DWP’s Biggest Yet: Louder Than Life Topped By My Chemical Romance, Limp Bizkit, Tool, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Gojira, Megadeth Sept. 17-20

In what is being called the event’s largest lineup and producer Danny Wimmer Presents’ biggest bill ever, Louder Than Life will have nearly 200 bands on seven stages Sept. 17-20 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.

Joining the previously announced headliners Iron Maiden and My Chemical Romance are a host heavy hitters running the gamut of heavy music of all types and spanning decades, from Danny Elfman to Babymetal. See below for full lineup.

Extra notable performances on tap include Pantera’s only show of 2026, Danny Elfman’s first show in the eastern half of the U.S. in nearly a decade, reunion sets from Circa Survive, Jimmy Eat World celebrating 25th anniversary of its Bleed American album and one of the final farewell performances from thrash pioneers Megadeth.

Also in store is a woman-heavy Saturday lineup that includes Halestorm, In This Moment, Lindsey Stirling, Orianthi, Icon For Hire, Kami Kehoe, and Diamante.

Also promised is a Mystery Guest band that will make its live debut at Louder Than Life, and a “Very Special Guest — one of the biggest heavy bands of the modern era — to be announced at a later date.

“Last year, we took over Kentucky Kingdom and broke rock festival records. This year, we’re back to deliver the ultimate rock escape,” says Danny Wimmer in the announcement. “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.”

New this year is a Louder Than Life Battle for the Big Stage competition, kicking off on March 1, 2026. Bands can submit entries through March 31, 2026. Also new this year is a LoudINK Pass offering entry to both Louder Than Life in Louisville and Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio July 17-19. Another new package is the Traveler’s Pass that offers entry to Louder Than Life, Inkcarceration and Sonic Temple Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio May 14-17, 2026.

Louder Than Life passes are on sale now, with four-day, single-day options and multiple VIP options and packages available.

The lineup announcement follows last week’s drop of the festival producer’s Bourbon & Beyond lineup, taking place the following weekend at the same site, and also offering its largest lineup to date, topped by Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton and Dave Matthews Band Sept. 24-27.

Both Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond are nominated for Best Music Festival at the upcoming Pollstar Awards, after last year’s Bourbon & Beyond took the prize for last year’s event.

The full lineup for Louder Than Life is as follows (subject to change): My Chemical Romance, Iron Maiden,  TOOL, Limp Bizkit, Pantera, Pierce The Veil, Gojira, Danny Elfman, The Prodigy, Sublime, Papa Roach,  A Day To Remember, BABYMETAL, Megadeth, Danzig, Halestorm, Rise Against, Alice Cooper, Circa  Survive, Ice Nine Kills, Jimmy Eat World, The Mars Volta, Mastodon, The Used, Bilmuri, Sabaton, Coheed  and Cambria, The Pretty Reckless, Hot Mulligan, Taking Back Sunday, Sleeping With Sirens, In This  Moment, Dance Gavin Dance, Chiodos, Black Label Society, Killswitch Engage, Anthrax, Ministry,  CAVALERA, Skillet, The Warning, Nothing More, Tom Morello, Lindsey Stirling, Dethklok, Black Veil  Brides, Kublai Khan TX, Underoath, Alkaline Trio, Machine Head, Suicidal Tendencies, Chad Gray,  Starset, Badflower, Alexisonfire, Animals As Leaders, Thrice, LOATHE, Coal Chamber, P.O.D., The Home  Team, Bowling For Soup, Thursday, We The Kings, From Ashes To New, Fit For A King, Sleep Theory,  President, GWAR, Palaye Royale, L.S. Dunes, Atreyu, Lit, Get Scared, Set It Off, Blood For Blood, Sunami,  Filter, Alissa White-Gluz, Soulfly, Between The Buried And Me, ERRA, Chelsea Grin, After The Burial,  Lacey Sturm: The Voice of FLYLEAF, Toadies, Currents, Orianthi, Boundaries, Make Them Suffer, Metal  Church, The Acacia Strain, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Holding Absence, HAYWIRE, Spite, Agnostic  Front, Escape The Fate, Jutes, Emmure, ivri, Alien Ant Farm, Bodysnatcher, Scene Queen, Caskets, Rain  City Drive, The Funeral Portrait, PeelingFlesh, Haste The Day, Holywatr, Locked Shut, Hail The Sun,  Madball, I See Stars, Mushroomhead, Angel Du$t, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, The Word Alive, Jeff Hardy,  Mac Sabbath, The Ataris, The Rasmus, Volumes, Wind Walkers, Twitching Tongues, Powerman 5000,  The Barbarians of California, Emery, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster, Born of Osiris, H2O, Red, Josey  Scott: The Original Voice of SALIVA, Adelitas Way, Thousand Below, Soil, Arrows in Action, Chained  Saint, Zero 9:36, Elijah, Holy Wars, Butcher Babies, Nevertel, Dry Kill Logic, Icon For Hire, Kami Kehoe,  Codefendants, Texas Hippie Coalition, Austin Carlile: The Original Voice of Of Mice & Men, The Pretty  Wild, End It, Vana, Rivers of Nihil, Like Moths To Flames, Signs of the Swarm, Archers, KOYO, Primer  55, Emarosa, Gemini Syndrome, Shaman’s Harvest, 200 Stab Wounds, 156/Silence, Missing Link, Fox  Lake, sace6, Greyhaven, King 810, Many Eyes, Tantric, The Violent Hour, Dark Divine, Sent By Ravens,  Showing Teeth, Earshot, TX2, Diamante, OTHERWISE, Doobie, He Is Legend, Aviana, vianova, Future  Palace, Cane Hill, Corpse Pile, 40 Below Summer, Heavy//Hitter, Bodybox, Boltcutter, Resolve,  Dreamwake, Gates To Hell, Death Valley Dreams, Set For Tomorrow, and Billy McNicol.