We are less than 30 days away from Riot Fest 2026!! With headliners like Twenty One Pilots, Tool, Pierce the Veil, and Alanis Morissette, the event – taking place in Chicago’s Douglass Park Sept. 18-20 – is sure to be incredible, but as you look past the headliners the lineup only gets better and better.
Pixies
This year’s Riot Fest finds the Pixies returning to the fest for the first time since 2013. Frank Black, Joey Santiago, David Lovering, and current bassist Emma Richardson are expected to perform a setlist featuring music from Come On Pilgrim (1987) all the way through The Night the Zombies Came (2024) when they close-out the Rebel Stage on Friday, Sept. 18.
Slick Rick
Riot Fest always incorporates a good amount of hip-hop into the punk festivities and this year they have bonafide rap royalty on the lineup. Slick Rick will be making his Riot Fest debut on the Rise Stage at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Hits like “La Di Da Di” and “The Show” are sure to have fans throwing their hands in the air during his early evening performance.
Sincere Engineer
Hometown heroes Sincere Engineer have become Riot Fest fan favorites in recent years, not only because of their infectious brand of fun-filled punk music, but also because of their unique ability to inspire corn dog circle pits. So stop by the food stands, pick yourself-up some meat on a stick, and head over to the Roots Stage at 2:25 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20 to get in on the fun.
Bad Religion
What else can be said about Bad Religion? This band has been setting the standard for politically-charged punk music that makes you want to dance with your middle finger in the air for decades. They will be closing out the Rebel Stage on Saturday, Sept. 19 – Don’t miss it!
William Shatner
William Shatner… yes, that William Shatner promises to deliver the most talked about set at this year’s Riot Fest. The Star Trek legend is debuting his heavy metal band The *uckers – comprised of Marcus Nand, Phil Soussan, Britt Lightning, and Fred Aching – at 5:25 p.m. on the Rebel Stage on Sunday Sept. 20.
Patti Smith
The Godmother of Punk, Patti Smith, is a Riot Fest veteran who should never be missed. With her poetic lyrics, defiant energy, and ability to inspire hope amid the most dire of political climates, Smith is a legend on stage and off. Remind yourself that “People Have the Power” and be sure to see her set on the Rise Stage at 6:10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Social Distortion, Yard Act, Tricky, The Beths, Nas, Iggy Pop, and Elvis Costello are also among the artists you don’t want to miss at Riot Fest 2026.
Click here to pick-up tickets to Riot Fest and check out the full lineup below. More information can be found at RiotFest.org.
