2026 Riot Fest Prediction

For the second year in a row, I decided create a Riot Fest prediction lineup!  I made this based on a combination of acts who make sense based on their schedule, the festival’s budget, and style.  I’m not sure how many acts there will be, but I arbitrarily chose 27 acts on each day (I was going to choose 25, but I miscounted…oops).  Edit:  Some dates might not have due to recent tour announcements, so I didn't necessarily keep the 27 acts a day restrictions.  They typically have big name headliners for two days (usually Friday and Sunday) and a smaller headliner (or co-headliners in recent years) on Saturday.  I have them doing something a little different this year.  If there are any updates prior to the lineup being anounced, I will make them with this post while specifying what updates I made.

Since I started making predictions in 2024, this is the year that I felt the least confident about my headliner predictions (even in 2023, I was convinced that The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie would be co-headlining a stage and I didn’t make predictions that year).  The festival teased a massive reunion this year, and there are a few options, including Operation Ivy (at long last), Twisted Sister (which might be a little awkward since Dee Snider retired due to health issues), Hole, My Bloody Valentine, Brand New (which will be awkward), Modern Baseball, and Sex Pistols (while Sex Pistols with Frank Carter are all but locks, Public Image Ltd. makes sense as well); I don’t think R.E.M. will be that act, but they’re possible.  There are other possible reunions who I am predicting, like Butthole Surfers, Circa Survive, and The Format, though I don’t think they’re as big as what Riot Fest is hinting at.  I feel very good about Operation Ivy as a headliner and expect that there will be a co-headliner with them; after rumored to be performing in 2025, I could see Iggy Pop performing this year (this reminds me of when Knocked Loose had reportedly signed on for Riot Fest, but it was for 2025 and not 2024), but it could be someone like Morrissey or Patti Smith.  I expect there will be a metal act headlining Saturday, especially since Tool and Deftones have been heavily rumored; Slayer has also been rumored due to some September dates, but I don’t see it since they just headlined in 2024.  Right now, I’m going with Tool since someone apparently has 4^th hand knowledge that Tool is headlining Saturday, and that is better than anything else we have.  For Friday, I really don’t know; Twenty One Pilots, Panic! at the Disco, and My Chemical Romance are most rumored.  I also wouldn’t sleep on someone like Bring Me the Horizon or Gwen Stefani.

As for the other acts, there is one act that we know with certainty: Gogol Bordello announced after a concert in Chicago that they will be returning for Riot Fest (edit: Social Distortion has since comfirmed this as well).  While not a lock, Meet Me @ the Altar’s and Action/Adventure’s social media comments make them likely to be booked.  Some others who seem likely include Rise Against, Sex Pistols with Frank Carter Alkaline Trio, Sugar, Descendents, and The Chats.  There are several others that seem likely or possible.

I have included all updates at the bottom.

 

Friday

1. Twenty One Pilots
2. Pixies
3. Rise Against (Any)
4. Social Distortion (F/Sa)
5. De La Soul (Likely F)
6. The Beths
7. Reel Big Fish
8. Sugar (any)
9. The Format (F/Su, F likely makes more sense)
10. Descendents (F/Sa)
11. Public Image Ltd. (any, different day than Sex Pistols)
12. Underoath
13. Alexisonfire (F/Sa)
14. The Aquabats (any)
15. Four Year Strong (any)
16. Angine de Poitrine (F)
17. The Chats (F/Sa)
18. Tricky (F/Sa)
19. American Hi-Fi (F/Sa, F likely)
20. The Get Up Kids (F/Su, F likely makes more sense)
21. Fleshwater (F)
22. J. Robbins (same day as Sugar)
23. King Stingray (F/Sa, F likely)
24. Face to Face
25. Cardinals
26. The Arrivals
27. Silly Goose
28. The Iron Roses (any)
29. Prostitute
30. Action/Adventure
31. [Local Chicago Act]

Saturday

1. Tool
2. Gojira
3. Danzig (Sa or Su likely)
4. Ministry (any)
5. Rancid
6. Anthrax (any but likely Sa/Su)
7. The Breeders (any)
8. Cavalera (Sa/Su)
9. Frank Turner (any)
10. GWAR (Sa/Su likely)
11. They Might Be Giants (any)
12. Mom Jeans (Sa/Su)
13. Mike D
14. Saves the Day (any)
15. Converge (any)
16. Cartel
17. Lit (any)
18. Palaye Royale (Sa/Su)
19. Sincere Engineer (any)
20. Meet Me @ the Altar
21. Upchuck (any)
22. Angel Dust (Sa/Su)
23. Strike Anywhere (Sa)
24. Panic Shack (any)
25. Slow Mass (any)
26. Gurriers
27. Initiate (any)
28. Human Issue (Sa)
29. [Local Chicago Act]
30. [Local Chicago Act]

