The countdown to Louder Than Life is officially on, and festivalgoers can finally start plotting their paths between stages.
The 12th edition of Louder Than Life returns to the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 17-20 with the biggest lineup in festival history: four days, seven stages, and more than 200 bands spanning rock, metal, punk, hardcore, alternative, and plenty of territory in between.
IRON MAIDEN closes Thursday’s main stage after a run that includes PANTERA, MEGADETH, DANZIG, ALICE COOPER, ANTHRAX, and more. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE takes Friday night, LIMP BIZKIT tops Saturday, and TOOL closes the festival Sunday.
The schedule also packs several sets carrying some extra weight. PANTERA will play its only U.S. show of 2026, while MEGADETH delivers one of its final farewell performances. DANNY ELFMAN heads east for his first performance in that half of the country in nearly a decade, and CAVALERA will perform SEPULTURA’s Roots live for the first time in nearly 10 years.
Anniversary celebrations are scattered throughout the weekend. JIMMY EAT WORLD marks 25 years of Bleed American, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS celebrates 15 years of Let’s Cheers to This, THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS revisits 20 years of Don’t You Fake It, ALIEN ANT FARM marks 25 years of ANThology, and RED celebrates two decades of End of Silence.
Saturday’s Decibel Stage also brings together HALESTORM, IN THIS MOMENT, LINDSEY STIRLING, ORIANTHI, ICON FOR HIRE, KAMI KEHOE, and DIAMANTE for one of the most prominent all-female-fronted stage bills assembled at a major U.S. rock festival.
Festival gates open at 10:45 a.m. daily. Kentucky Kingdom will once again become part of the Louder Than Life footprint, with festivalgoers receiving access to its amusement rides during the event.
With so many performances, clashes are inevitable. Choose wisely.
Louder Than Life 2026 Set Times*
To make it extra fun, Rock Father Picks — the artists at the top of my personal “must-see” list are highlighted in bold. That doesn’t mean I don’t care for the others, but these festival lineups call for tough decisions (just ask Riot Fest, where every overlap is a personal slight directed solely at you).
Thursday, Sept. 17
Louder Stage
- 8:45 p.m. — IRON MAIDEN
- 6:35 p.m. — MEGADETH
- 4:45 p.m. — ALICE COOPER
- 3:15 p.m. — ANTHRAX
- 1:55 p.m. — SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
- 12:50 p.m. — METAL CHURCH
- 11:55 a.m. — THE VIOLENT HOUR
Life Stage
- 7:30 p.m. — PANTERA
- 5:40 p.m. — DANZIG
- 4 p.m. — SABATON
- 2:30 p.m. — MACHINE HEAD
- 1:20 p.m. — GWAR
- 12:20 p.m. — MAC SABBATH
- 11:30 a.m. — CHAINED SAINT
