Aftershock festival unveils blistering lineup of hip-hop, metal and punk
Aftershock Festival has released its huge lineup of hip-hop, metal, punk and alt-rock for 2026.
And now we just have one question:
On what planet does Limp Bizkit get to headline over Wu-Tang Clan and Public Enemy?
Besides that quibble, though, we have to say that this year’s Aftershock Festival lineup is downright sensational — featuring Tool, My Chemical Romance, Zakk Sabbath, The Offspring, Danny Elfman and so many other top acts.
In all, more than 140 acts are set to appear during this fabulous four-day festival, which runs Oct. 1-4 at Discovery Park in Sacramento. (Unfortunately, that’s the same weekend as Metallica kicks off its Sphere residency in Las Vegas — thus causing a major scheduling conflict for metalheads all over Northern California.)
The complete lineup is listed below.
Afterhock tickets are on sale now at aftershockfestival.com.
“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,” says promoter Danny Wimmer. “With Tool anchoring the weekend and Pierce The Veil making their headlining debut, we’re breaking boundaries
and redefining what Aftershock can be. And after years of fan requests, we’re finally introducing camping — giving fans the chance to fully immerse themselves in the weekend. This is a new era for Aftershock, and Sacramento is about to feel it.”
The most appealing day of the festival, in our book, is the Sunday closer. On that day, you get to hear headliner Tool — which is enough of a reason to buy tickets right there — and you also have Danny Elfman making an all-too-rare NorCal appearance plus Zakk Sabbath performing tunes from the greatest metal band of all time (yes, of course, we’re talking about Black Sabbath) and the always fabulous Queens of the Stone Age. Plus, who doesn’t want to see Buckethead wail away on guitar?
The second best day appears to be Day 2, thanks to the presence of Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy and (to a lesser extent) Cypress Hill all appearing on the same stage. And, yes, that’s the stage that Limp Bizkit headlines on that day.
All in all, however, promoters have definitely come up with a great lineup for 2026. Visit aftershockfestival.com for more information about tickets, camping and all things Aftershock related.
Aftershock lineup:
My Chemical Romance, TOOL, Limp Bizkit, Pierce The Veil, $UICIDEBOY$, Queens of the Stone Age, The Offspring, A Day To Remember, Wu-Tang Clan, Sublime, Danny Elfman, BABYMETAL, Circa Survive, Public Enemy, AFI, The Used, Stone Temple Pilots, Cypress Hill, Slaughter To Prevail, The Pretty Reckless, The Story So Far, Dance Gavin Dance, Coheed and Cambria, Hot Mulligan, Sleeping With Sirens, DOWN, Dethklok, Three 6 Mafia, Black Label Society, Chiodos, Highly Suspect, Nothing More, Body Count feat. Ice-T, Cavalera, Killswitch Engage, Zakk Sabbath, Insane Clown Posse, Kublai Khan TX, New Found Glory, Wolfmother, Wage War, Underoath, Theory of a Deadman, Mayday Parade, Alexisonfire, Chad Gray: Voice of Mudvayne & HELLYEAH – 30 Years of Madness, Coal Chamber, Suicidal Tendencies, Starset, Sevendust, La Dispute, The Starting Line, DRAIN, The Wonder Years, The Ghost Inside, Paleface Swiss, The Home Team, We The Kings, P.O.D., Thursday, From Ashes To New,
Sleep Theory, L.S. Dunes, Lit, Cradle of Filth, From First To Last, President, Apocalyptica, Atreyu, Finch, Hawthorne Heights, Set It Off, Corrosion of Conformity, Kylesa, Saosin, Buckethead, Helmet, Filter, Soulfly, Blessthefall, The Devil Wears Prada, Senses Fail, Melvins, Municipal Waste, Alissa
White-Gluz, Counterparts, Oleander, Spite, After The Burial, Toadies, Finger Eleven, Drowning Pool, The Black Dahlia Murder, Armor For Sleep, Horse The Band, Holding Absence, HAYWIRE, Bodysnatcher, Escape The Fate, The Acacia Strain, Jutes, ivri, Free Throw, Caskets, Haarper, PeelingFlesh, Pentagram, Cro-Mags, Holywatr, Alesana, Stick To Your Guns, Hail The Sun, I See Stars,
The Union Underground, The Word Alive, Wind Walkers, Nekrogoblikon, Emery, The Fall of Troy, Drop Dead, Gorgeous, Gideon, Red, Ill Niño, Ünloco, Fear, And Loathing in Las Vegas, CKY, Psychostick, Austin Carlile: The Original Voice of Of Mice & Men, Codefendants, The Pretty Wild, Rivers of Nihil, Brujeria, Emarosa, I Set My Friends On Fire, Silly Goose, LEAP, The Violent Hour, Ladrones, Eyes Set
To Kill, vianova, Doobie, and a mystery guest to be announced.