Sunday

1. Operation Ivy
2. Iggy Pop
3. Butthole Surfers
4. Sex Pistols with Frank Carter (any, shows on 9/17 and 9/22)
5. Alkaline Trio (Any)
6. Circa Survive (Su)
7. Pennywise (any)
8. Hum
9. Circle Jerks (any)
10. Insane Clown Posse
11. Pup (any)
12. Gogol Bordello
13. Bowling for Soup
14. Tom Morello (F/Su)
15. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (Sa/Su, Su more likely)
16. The New Pornographers (any)
17. Wednesday (any)
18. Ballyhoo!
19. Plosivs
20. Have a Nice Life (any)
21. Madball (F/Su)
22. Frankie and the Witch Fingers
23. Ben Quad
24. Teen Mortgage
25. rosecoloredworld
26. Codefendents
27. Haywire
28. Hammered Hulls
29. Coyote Island
30. [Local Chicago Act]
31. [Local Chicago Act]

 

There are a ton of artists who make sense to be booked for it, and I don’t have enough space to discuss all of them, especially since a lot of artists are not announcing tours until closer. 

 

Edits/Updates

4/28/2026, 8:20 AM

• Due to LCD Soundsystem's recent tour announcement, they are now unlikely.  I removed them from the intro paragraph.
• Morrissey just announced a tour that starts in Buffalo on 9/22.  This makes him more likely, though it's worth monitoring if they want to deal with that.
• Bring Me the Horizon's recent tour makes them more likely since it starts in Vancouver on 9/20 (it is worth noting that Vancouver is a bit of a trek from Chicago).  If BMTH is included, then Motionless in White and The Plot in You are more likely.
• I added Modern Baseball to the possible reuniting headliners; I knew I had forgotten somebody.
• Riot Fest is teasing an announcement today, though I'd guess it's a concert and not the festival lineup.  It's worth noting that Sludgeworth shared their post, so they're likely involved.  If it ends up being the date of the festival lineup announcement, Sludgeworth should be included.
• Riot Fest's social media is getting a little sassier/spicier; that usually means the lineup is coming.
• The festival has selectively commented on suggestions for certain artists, in particular choosing Deftones and Operation Ivy implying that neither would be at the festival.  Is this accurate, or is this them messing with us?  I have no idea, so I'm not bailing on Op Ivy yet.
• If we don't have Twenty One Pilots/Tool/Op Ivy as headliners, I wouldn't be shocked if we see BMTH/Morrissey/Modern Baseball.  This trio would be odd to say the least.  BMTH is huge, Modern Baseball is legendary in their genre but likely not the big commercial draw they've had in recent years, and Morrissey is...let's just say he's Morrissey.

4/28/2026, 6:30 PM

• Taking Back Sunday just announced a tour with Thrice and Saves the Day that contains a gap from 9/18 to 9/22.  Taking Back Sunday is unlikely due to festival dates that weekend.  Thrice is possible, though they are performing in Nashville on Thursday and Louisville on Sunday, which is a little awkward (worth noting that Knocked Loose had a 3 day span last year that was Louisville-Hershey, PA-Chicago).  Saves the Day doesn't have any announced dates in the span, so I added them on Saturday.
• I have added Fleshwater on Friday; they make sense given that they are in MI on 9/19 opening for Loathe (Loathe is booked all three days, so they are eliminated, though they already were due to being booked for Lollapalooza).  Due to the tour dates, Fleshwater would have to perform Friday.  Their other opener, Prostitute, is possible as well.
• I removed Save Ferris.  They announced a tour and are in CA on Saturday, so they are now unlikely.
• I removed The Return of Jackie and Judy.  Sleater-Kinney (two of the members in the group) are performing in Chicago on 9/17 and NY on 9/19, making them unlikely (though not impossible).  It's possible that the Sleater-Kinney/Liz Phair show in Chicago ends up being an opening show for Riot Fest.
• Turns out the Sludgeworth related announcement was that they are releasing their first album in 31 years (which is very exciting, but not the Riot Fest announcement).  They're also headlining a couple shows in Chicago, which makes them unlikely for Riot Fest.
• I'm not adding them yet, but watch out for Face to Face.  They are doing an album play with some unannounced tour dates, and one of them is in Chicago.
• I'm getting a little nervous about my Twenty One Pilots prediction.  They're performing Shaky Knees, and while they're performing back-to-back festivals in Europe, all are bigger than Riot Fest and Shaky Knees.  I'm not removing them yet, but that's more because I'm not sure who I'd replace them with without changing the entire festival.