Decibel Stage
- 10:05 p.m. — RISE AGAINST
- 8:15 p.m. — JIMMY EAT WORLD
- 6:35 p.m. — HOT MULLIGAN
- 5:05 p.m. — ALKALINE TRIO
- 3:50 p.m. — BOWLING FOR SOUP
- 2:40 p.m. — LIT
- 1:30 p.m. — THE ATARIS
Reverb Stage
- 9:10 p.m. — SKILLET
- 7:25 p.m. — STARSET
- 5:50 p.m. — FROM ASHES TO NEW
- 4:30 p.m. — RED
- 3:15 p.m. — THE RASMUS
- 2:05 p.m. — ADELITAS WAY
- 12:55 p.m. — ZERO 9:36
Loudmouth Stage
- 10:05 p.m. — FIT FOR A KING
- 8:15 p.m. — CURRENTS
- 6:35 p.m. — ERRA
- 5:20 p.m. — VOLUMES
- 3:55 p.m. — LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES
- 2:35 p.m. — CANE HILL
- 1:15 p.m. — VIANOVA
Impact Stage
- 9:10 p.m. — CHELSEA GRIN
- 5:50 p.m. — AFTER THE BURIAL
- 4:35 p.m. — THE ACACIA STRAIN
- 3:15 p.m. — EMMURE
- 2:05 p.m. — BORN OF OSIRIS
- 1 p.m. — SIGNS OF THE SWARM
- Noon — KING 810
Big Bourbon Bar
- 7:20 p.m. — THOUSAND BELOW
- 5:20 p.m. — ARCHERS
- 4:25 p.m. — ELIJAH
- 3 p.m. — DARK DIVINE
- 1:30 p.m. — HOLY WARS
- 12:30 p.m. — SENT BY RAVENS
- 11:30 a.m. — SET FOR TOMORROW
Friday, Sept. 18
Louder Stage
- 9:25 p.m. — MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
- 7:10 p.m. — A DAY TO REMEMBER
- 5:30 p.m. — TAKING BACK SUNDAY
- 3:50 p.m. — COHEED AND CAMBRIA
- 2:25 p.m. — WE THE KINGS
- 1:15 p.m. — L.S. DUNES
- 12:05 p.m. — THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS
Life Stage
- 8:15 p.m. — PIERCE THE VEIL
- 6:20 p.m. — THE USED
- 4:40 p.m. — SLEEPING WITH SIRENS
- 3:05 p.m. — LOATHE
- 1:50 p.m. — GET SCARED
- 12:40 p.m. — LACEY STURM
- 11:30 a.m. — IVRI
Decibel Stage
- 10 p.m. — THE PRETTY RECKLESS
- 8:15 p.m. — THE WARNING
- 6:25 p.m. — DEAD POET SOCIETY
- 5:15 p.m. — SCENE QUEEN
- 4:05 p.m. — VANA
- 2:55 p.m. — SHOWING TEETH
- 1:45 p.m. — AMERICAN MONSTER
Reverb Stage
- 9:05 p.m. — CHAD GRAY
- 7:25 p.m. — CAVALERA
- 5:50 p.m. — BLUE MEDUSA feat. ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ
- 4:40 p.m. — SOULFLY
- 3:30 p.m. — MUSHROOMHEAD
- 2:20 p.m. — BUTCHER BABIES
- 1:10 p.m. — DEATH VALLEY DREAMS
Loudmouth Stage
- 6:25 p.m. — PRESIDENT
- 5:25 p.m. — HOLDING ABSENCE
- 4:30 p.m. — THE WORD ALIVE
- 3:35 p.m. — RAIN CITY DRIVE
- 2:40 p.m. — WIND WALKERS
- 1:35 p.m. — NEVERTEL
- 12:40 p.m. — CENOBIA
Impact Stage
- 8:15 p.m. — TBA
- 6:50 p.m. — HAYWIRE
- 5:55 p.m. — ANGEL DU$T
- 5 p.m. — TWITCHING TONGUES
- 4:05 p.m. — KOYO
- 3:10 p.m. — MISSING LINK
- 2:15 p.m. — GATES TO HELL
Big Bourbon Bar
- 7 p.m. — SOIL
- 5 p.m. — JEFF HARDY
- 4:05 p.m. — DRY KILL LOGIC
- 2:55 p.m. — PRIMER 55
- 2 p.m. — EARSHOT
- 1:10 p.m. — 40 BELOW SUMMER
- 12:05 p.m. — BILLY MCNICOL
Saturday, Sept. 19
Louder Stage
- 9:45 p.m. — LIMP BIZKIT
- 7:30 p.m. — SUBLIME
- 5:45 p.m. — BILMURI
- 4:05 p.m. — TOM MORELLO
- 2:30 p.m. — P.O.D.
