Punk Icons Bikini Kill Returning to The Agora

Frontwoman Kathleen Hanna to debut new episode of Rock Hall's "Music Makes Us" podcast during Cleveland show

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:15pm

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The pioneering Riot Grrrl band Bikini Kill is set to return to The Agora in Cleveland on September 17, 2026. The show comes as frontwoman Kathleen Hanna, who is the host of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's "Music Makes Us" podcast, prepares to debut a new episode featuring an interview with another iconic woman in music.

Why it matters

Bikini Kill was a seminal punk band that helped launch the Riot Grrrl movement in the 1990s, inspiring a new generation of female-fronted bands and DIY music. Their return to Cleveland, a city with a rich punk rock history, is sure to excite longtime fans and introduce their influential sound to new listeners.

The details

Bikini Kill - consisting of Kathleen Hanna, Tobi Vail, and Kathi Wilcox - last performed in Cleveland at The Agora in 2023. The band broke up in 1996 after releasing their final album "Reject All-American", but reunited in 2020. Hanna, who is also a singer-songwriter, author, and podcast host, was last in Cleveland in 2025 for a conversation with Paramore's Hayley Williams at the Rock Hall.

  • Bikini Kill will perform at The Agora in Cleveland on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
  • Tickets for the Bikini Kill show go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026.
  • Kathleen Hanna's interview with Paramore's Hayley Williams took place at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March 2025.

The players

Bikini Kill

A pioneering Riot Grrrl punk band consisting of Kathleen Hanna, Tobi Vail, and Kathi Wilcox.

Kathleen Hanna

The singer-songwriter, author, and frontwoman of Bikini Kill who is the host of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's "Music Makes Us" podcast.

Hayley Williams

The lead singer of the band Paramore, who participated in a conversation with Kathleen Hanna at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Tickets for Bikini Kill's September 17th show at The Agora in Cleveland go on sale on January 30th, 2026.

The takeaway

Bikini Kill's return to Cleveland is a significant moment for punk rock fans, as the band's influential sound and role in the Riot Grrrl movement continue to resonate with music lovers. Kathleen Hanna's podcast work at the Rock Hall also highlights her enduring impact as a pioneering artist and cultural figure.