4/28/2026, 11:00 PM

• Ben Kweller is performing at a festival on 6/18; even if he technically would be available for the last couple dates of the festival, he is unlikely to perform.  I replaced him with Face to Face, who is possible.
• I removed The Exploited.  They just announced a show in CA on 9/20, which, coupled with another CA show on 9/18, eliminates them.
• I accidentally put Codefendents and Haywire on Friday instead of Sunday (both have concerts on Friday); I swapped them with The Arrivals and Silly Goose.

4/29/2026, 11:00 PM

• The lineup is likely coming out tomorrow.  My guess is that it will be announced at 10 AM Central Time (for those curious in Eastern Time, that's 11).  I still don't know who will headline; this is the most fun I've ever had predicting a lineup.
• Bowling for Soup has a gap in their tour on Sunday where they are going from Michigan to Minnesota and are not performing in IL this year.  I added them and their openers for their tour, Ballyhoo! and rosecoloredworld, on Sunday.
• I added Prostitute on Friday.  If Fleshwater is performing that day, it's possible that they would as well.
• Hayley Williams has started to tease some tour dates in September, so I think she's more likely and might be waiting to announce a tour until the festival lineup is announced.
• There's added speculation that Operation Ivy might be reuniting due to some recent social media activity.  It's worth noting that the members are on good terms and hadn't reunited previously because they thought that chapter was done.
• Sudden thought:  what if the big reunion they hyped up was actually Butthole Surfers?  I don't think it will be, but still...
• I included an update about Morrissey being possible.  A lot of folks online are not a fan of it and I don't blame them.
• I'm not as crazy about my Gojira prediction on Saturday.  They're doing Louder Than Life on Sunday, as is Tool, so it feels weird that Riot Fest would copy the two biggest acts on one of the days.  I'm not changing it at this point, but I'm not holding hope.

4/30/2026, 7:00 PM

• They didn't announce the lineup today; they hinted at ticket prices rising, but they still haven't done that yet either.  I think they might have fooled me...oops.
• I removed Interpol.  They announced a tour and has a Chicago date in August, so they are out.
• I added Reel Big Fish.  They've started announcing tour dates for their first shows in around 5 years, so it makes sense they'll be booked.  I think there could also be a ska stage, especially if they book Sublime, who has been rumored a little more recently.
• I had ruled out My Chemical Romance due to them just headlining in 2022, but I didn't consider the fact that The Black Parade came out 20 years ago.  Riot Fest does love an album play...

5/2/2026, 11:15 PM

• While her tour hasn't been officially announced yet, Hailey Williams is going to a different date in Illinois just outside of Chicago, making her out for Riot Fest.  Not sure who the second biggest name would be on Friday; Rise Against and Alkaline Trio make sense to be moved there, though I don't really want to move anything yet.

5/8/2026, 8:15 PM

• I added Underoath on Friday.  They announced a tour that is not including a Chicago date; they are also doing Louder than Life on Sunday.
• I added Mike D on Saturday.  He has started to announce some shows.
• I added Plosivs and Hammered Hulls to Sunday.  Plosivs has a headlining tour that ends in Michigan on 9/17 without a Chicago date, and Hammered Hulls is their opener.
• I removed The Menzingers and Hot Water Music; they are doing a show in Chicago within 90 days (the radius clause for Riot Fest is that most artists cannot do a show within 90 miles of Chicago within 90 days of the festival).
• Hayley Williams is officially out as she is coming to IL shortly after.
• Angine de Poitrine has been moved from Sunday to Friday.  They are doing a festival in VA that weekend.  It is worth noting that they might be less likely if they are performing that day on Saturday.
• I moved Rise Against to Friday.  The days are arbitrary to me and Friday needed some more star power.
• I'm not adding them yet, but what about a day that has Phoebe Bridgers/Mitski?  Bridgers just announced a new tour date and Mitski is performing All Things Go; that would honestly be a really fun combination.
• I think 21 Pilots are more likely.  As someone pointed out online (I hadn't noticed this), they have been booked for as many C3 Presents as possible...except for Lollapalooza, which is also in Chicago.
• Pantera has also suddenly been rumored...that might be a little awkward given Nazi allegations against their frontman.
• It's to the point that I have my main predictions for headliners (21 Pilots/Tool/Op Ivy), my backup options for headliners (BMTH/Morrissey/Modern Baseball, the last two likely with co-headliners), and a third string (MCR/Phoebe Bridgers/Mitski/My Bloody Valentine).  This is so much fun.

