Louder Than Life Lands Tool, Maiden, My Chem

Tool, Limp Bizkit, Pantera, Pierce the Veil, Gojira, Halestorm, Sublime and Danny Elfman will join the previously announced Iron Maiden and My Chemical Romance atop the lineup for the 2026 edition of Louder Than Life, the Louisville, Ky.-based hard rock festival that last year drew more than 240,000 fans to Kentucky Exposition Center.

Produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, the event will take place Sept. 17-20 and will boast nearly 200 bands on seven stages, including the as-yet-unannounced “one of the biggest heavy bands of the modern era” and another mystery guest “making their live debut.” Click here for tickets.

This will be Pantera’s only U.S. show of the year as well as one of Megadeth’s final performances, while bands such as Circa Survive, Metal Church and Get Scared will be celebrating reunions. The Halestorm-led Sept. 19 bill is described as “one of the most prominent all-female-fronted stage lineups assembled at a major U.S. rock festival” and will also feature In This Moment, Lindsey Stirling, Orianthi, Icon for Hire, Kami Kehoe and Diamante.

“Last year, we took over Kentucky Kingdom and broke rock festival records,” Wimmer says. “This year, we’re back to deliver the ultimate rock escape. Louder Than Life is your playground — ride the coasters, catch legendary and emerging bands, enjoy incredible food and bourbon and dive headfirst into the rock experience you’ve been waiting for. It’s time to let loose and have fun. We’ll see you soon.”

A new competition, Battle for the Big Stage, will launch on March 1. Hopeful bands can submit entries through March 31 in an effort to win a spot on the lineup.

Louder Than Life will be held the weekend before the Wimmer-produced Bourbon & Beyond festival at the same venue. The events generated more than $43 million for the local economy in 2025, according to organizers.