Louder Than Life 2026: Iron Maiden, Pantera, Megadeth, Metal Church, Sabaton, Anthrax, Mastodon, Gojira, GWAR +more

Louder Than Life 2026 returns to the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky, from September 17–20, 2026, bringing one of the biggest rock and metal lineups in North America.

The four-day festival will feature more than 200 bands performing across seven stages, with major appearances from Iron Maiden, Pantera, Megadeth, Danzig, My Chemical Romance, Limp Bizkit, Tool, Gojira, Mastodon, Machine Head, Anthrax, Ministry, Black Label Society, Killswitch Engage, Babymetal, Ice Nine Kills, Suicidal Tendencies, Deathklok, 200 Stab Wounds and many more.

The 2026 edition also includes several special performances, reunions and anniversary sets. Pantera will make its only U.S. appearance of the year, while Megadeth will perform as part of its farewell. Cavalera will perform Sepultura’s “Roots”, Metal Church will make a rare appearance, and several other artists will celebrate important anniversaries or reunions.

Thursday, September 17

Iron Maiden
Pantera – Only U.S. Show
Danzig
Megadeth – Farewell
Rise Against
Alice Cooper
Jimmy Eat World
Sabaton
Hot Mulligan
Anthrax
Skillet – Special Production
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 – Rare Show
The Acacia Strain
Emmure
Mac Sabbath
The Ataris
The Rasmus
Volumes
Born of Osiris
Red – End of Silence Album Anniversary
Adelitas Way
Thousand Below
Chained Saint
Zero 9:36
Elijah
Holy Wars
Like Moths To Flames
Signs of the Swarm
Archers
King 810
The Violent Hour
Dark Divine
Sent By Ravens
Cane Hill
Set For Tomorrow

Friday, September 18

My Chemical Romance
Pierce The Veil
A Day To Remember
Knocked Looose
The Used
Coheed and Cambria
The Pretty Reckless
Taking Back Sunday
Sleeping with Sirens
The Warning
Cavalera – Exclusive Performance of Sepultura’s Roots
Chad Gray: Voice of Mudvayne & HELLYEAH – 30 Years of Madness
We The Kings
Loathe – Midwest Exclusive
L.S. Dunes
President
Palaye Royale
Get Scared – Reunion
Blue Medusa – featuring Alissa White-Gluz
Soulfly
Lacey Sturm
Dead Poet Society
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – 20th Anniversary of Don’t You Fake It
Holding Absence
HAYWIRE
ivri
Scene Queen
Rain City Drive
Mushroomhead
Angel Du$t
Wind Walkers
Twitching Tongues
Powerman 5000
Jeff Hardy – WWE Superstar
Butcher Babies
Nevertel
Dry Kill Logic – Rare Reunion
The Word Alive
Vana
KOYO
Primer 55 – Reunion
American Monster
Missing Link
Showing Teeth – Hometown Play
Ladrones
Earshot – Rare Reunion
40 Below Summer
Gates To Hell – Hometown Play
Death Valley Dreams
Billy McNicol – Hometown Play
As You Were

Saturday, September 19

Limp Bizkit
Sublime
Papa Roach
BABYMETAL
Halestorm
Ice Nine Kills
Circa Survive – Reunion
Bilmuri
In This Moment
Dance Gavin Dance
Chiodos
Nothing More
Tom Morello
Lindsey Stirling
Kublai Khan TX
P.O.D.
Thursday
Set It Off
Blood For Blood – Reunion
Orianthi
Boundaries
Spite
Agnostic Front
Alien Ant Farm – 25th Anniversary of Anthology
Silly Goose
The Funeral Portrait
PeelingFlesh
Hail The Sun
Madball
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
The Barbarians of California
H2O
Josey Scott: The Original Voice of SALIVA
Soil
Icon For Hire
Kami Kehoe
Codefendants
Texas Hippie Coalition
Emarosa – Hometown Play
Fox Lake
Many Eyes
Tantric – Hometown Play
TX2
Diamante
OTHERWISE
Doobie
Heavy//Hitter
No Resolve
Freeze The Fall

Sunday, September 20

Tool
Caskets
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 – Rare Play
Holywatr
Locked Shut
I See Stars
Emery
Downswing
Maylene & The Sons of Disaster
Arrows in Action
Austin Carlile: The Original Voice of Of Mice & Men
The Pretty Wild
End It
Rivers of Nihil
200 Stab Wounds
156/Silence
Sace6
Greyhaven – Hometown Play
He Is Legend
Aviana
vianova
Future Palace
Corpse Pile
Surfaced
Boltcutter
Resolve
Dreamwake
Gates To Hell – Hometown Play
Death Valley Dreams
Set For Tomorrow
Billy McNicol – Hometown Play
As You Were
No Resolve
Freeze The Fall

Festival Information

Event: Louder Than Life 2026
Dates: September 17–20, 2026
Location: Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Address: 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209
Stages: 7
Lineup: 200+ bands

Gates are scheduled to open at 10:45 AM daily, although times are subject to change. Louder Than Life is a rain-or-shine event, with the possibility of delays, evacuation or cancellation in the event of severe weather.

The festival offers General Admission, single-day passes, VIP, Angel’s Envy Top Shelf VIP, hotel packages, camping, GOVX options and additional festival experiences. The festival grounds also feature food vendors, merchandise, bourbon and whiskey experiences, Headbangers Hall, interactive attractions and access to selected rides at Kentucky Kingdom.

Official Website: Louder Than Life
Full Lineup: Louder Than Life 2026 Lineup
Festival Info: Festival Information
Tickets: Official Festival Website

With four days of massive headliners, reunions, exclusive performances and hundreds of bands spanning metal, hardcore, punk, alternative and rock, Louder Than Life 2026 is set to be one of the biggest music events of the year.