Riot Fest has announced its 2026 lineup, and it is a wide sweep across punk, rock, pop and hip-hop.
Tool, Twenty One Pilots, Pierce the Veil and Alanis Morissette will headline the festival, which runs September 18 through 20 at Douglass Park in Chicago. According to Billboard, all three of the top-billed headliners, Tool, Twenty One Pilots and Morissette, will be making their Riot Fest debuts.
The supporting lineup pulls from several decades and genres. Rise Against, Social Distortion, Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, Nas and the All-American Rejects are all confirmed. Classic punk and new wave acts include Morrissey, Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, the Pixies, Patti Smith and her Band, and the Sex Pistols, who will feature Frank Carter of Gallows on vocals.
That last booking sets up an unusual situation. Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon will also perform at the festival with his band Public Image Ltd. Lydon has not performed with the Pistols since 2008, and he has been openly critical of the group continuing without him. Billboard noted that Lydon has dismissed their live shows as "karaoke."
Bob Mould-led Sugar is returning to the stage following a nearly 30-year hiatus. The lineup also includes Taking Back Sunday, Bright Eyes, Gogol Bordello, Less Than Jake, Bowling For Soup, Gwar, Motion City Soundtrack, the Beths, Pennywise and dozens more.
Two names stand out among the newcomers. Math rock duo Angine de Poitrine, described as a mysterious polka dot-wearing act, makes its Riot Fest debut. Violet Grohl, daughter of Foo Fighters singer and guitarist Dave Grohl, will give her first live Chicago performance at the festival. She released her debut studio album, Be Sweet to Me, on May 29.
General admission, three-day VIP, and three-day deluxe packages are on sale now.
