The 2026 Louder Than Life lineup is here. See who is performing

We've known for months that the 2026 Louder Than Life Music Festival will include headliners My Chemical Romance and iconic English metal band Iron Maiden . Now it's time for the rest of the four-day music festival lineup, which will feature Pantera , Megadeth , Pierce The Veil , A Day to Remember , Limp Bizkit , Papa Roach , Sublime , TOOL , Gojira , Danny Elfman , and more.

The outdoor festival, known as "America's Loudest Rock & Metal Festival," will deliver the largest lineup in the festivals history and the biggest bill ever assembled by producer Danny Wimmer Presents. Nearly 200 artists spread across seven stages will perform at Louisville's Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center , 937 Phillips Lane, for the festival Sept. 17-20.

"Last year, we took over Kentucky Kingdom and broke rock festival records. This year, we're back to deliver the ultimate rock escape," Danny Wimmer, of Danny Wimmer Presents, said in a news release. "Louder Than Life is your playground — ride the coasters, catch legendary and emerging bands, enjoy incredible food and bourbon, and dive headfirst into the rock experience you've been waiting for. It's time to let loose and have fun. We'll see you soon."

For the past few weeks, the festival has been teasing some of the upcoming bands and has already announced the following will be at Louder Than Life in 2026 — Ice Nine Kills , Jimmy Eat World , Bilmuri , Killswitch Engage , Bowling For Soup , Loathe , President , Sleep Theory , Get Scared , Sunami , and Spite .

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On Feb. 23, the festival released the headliners for each of the four days of the event including:

• Thursday, Sept. 17: Iron Maiden, Pantera, Megadeth

• Friday, Sept. 18: My Chemical Romance, Pierce The Veil, A Day to Remember

• Saturday, Sept. 19: Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, Sublime

• Sunday, Sept. 20: TOOL, Gojira, Danny Elfman

Saturday, Sept. 19 will also feature one of the most prominent all-female-fronted stage lineups assembled at a major U.S. rock festival. The stage lineup will feature Halestorm , In This Moment, Lindsey Stirling, Orianthi, Icon For Hire, Kami Kehoe, and Diamante.

In addition, a mystery duest band will make its live debut at Louder Than Life and a very special guest — one of the biggest heavy bands of the modern era — will be announced at a later date, according to the release.

"Year after year, Louder Than Life raises the bar for what a rock festival can be," David S. Beck, president & CEO of Kentucky Venues, said in the release. "Bringing the festival grounds to the heart of the Kentucky Exposition Center last year demonstrated what's possible when a world-class venue and a visionary festival producer share a commitment to the ultimate fan experience."

In addition to the music, all Louder Than Life passholders will receive free access to amusement rides inside Kentucky Kingdom, which became part of the festival footprint in 2025 and will be open exclusively to festival attendees.

New for 2026, Louder Than Life , has swapped weekends with companion festival Bourbon & Beyond . Louder Than Life will kick off the eight days of music Sept. 17-20 and Bourbon & Beyond will take place the following weekend, Sept. 24-27. Single Day general admission tickets start at $158 and four-day general admission passes start at $434.

Also new this year, Danny Wimmer Present is organizing the Louder Than Life Battle for the Big Stage competition, kicking off on March 1. Bands can submit entries through March 31 . Leading up to the festival, viewers will be able to vote for who they want to see play Louder Than Life during Sunday episodes of the Space Zebra Show, airing at 6:30 p.m. on the DWP Twitch channel. For more information, visit  louderthanlifefestival.com .

Fans in the Louisville area can celebrate the Louder Than Life lineup at the Official Lineup Announcement Party on Monday, Feb. 23 from 5-9 p.m. at The Fox Den. Presented by Blackcraft and hosted by Bobby Schubenski and Josh Balz of Space Zebra ,the event will feature live sets by SoulKiller, Nailwound, Actus Reus, and Wave Painter, custom cocktails, photo opps, vintage merch, giveaways and service fee free passes. All who attend will have a chance to win two GA passes.

Here's what else to know about the 2026 Louder Than Life festival: 

When is Louder Than Life 2026?

This year, Louder Than Life will be held Sept. 17-20.

Where is Louder Than Life 2026?

The four-day music festival is held at the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, in Louisville.

Is Louder Than Life free?

The festival is not free. Tickets are currently available at  louderthanlifefestival.com/passes/ .

How much will it cost to attend Louder Than Life?

General admission and VIP passes are now on sale. Prices typically increase closer to the festival date . There are differing ticket levels for those planning to attend.

• Single Day general admission: starts at $158

• Four-day general admission: starts at $434

• Four-day general admission four-pack: starts at $1,692

• Four Day Exacta pass (entry to Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond): starts at $700

• Single Day VIP: starts at $270

• Four-day VIP: starts at $861

• Single Day Angel's Envy Top Shelf VIP: starts at $624

• Four-day Angel's Envy Top Shelf VIP: starts at $2,358

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What do I get with a VIP pass to Louder Than Life?

Four-day VIP passes include access to all General Admission areas including Kentucky Kingdom , the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar, and The Hunter's Club, plus dedicated festival entry lanes, a commemorative laminate, and exclusive VIP perks, including shaded lounge with comfortable seating with live audio and video streams of the main stages, dedicated bars with full beverage options, outdoor seating with views of the main stages, premium food offerings, air-conditioned flushable restrooms and dedicated festival merchandise stand and locker rental with charging capabilities.

