Louder Than Life 2026 Lineup Revealed: Iron Maiden, Tool, My Chemical Romance, Limp Bizkit Headline the Biggest Edition Yet
The 2026 Louder Than Life lineup just dropped — and it is stacked. Danny Wimmer Presents officially announced the full bill for the 12th edition of America's loudest rock and metal festival, and nearly 200 bands across seven stages make it the biggest event in the festival's history.
Louder Than Life 2026: Key Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | September 17–20, 2026 |
| Venue | Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY |
| Stages | 7 |
| Total Artists | Nearly 200 |
| Tickets | On sale now at LouderthanLifeFestival.com |
Louder Than Life 2026 Lineup — Day by Day
Thursday, September 17 — Iron Maiden Night
Iron Maiden, Pantera, and Megadeth top a bill that includes Alice Cooper, Anthrax, Danzig, Rise Against, Jimmy Eat World, Suicidal Tendencies, Mac Sabbath, GWAR, and Skillet.
Friday, September 18 — My Chemical Romance Night
My Chemical Romance, Pierce the Veil, and A Day to Remember head up a lineup that features The Pretty Reckless, Taking Back Sunday, Coheed and Cambria, The Warning, and The Used.
Saturday, September 19 — Limp Bizkit Night
Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, and Sublime top a bill that includes BABYMETAL, Tom Morello, Halestorm, In This Moment, Ice Nine Kills, P.O.D., Coal Chamber, and Circa Survive.
Sunday, September 20 — Tool Night
Tool, Gojira, and Danny Elfman close out the four-day celebration, leading a lineup that features The Prodigy, The Mars Volta, Mastodon, Black Label Society, Dethklok, Killswitch Engage, Ministry, Black Veil Brides, Underoath, Thrice, Filter, and more.
The Biggest Stories Within the Louder Than Life 2026 Lineup
For Pantera, this will be their only U.S. performance of the year — a detail that transforms their set from a festival appearance into something closer to a rare event. Megadeth's appearance is being billed as one of the band's final performances, adding a layer of finality and emotional weight to what will already be a charged weekend.
The lineup also includes the first-announced Circa Survive reunion, and Metal Church and Get Scared will also return to the stage for reunion performances.
Louder Than Life 2026 will also serve as Danny Elfman's first performance in the Eastern region of the country in a decade.
Two Mystery Acts Still to Be Announced
Organizers confirmed that two significant additions to the lineup remain unannounced. One is described only as one of the biggest heavy bands in the modern era. The other is a mystery guest that will be making their live debut — a tantalizing detail already generating considerable speculation across rock fan communities online.
How to Get In: Passes and Competitions
Danny Wimmer Presents has partnered with GOVX to offer exclusively-priced Louder Than Life passes for four-day GA and single-day GA for military, nurses, firefighters, and police personnel. A Danny Wimmer Presents Louder Than Life Battle for the Big Stage competition kicks off on March 1, with bands able to submit entries through March 31, 2026.
Danny Wimmer summed up the vision: "Last year, we took over Kentucky Kingdom and broke rock festival records. This year, we're back to deliver the ultimate rock escape. 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."