- 1:15 p.m. — ALIEN ANT FARM
- 12:05 p.m. — JOSEY SCOTT: THE ORIGINAL VOICE OF SALIVA
Life Stage
- 8:25 p.m. — PAPA ROACH
- 6:35 p.m. — BABYMETAL
- 4:55 p.m. — ICE NINE KILLS
- 3:15 p.m. — NOTHING MORE
- 1:50 p.m. — SET IT OFF
- 12:40 p.m. — THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT
- 11:30 a.m. — TX2
Decibel Stage
- 7:45 p.m. — HALESTORM
- 6:05 p.m. — IN THIS MOMENT
- 4:25 p.m. — LINDSEY STIRLING
- 3 p.m. — ORIANTHI
- 1:50 p.m. — ICON FOR HIRE
- 12:40 p.m. — KAMI KEHOE
- 11:30 a.m. — DIAMANTE
Reverb Stage
- 8:40 p.m. — CIRCA SURVIVE
- 6:55 p.m. — DANCE GAVIN DANCE
- 5:15 p.m. — CHIODOS
- 3:40 p.m. — THURSDAY
- 2:25 p.m. — HAIL THE SUN
- 1:15 p.m. — SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS
- 12:05 p.m. — EMAROSA
Loudmouth Stage
- 7:35 p.m. — KUBLAI KHAN TX
- 6:25 p.m. — BOUNDARIES
- 5:20 p.m. — SPITE
- 4:15 p.m. — PEELING FLESH
- 3:20 p.m. — FOX LAKE
- 2:25 p.m. — SILLY GOOSE
- 1:30 p.m. — HEAVY//HITTER
- 12:40 p.m. — FREEZE THE FALL (Twitch winner)
Impact Stage
- 7:05 p.m. — BLOOD FOR BLOOD
- 5:55 p.m. — AGNOSTIC FRONT
- 4:50 p.m. — MADBALL
- 3:50 p.m. — H2O
- 2:50 p.m. — THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA
- 1:55 p.m. — MANY EYES
- 1 p.m. — CODEFENDANTS
Big Bourbon Bar
- 8:05 p.m. — POWERMAN 5000
- 7:10 p.m. — TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION
- 6:10 p.m. — TANTRIC
- 5:15 p.m. — OTHERWISE
- 4:20 p.m. — SPOKEN
- 3:25 p.m. — NO RESOLVE
- 2:35 p.m. — DOOBIE
- 1:45 p.m. — AS YOU WERE
Sunday, Sept. 20
Louder Stage
- 9:25 p.m. — TOOL
- 7:10 p.m. — DANNY ELFMAN
- 5:25 p.m. — THE MARS VOLTA
- 3:45 p.m. — MINISTRY
- 2:15 p.m. — FILTER
- 1 p.m. — TOADIES
- 11:30 a.m. — RIVERS OF NIHIL
Life Stage
- 8:15 p.m. — GOJIRA
- 6:15 p.m. — MASTODON
- 4:35 p.m. — BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
- 2:55 p.m. — DETHKLOK
- 1:35 p.m. — ANIMALS AS LEADERS
- 12:25 p.m. — BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
Decibel Stage
- 8:25 p.m. — THE PRODIGY
- 6:55 p.m. — KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
- 5:30 p.m. — BLACK VEIL BRIDES
- 4:10 p.m. — ATREYU
- 3 p.m. — ESCAPE THE FATE
- 1:50 p.m. — I SEE STARS
- 12:40 p.m. — CASKETS
- 11:30 a.m. — AUSTIN CARLILE
Reverb Stage
- 7:40 p.m. — UNDEROATH
- 6:15 p.m. — THRICE
- 4:50 p.m. — ALEXISONFIRE
- 3:35 p.m. — HASTE THE DAY
- 2:25 p.m. — EMERY
- 1:15 p.m. — MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER
- 12:05 p.m. — HE IS LEGEND
Loudmouth Stage
- 10:05 p.m. — SLEEP THEORY
- 8:45 p.m. — THE HOME TEAM
- 7 p.m. — JUTES
- 4:50 p.m. — HOLYWATR
- 3:35 p.m. — ARROWS IN ACTION
- 2:25 p.m. — THE PRETTY WILD
- 1:15 p.m. — SACE6
Impact Stage
- 8:25 p.m. — SUNAMI
- 6:55 p.m. — LOCKED SHUT
- 5:30 p.m. — END IT
- 4:10 p.m. — 200 STAB WOUNDS
- 3 p.m. — CORPSE PILE
- 1:50 p.m. — BOLTCUTTER
- 12:40 p.m. — SURFACED
Big Bourbon Bar
- 9:30 p.m. — 156/SILENCE
- 8:20 p.m. — GREYHAVEN
- 7:25 p.m. — AVIANA
- 6:20 p.m. — DOWNSWING
- 5:25 p.m. — RESOLVE
- 4 p.m. — DREAMWAKE
- 1:45 p.m. — FUTURE PALACE
Set times are subject to change.
