Chicago’s Riot Fest Lineup Is Loaded With 90s Icons

Riot Fest 2026 Lineup: A Can’t-Miss Weekend in Chicago

Riot Fest’s lineup for the 2026 iteration of the long-running concert festival sounds like a can’t-miss.

With headliners like Tool, Twenty One Pilots, Pierce the Veil, and Alanis Morissette, the crowd’s going to be rocking for sure when the show returns to Douglass Park September 18 through 20.

I really love the headliners, and the opportunity to see them live is excellent. However, if you need more reasons to get off your couch to head to Riot Fest, other acts on the bill are :

• Pixies
• Rise Against
• The All-American Rejects
• Bowling For Soup
• Afroman
• Iggy Pop
• Elvis Costello & The Imposters
• NAS
• Patti Smith & Her Band

READ MORE: Man Buries Vodka in Chicago's Grant Park - Digs it up During Lollapalooza

From Punk Legends to the Insane Clown Posse

Even a little something for the juggalos, too, as Insane Clown Posse is mentioned on the poster, listed as an “also appearing” act.

Not sure what that means, but it sounds like they’ll be involved in some capacity with Riot Fest that will be entering its 21st year.

READ MORE: 2 More Big Concerts Added to Chicago's Wrigley Field This Summer

Lollapalooza vs. Riot Fest: Choosing Chicago’s Best 2026 Music Festival

Riot Fest has become the alternative to those who feel they may have been “aged out” of Lollapalooza, and with so many acts whose heyday was in the 90s, it’s easy to see why so many people are hyped for the show.

If you had to pick between Lollapalooza and Riot Fest in 2026, which show would you go to?

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