Rocklahoma 20th Anniversary Lineup Topped By Slayer, Godsmack, Papa Roach Sept. 4-6

Rocklahoma festival returns to the Rockin’ Red Dirt Ranch in Pryor, Oklahoma, Labor Day weekend Sept. 4-6 for its 20th anniversary event, bringing both heritage rock and fresh pit-heavy hardcore action to the campgrounds.

This year’s event is topped by thrash legends Slayer, celebrating 40 years of the seminal Reign in Blood album, nu-metal favorites Papa Roach and post-grunge alternative rockers Godsmack, supported by bands including Stone Temple Pilots, Cypress Hill, Black Label Society, Insane Clown Posse, Jet, Buckcherry, Militarie Gun, Ugly Kid Joe and many others. 

“The lifeblood of Rocklahoma is the culture, and all of that is born in those campgrounds,” says Mike Savage, whose Vision Savage Media handles marketing, content and social media for the event. Rocklahoma is grassroots, people show up with their RVs, meet up with longtime friends and look forward to it all year. There’s popup tents and people are really dedicated to it.”

This year’s lineup both sticks to its hair-metal and classic roots with bands like Molly Hatchet and, Buckcherry and Slaughter on the bill, but with varied hard rock and crossover appeal from bands like Hollywood Undead, Living Colour, Wolfmother, Black Veil Brides younger bands like Militarie Gun and outspoken Celtic punk favorites Dropkick Murphys.

Weekend passes, VIP packages, camping, and premium experiences go on sale along with tickets on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. central.

“The guys and I are beyond excited to return to Rocklahoma 2026 alongside such a killer lineup,” Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix says in the announcement. “It will be our first time since 2015 — over a decade! So make sure to grab your tickets fast!”

Rocklahoma is owned and produced by Pryor Creek Music Festivals, with the Rockin’ Red Dirt Ranch mostly dormant throughout the rest of the year, except for sister country music festival Born And Raised, slated to take place Sept. 17-19.

Last year’s Rocklahoma featured Five Finger Death Punch, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown and 311, drawing about 77,000 total attendees over the three-day event. The event is booked by veteran talent buyer Gary Spivack who operates for the festival independently. Now in its 20th year, the event has had previous involvement from AEG Presents and Danny Wimmer Presents, with 2025 being its first fully independent since its early days.

“What we were excited about this year’s lineup was there was a lot of first timers to Rocklahoma,” says Savage, who has been involved with the event for more than 10 years on the content side and whose team took over full marketing operations for 2025. He mentions bands like Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson as first-timers for the event. “When you’re a festival that’s been around for 20 years, it can be hard to get people who haven’t played there before.”

Another highlight was Kentucky-born hardcore band Knocked Loose, which has made waves for its energetic show and “wall of death” mosh pits.

“Knocked Loose was a trip,” says Savage. “From the content team standpoint, it was all hands on deck. We didn’t know what to expect, but we knew the Wall of Death was coming. One of our content guys was brave and went in with a GoPro strapped to his chest, but he lost it. We ended up finding it later, and the footage on that, just from laying on the ground and people stomping on it, was pretty cool.”

As a pilgrimage of sorts for the nearby communities mostly in Oklahoma and Texas, Savage says glamping and VIP options are available for added comforts, but stresses the grassroots and blue-collar history of the event, which is part of the appeal.

“People are always excited about the lineup and to see their favorite bands, but I contend the Rocklahoma culture and pulse is in the campgrounds,” says Savage. “It’s been around, it’s a heritage show, so people now what to expect and love to stay in their same camp spots and go with their friends and community. I think there’s a lot of people who would show up regardless of the lineup.”