Four-day Angel's Envy VIP passes include access to all General Admission and all VIP areas, express festival VIP entry lanes, commemorative laminate, and exclusive Top Shelf VIP perks, including access to the Top Shelf Skybox, dedicated Top Shelf VIP viewing area at a main stage, air-conditioned lounge, comfortable seating, and audio/video streams of main stages, shaded viewing platform with an elevated view of both main stages, all-inclusive beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks at all bars throughout the Top Shelf area, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and curated bites from chef Anthony Lamas of Seviche during lunch and dinner hours, complimentary Wi-Fi and more.

How much will it cost to camp at Louder Than Life?

Stay close to the action with on-site camping close to the festival grounds. Choose from a range of camping options, from Car and Tent Camping to RV luxurious Glamping Packages.

Below are the current camping prices for the four-day festival, all of which include additional fees:

• Car and Tent starting at $369 (waitlist only)

• RV Camping: starting at $513 (waitlist only)

• Premium RV Camping with power: starting at $936 (waitlist only)

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Glamping packages are also available for purchase including a two-person Bass Tent glamping package starting at $2,843, a four-person Bass Tent glamping package for $3,358, and a Home Bass RV glamping package beginning at $6,296. All prices include a refundable deposit.

Where do I find more information about the festival?

More information about the festival can be found at louderthanlifefestival.com/ . The schedule of music performances at the festival is below and is also available on the festival app. Find more details at louderthanlifefestival.com/festival-info/ .

2026 Louder Than Life lineup

Thursday, Sept. 17

• Iron Maiden

• Pantera

• Danzi

• Megadeath

• Rise Against

• Alice Cooper

• Jimmy Eat World

• Sabaton

• Hot Mulligan

• Anthrax

• Skillet

• Alkaline Trio

• Machine Head

• Suicidal Tendencies

• Starset

• Bowling for Soup

• Fit for a King

• From Ashes to New

• LIT

• GWAR

• ERRA

• Chelsea Grin

• After the Burial

• Currents

• Metal Church

• The Acacia Strain

• Emmure

• Mac Sabbath

• The Ataris

• The Rasmus

• Volumes

• Born of Osiris

• RED

• Adelitas Way

• Thousands Below

• Chained Saint

• Zero 9:36

• Elijah

• Holy Wars

• Like Moths to Flames

• Sings of the Swarm

• Archers

• King 810

• The Violent Hour

• Dark Divine

• Sent by Ravens

• Cane Hill

• Set for Tomorrow

• Make Them Suffer

Friday, Sept. 18

• My Chemical Romance

• Pierce The Veil

• A Day to Remember

• *Very Special Guest (TBA)

• The Used

• Coheed and Cambria

• The Pretty Reckless

• Taking Back Sunday

• Sleeping with Sirens

• The Warning

• Cavalera

• Chad Gray:Voice of Mudvayne & Hellyeah

• Badflower

• We the Kings

• Loathe

• L.S. Dunes

• President

• Palaye Royale

• Get Scared

• Alissa White-Gluz

• Soulfly

• Lacey Sturm

• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

• Holding Absence

• Haywire

• Ivri

• Scene Queen

• Caskets

• Rain City Drive

• Mushroomhead

• Angel Dust

• Wind Walkers

• Twitching Tongues

• Powerman 5000

• Jeff Hardy

• Butcher Babies

• Missing Link

• Showing Teeth

• Mystery Guest

• Earshot

• 40 Below Summer

• Gates to Hell

• Death Valley Dreams

• Billy McNicol

Saturday, Sept. 19

• Limp Bizkit

• Sublime

• Papa Roach

• Babymetal

• Halestorm

• Ice Nine Kills

• Circa Survive

• Bilmuri

• In This Moment

• Dance Gavin Dance

• Chiodos

• Nothing More

• Tom Morello

• Lindsey Stirling

• Coal Chamber

• Kublai Khan TX

• P.O.D.

• Thursday

• Set It Off

• Blood for Blood

• Orianthi

• Boundaries

• Spite

• Agnostic Front

• Alien Ant Farm

• Bodysnatcher

• The Funeral Portrait

• Peelingflesh

• Hail the Sun

• Madball

• Scary Kids Scaring Kids

• The Barbarians of California

• H2O

• Josey Scott: The Original voice of Salvia

• Soil

• Icon for Hire

• Kami Kehoe

• Codefendants

• Texas Hippie Coalition

• Emarosa

• Gemini Syndrome

• Shaman's Harvest

• Fox Lake

• Many Eyes

• Tantric

• TX2

• Diamante

• Otherwise

• Doobie

• Heavy/Hitter

Sunday, Sept. 20

• Tool

• Gojira

• The Prodigy

• Danny Elfman

• The Mars Volta

• Mastodon

• Black Label Society

• Killswitch Engage

• Ministry

• Dethklok

• Black Veil Brides

• Underoath

• Alexisonfire

• Animals As Leaders

• Thrice

• The Home Team

• Sleep Theory

• Atreyu

• Sunami

• Filter

• Between the Buried and Me

• Toadies

• Escape the Fate

• Jutes

• Haste the Day

• Holywatr

• Locked Shut

• I See Stars

• The Word Alive

• Emery

• Maylene & The Dons of Disaster

• Arrows in Action

• Austin Carlile: the original voice of Mice & Men

• The Pretty Wild

• End It

• Rivers of Nihil

• 200 Stab Wounds

• 156/Silence

• SACE6

• Greyhaven

• He is Legend

• Aviana

• Vianova

• Future Palace

• Corpse Pile

• Bodybox

• Boltcutter

• Resolve

• Dreamwake

This story has been updated.

Reach lifestyle and entertainment reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louder Than Life 2026 lineup includes My Chemical Romance, Pantera