5/10/2026, 11:20 PM

• I expect we will get an announcement over the next few days about when the lineup will be announced.  It's possible that it's another week, but I think we're close.
• I removed Black Flag.  While they haven't announced it on their website, a venue in Michigan has them Friday, making them have a show each day.
• I'm getting skeptical about Tool.  I'm really putting a lot of stock into some guy who knows someone who knows someone who knows the brother of a band member.  I'm not sure who I would have replacing them though.

5/11/2026, 7:30 PM

• I added Mom Jeans to Saturday.  They have 2 dates blocked out between 9/19-9/21.  It wouldn't surprise me if they're doing a concert and a late night show.
• I added Tricky to Friday.  He has a date in MI on 9/16 and a TX day on 9/20 and doesn't have an IL date.
• I removed High Vis.  They are opening for Basement in Chicago in October.
• A Day to Remember is now yet another possible headliner.  I was always on the optimistic end given that they're performing Louder Than Life on Friday, but they've started to announce other festival dates; I'm unsure if they'd be booked as a headliner or a second biggest act, but I'd guess headliner.

5/11/2026, 11:30 PM

• I added Pixies to Friday.  Their merch is indicating there is a date between 9/16 and 9/19 in Chicago; I'm not sure how they're pulling it off since they're going to be in NY on Saturday and NJ on Sunday, but apparently they're doing it.

5/19/2026,  7:00 PM

• It's been over a week since I last updated due to schedule.  There's been a bunch of updates, so I'm so glad to be back updating this.
• At this point, I have no idea when this lineup will be announced.  Maybe this week, maybe next week, maybe June.  Hopefully it's soon because I'm excited to see what it is.
• I added Cardinals to Friday.  They announced a US tour with openings on Friday and Sunday, and are in Nashville on Saturday.
• I added Teen Mortgage to Sunday.  They are opening for Rise Against and Alkaline Trio.
• I flipped Frank Turner to Sunday and Gogol Bordello to Saturday.  I think both will be booked, but their tour schedules make the days I switched them to the days they would need to.
• I removed Enter Shikari.  They cancelled their US tour due to Visa issues.
• Social Distortion has confirmed that they are performing Riot Fest to a fan who asked; this makes Descendents and The Chats more likely since they're touring together.
• Angine de Poitrine is less likely.  They are in DC on 9/17 and have a festival in VA that is either on Saturday or Sunday (the single day lineups haven't been announced except for the headliners).  If they're performing Saturday in VA, it's possible, though less likely.  I'm not removing them yet, but worth watching.
• One rumored headliner is Pearl Jam.  It makes sense.  I'm starting to think they're planning something either very out there for a headliner or someone that is massive.  They usually have at least one unique headliner, so this just adds to the mystique.
• Could Panic! at the Disco be booked?  While When We Were Young festival booked them for a reunion last year, it's been speculated that they'll be reuniting in the next year or two, so maybe Riot Fest books them as a soft launch for their reunion.
• I'm wondering if Amyl and the Sniffers could be booked.  Initially I was skeptical that they'd come back to the U.S., but now they have a few shows in early October; could more tour dates come?
• Related to Enter Shikari's tour cancellation, I expect they (and other festivals) will run into issues with international acts touring.  With the process of getting U.S work Visas getting more difficult and expensive, they might want to have a lot of domestic acts on standby.

5/20/2026,  11:00 PM

• Riot Fest has announced that the lineup will be announced on 5/28 at 10 am Central Time.
• Gibby Haynes (the frontman of Butthole Surfers) is doing a bunch of shows under the name "Butthole Surfers Mania".  I'm wondering if this would be booked for Riot Fest instead of a Butthole Surfers reunion, which I predicted.
• Massive Attack has been recently rumored to perform.  This would be intriguing, especially since I am predicting that Tricky is performing, which might be the big reunion the festival was teasing.  Something worth noting is that they declined performing Coachella in 2025 due to environmental reasons, but they are scheduled to perform multiple other festivals this year.  The group also doesn't have any U.S. shows announced.

5/21/2026,  8:20 PM

• I added Quicksand on Saturday.  Recent social media activity makes it sound like they're possible.
• I wonder if Hum could be a bigger act.  I don't think they'd headline, but they're performing a festival in Chicago this weekend, so maybe that's part of why they were waiting?  If they are booked, maybe they could perform right before My Bloody Valentine (I can dream).

