CEB. Recent Crimson Jam headliners have included Bryce Vine in 2025, Daya in 2024, and Social House in 2022.

Until this year, Crimson Jam and Yardfest were organized by the College Events Board, which also plans campus-wide programming including Harvard-Yale Spirit Week and Battle for Yardfest. Harvard College Live’s launch separates the College’s major concerts from CEB’s broader programming.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

—Staff writer Wyeth Renwick can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X @wzrenwick.

—Staff writer Claire L. Simon can be reached at [email protected] and Signal at csimon.13. Follow her on X @ClaireSimon.