Riot Fest 2026 Lineup Drops With Tool, Alanis Morissette, Iggy Pop, and Pixies

Riot Fest just dropped one of the most stacked lineups I've seen from them in years, and that's saying something. The festival returns to Douglass Park in Chicago on September 18–20, 2026 for its 21st anniversary, headlined by Tool, Twenty One Pilots, Pierce the Veil, and Alanis Morissette. Over 100 artists across multiple stages, carnival rides, local food vendors, and all the chaos you'd expect. This is going to be a big one.

Tickets are on sale now at RiotFest.org, with three-day general admission passes starting at $339.98 including fees. VIP runs $449.98, and Deluxe passes (with open bar and premium perks) go for $959.98. If you're in Chicago, you can also grab 3-day GA tickets for $310 cash at Bucket O' Blood Books & Records or Reckless Records. Single-day tickets will be available later.

Tool's Riot Fest Debut and a New Album

I'll be real, seeing Tool on a Riot Fest lineup feels like a moment. This is their first time playing the festival, and the timing couldn't be better. The band has officially announced their sixth studio album, their first new record since Fear Inoculum in 2019. The announcement came through their website with classic Tool minimalism: a single image and the words "New Album. Summer 2026." No title, no tracklist, just enough to break the internet.

For context, Fear Inoculum debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, sold over 270,000 album-equivalent units in its opening week, and "7empest" won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance. A major stadium tour in support of the new album is reportedly planned for fall 2026 and into 2027. So yeah, Riot Fest might be one of the first chances to hear new material live.

The Full Lineup Goes Deep

Beyond the headliners, this lineup reads like a festival built for people who actually go to shows. Rise Against, Social Distortion, Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, Descendents, Pennywise, and Taking Back Sunday are all on this thing. Nas is on there. Iggy Pop is on there. Patti Smith and her Band, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Pixies, Bright Eyes, Santigold, Gogol Bordello. It just keeps going.

The undercard is packed too. Thrice, Less Than Jake, Bowling For Soup, GWAR (continuing their annual Riot Fest residency), 3OH!3, Bayside, Chat Pile, Show Me The Body, Destroy Boys, Slick Rick, Melt-Banana, Foxy Shazam, and Pretty Girls Make Graves are all billed. Honestly, some of these lower-card names are sets I'd prioritize.

Sugar Returns After 30 Years

One of the biggest stories on this lineup is Sugar. Bob Mould's alt-rock band hasn't played live since their final show in January 1995. That's over 30 years. They've come back with a new song called "House of Dead Memories" and have shows in New York and London already announced, but seeing them at Riot Fest is going to hit different. If you know, you know.

Angine de Poitrine, 2026's Breakout

If you haven't stumbled onto Angine de Poitrine yet, get ready. This Canadian math rock duo from Saguenay, Quebec performs in oversized papier-mâché masks and black-and-white polka-dotted costumes, playing microtonal compositions that shouldn't work but absolutely do. They went viral in February 2026 after a KEXP session racked up millions of views, and their second album Vol. II has already surpassed 20 million Spotify streams. Their lead single "Fabienk" topped Spotify's Viral Songs Global chart. They're easily one of the most exciting names on this poster.

Sex Pistols and PiL on the Same Bill

This one is wild. Both The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter and Public Image Limited are on the same festival bill. The current Pistols lineup features Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock with Frank Carter on vocals, while John Lydon continues doing his own thing with PiL. Lydon has been very public about his feelings on the Pistols touring without him. Having both acts at Douglass Park the same weekend is peak Riot Fest energy. The Pistols are also celebrating 50 years since the legendary Lesser Free Trade Hall show in Manchester.

More Names to Watch

Morrissey returns for his own Riot Fest anniversary, 10 years after the infamous meat ban that saw all carnivorous food sales shut down during his set. Violet Grohl makes her Chicago solo debut, carrying on her father's alt-rock legacy. The Format, Motion City Soundtrack, PUP, Mom Jeans, Insane Clown Posse, and Tricky round out what is honestly one of the most diverse mid-tier sections any festival has put together this year.

Coming Off a Massive 20th Anniversary

Last year's 20th anniversary brought out Green Day, Blink-182, Weezer, and Jack White, and Mayor Brandon Johnson even proclaimed an official Riot Fest Day. The bar was high. Somehow they cleared it again. Organizers are calling this year's bill "a lineup that bridges generations," and honestly, that tracks. From Patti Smith to Destroy Boys, from Iggy Pop to Angine de Poitrine, this lineup covers decades of punk, rock, metal, hip-hop, and everything in between.

Get Your Tickets

Three-day passes are available now at RiotFest.org. GA is $339.98, VIP is $449.98, and Deluxe (with open bar, premium viewing, and complimentary snacks) is $959.98. VIP gets you expedited entry, unlimited re-entry, air-conditioned restrooms, and expanded lounges. The highest-level backstage passes include artist lounge access, golf cart transportation, and side-stage viewing for select sets. Single-day tickets will go on sale later.