5/22/2026,  11:00 PM

• Pearl Jam, who had been rumored recently, are likely out.  They said that they would debut their new drummer at their fest, Ohana Fest, which takes place the weekend after.  That said, I think it would be kind of fun to imagine if they would have the drummer wear a disguise prior to it or if they would use a bunch of different drummers at Riot Fest (neither will happen, but I like having some fun).
• I made a list of headliners that feel possible, make sense, or have been rumored at least a little bit (while Pierce the Veil has been rumored and is possible on Saturday, I think the travel makes it a bit unlikely), and there are 14 that are still possible even with Pearl Jam being removed.  I felt uncertain last year about the Saturday headliners, but this taking it to a new extent.
• I had a random thought recently: if Morrissey is booked, does he have to close out by default because he won't perform until the vendors are no longer selling meat?  I totally get being vegan for personal reasons, but I find the extend he goes to be a lot.
• Something I've found interesting is that mgk doesn't have a Chicago date this year; is it possible that he's a headliner?  I'm not predicting him given that he didn't make many friends during his last Riot Fest performance by criticizing Slipknot, who was headlining, but it is odd that there isn't a Chicago date.

5/24/2026,  11:55 PM

• I added Hum on Sunday.  I feel like it makes so much sense that they are late in the day on a side stage.
• We got another source of a source to pair with the one for Tool; this one alleges that Twenty One Pilots is going to be performing Riot Fest.  I personally felt best about this one out of the headliners due to the way they have been booked for festivals, but it gives me a clue at least.
• A lot of people are predicting Deftones, but they've only been booked for 1 U.S. show, which feels odd to be booked for another a month earlier one year after doing a massive tour.
• I don't think enough people are accounting for the possibility that Twisted Sister is the reunion that the festival was teasing a few years ago.  I believe Dee Snider has performed Riot Fest, and this was going to be a huge reunion.  They do have some dates with Sebastian Bach in September and October.
• An interesting theory that has gone around for the seemingly odd delay in the lineup announcement might relate to Sublime.  I didn't predict them, but there was speculation they would be booked to headline a ska stage.  The problem is that there are MAGA accusations against them, which doesn't fly among most punk fans (which is part of why I'm so puzzled that Morrissey is getting booked for these types of festivals, but I digress).  The controversy started right around the time the festival announced they were raising ticket prices, so it's possible.
• There's almost always one act that gets booked who is really out there.  It doesn't quite line up perfectly with the tour dates, but the Wiggles will be in the U.S. within a month of the festival.  That would honestly be hilarious.

5/26/2026,  11:05 PM

• Riot Fest was taking submissions for a teaser video; I'd expect this will come out tomorrow.  If it doesn't, Thursday's supposed release might not be what we think...
• Lollapalooza announced their late night shows; while there are a lot of shows, there weren't a ton of acts who I would have predicted that were eliminated, as most were either unlikely, unavailable, or already performing Lollapalooza.
• Danzig is teasing some September dates to be announced soon; I would guess that they are waiting until after the Riot Fest lineup is dropped.

5/27/2026,  10:55 PM

• Riot Fest dropped their teaser video for the lineup, which will be announced tomorrow, as previously announced.  I found the video funny; I'd recommend checking it out.
• I added The Beths on Friday.  Songkick has Riot Fest listed as one of their tour dates.
• I added Cartel on Saturday.  One of their members was included in the teaser video.
• I added Gurriers on Saturday.  Their last tour date is in Pittsburgh on 9/17 with no Chicago date.
• I added Ben Quad to Sunday.  They are opening for Boston Manor on all their tour dates in November except for their Chicago date, so it makes sense that this is why the Chicago date will be skipped.
• I removed Quicksand.  They got booked for another show in Chicago.
• In addition to Cartel, other artists who had members included in the teaser video included Gwar, Gogol Bordello, and Sincere Engineer, all of whom I predicted.
• Pup is teasing playing The Dream is Over a few times, with wording that makes it feel like an unreleased lineup date.  I'm guessing they'll be playing it at Riot Fest.
• Rancid had a post on Social Media related to Operation Ivy.  It could be unrelated, but I'm keeping my hopes up.
• I feel good about Twenty One Pilots and Tool, but really am not sure about the last spot.  I'm still sticking with my prediction of Operation Ivy.  At this point, Morrissey would feel like a letdown, but I'd probably respond by saying "wow" with anyone else, even if it is Op Ivy.

Who do you think will perform Riot Fest?  Let me know in the comments!