Aftershock Festival Announces Massive 2026 Lineup

My Chemical Romance, Tool, Limp Bizkit, and Pierce The Veil to headline the four-day rock music festival in Sacramento.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:40pm

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An abstract close-up photograph featuring shards of shattered glass and glittering metal fragments, reflecting stage lights in a dramatic, high-contrast, high-fashion style that evokes the rebellious spirit of the Aftershock Festival's diverse musical lineup.The 2026 Aftershock Festival promises an unparalleled lineup of hard-hitting rock acts, with a visual style that matches the event's raw, unapologetic energy.Today in Sacramento

The 14th edition of the Aftershock Festival will take place from October 1-4, 2026 in Sacramento's Discovery Park, featuring a stacked lineup of over 140 acts across five stages. Headliners include My Chemical Romance, Tool, Limp Bizkit, and Pierce The Veil, with additional performances from The Offspring, Sublime, Wu-Tang Clan, BABYMETAL, Queens of the Stone Age, and many more spanning metal, punk, emo, and nu-metal genres.

Why it matters

Aftershock Festival is one of the premier rock music events on the West Coast, drawing tens of thousands of fans to Sacramento each year. The 2026 lineup represents the festival's most ambitious and diverse offering yet, catering to a wide range of hard rock and alternative music fans. The addition of on-site camping also transforms Aftershock into a full destination experience, boosting the local economy with an estimated $39 million in annual impact.

The details

The four-day festival will feature over 140 acts across five stages, with each night headlined by a major rock act. On Thursday, October 1, My Chemical Romance will top the bill, joined by The Offspring and Sublime. Friday, October 2 will be led by Limp Bizkit, alongside Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill. Pierce The Veil will make their Aftershock headlining debut on Saturday, October 3, supported by A Day To Remember and BABYMETAL. Tool will close out the festival on Sunday, October 4, following performances from Queens of the Stone Age and Danny Elfman.

  • Aftershock Festival will take place from October 1-4, 2026.
  • Four-day and single-day passes are currently available on the Aftershock website.

The players

Aftershock Festival

An annual rock music festival held in Sacramento, California, featuring a diverse lineup of heavy metal, punk, emo, and nu-metal artists.

Danny Wimmer

The founder of Aftershock Festival, who described the 2026 edition as a 'bold new chapter' for the event.

Mike Testa

The President and CEO of Visit Sacramento, who noted that Aftershock generates over $39 million in annual economic impact for the region.

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What they’re saying

“This year's Aftershock marks a bold new chapter for the festival. We've brought together metal, punk, emo, and nu-metal to create a lineup that's raw, youthful, and unapologetic. With Tool anchoring the weekend and Pierce the Veil making their headlining debut, we're breaking boundaries and redefining what Aftershock can be.”

— Danny Wimmer, Festival founder

“Aftershock continues to be a seminal moment for Sacramento, not just for the fans, but for the people who live and work here every day. The festival brings thousands of people to our city for four incredible days, generating more than $39 million in economic impact. Those dollars translate into critical support for our business community and civic partners. Maybe the best part is that Aftershock fans are often discovering Sacramento while they're here and are making their experience synonymous with the city. We're grateful for our partnership with DWP and can't wait to welcome everyone back later this fall.”

— Mike Testa, President and CEO of Visit Sacramento

What’s next

Four-day and single-day passes for the 2026 Aftershock Festival are currently available for purchase on the event's official website.

The takeaway

The 2026 Aftershock Festival represents a major milestone for the event, featuring its most ambitious and diverse lineup to date. By bringing together a wide range of rock subgenres and welcoming new headliners like Pierce The Veil, the festival is poised to attract an even larger and more passionate audience, further cementing its status as a must-attend destination for hard rock and alternative music fans.