Riot Fest has confirmed the daily artist lineup for its 2026 return to Douglass Park, giving ticket buyers a clearer way to choose between the three festival days. The Chicago event runs from Sept. 18 to Sept. 20, with Twenty One Pilots, Tool, Pierce the Veil and Alanis Morissette leading separate parts of the weekend.
One-day, two-day and three-day tickets are available. The latest addition is William Shatner, who will debut a new heavy metal project during Sunday’s program.
Riot Fest 2026 at a glance
- Dates: Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026
- Location: Douglass Park, Chicago, Illinois
- Friday lead act: Twenty One Pilots
- Saturday lead act: Tool
- Sunday lead acts: Pierce the Veil and Alanis Morissette
- Tickets: One-day, two-day and three-day passes are on sale
- Set times: Not yet announced
Friday puts alternative rock and punk first
Twenty One Pilots will lead the opening day on Sept. 18, followed by prominent appearances from Iggy Pop and Chicago band Rise Against.
Pixies, Alkaline Trio, The All-American Rejects, Sex Pistols, Santigold, Motion City Soundtrack, Bayside, Tricky, 3OH!3, GWAR and Slick Rick are among the other Friday acts.
This day carries the widest crossover appeal, moving between mainstream alternative music, established punk, hip-hop and heavier underground performers.
Saturday delivers the weekend’s heaviest bill
Tool will headline Saturday, Sept. 19. Morrissey and Nas hold other major positions on a program that combines metal, punk, alternative rock and hip-hop.
Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Sugar, Bright Eyes, Descendents, Gogol Bordello, Public Image Ltd., PUP, Thrice and Less Than Jake are scheduled to perform. Afroman, The Chats, Yard Act, Chat Pile, Melt-Banana and Destroy Boys add further variety.
Fans primarily interested in heavier music or veteran punk bands may find Saturday the strongest single-day option.
Sunday closes with emo and 1990s nostalgia
Pierce the Veil and Alanis Morissette lead the final day on Sept. 20, with Elvis Costello among the other top-billed performers.
Sunday’s lineup includes Patti Smith and Her Band, The Format, Taking Back Sunday, Insane Clown Posse, Pennywise, The Beths, Mom Jeans, Cartel, Bowling for Soup, Good Riddance and Pretty Girls Make Graves.
The combination gives the closing day a strong emo and pop-punk identity while retaining the festival’s connection to earlier generations of alternative music.
William Shatner will make an unusual festival debut
Actor William Shatner, known internationally for playing Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek, has been added to Sunday’s schedule. He will be 95 when he appears at the festival.
Shatner is due to introduce his heavy metal band, The *uckers, alongside musicians Marcus Nand, Phil Soussan, Britt Lightning and Fred Aching. The group plans to reinterpret material from his recording catalog and preview music from an upcoming album.
The appearance is scheduled as a live band performance, not simply a celebrity introduction or spoken-word set.
Which ticket type makes sense?
General Admission provides access to the stages, public festival areas, food and retail vendors, carnival rides, complimentary water stations and arcade games.
VIP includes General Admission benefits plus expedited entry, re-entry privileges, a dedicated lounge and air-conditioned restrooms. Deluxe adds reserved viewing areas at the main stages, an open bar, snacks and charging facilities.
Deluxe+ includes an elevated viewing platform near the main stage, catering, upgraded lounge space and concierge services. Backstage passes have additional benefits, but side-stage access applies only to selected performances and requires artist approval.
Current options and conditions are listed on the official Riot Fest ticket page. Selected Chicago-area stores are selling cash-only General Admission passes for $115 per day or $340 for all three days, subject to availability.
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Planning for Chicago’s festival season
Riot Fest follows a packed summer of live music in the Chicago area. The Lollapalooza 2026 daily schedule provides details for the city’s major Grant Park event, while the Ravinia Festival 2026 concert lineup covers the season at Highland Park.
Riot Fest has not yet published individual performance times or stage assignments. Those details will be important for anyone choosing a ticket around several specific artists because simultaneous sets are common at multi-stage festivals.
Artist appearances and festival arrangements can change before September. Ticket holders should check official updates for the final timetable, entry rules, permitted items and transportation information before travelling to Douglass Park.
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