Louder Than Life, billed as the country's largest metal and heavy music festival, has published its day-by-day set times more than a month ahead of the show, Metal Injection reported on August 13. This year's lineup is the biggest in the festival's history, with more than 200 bands across seven stages, and gates open at 10:45 a.m. each day.
Headliners include Iron Maiden, Tool, Pantera, Megadeth, Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach. Pantera's set is one of only a few U.S. shows the band is playing this year, and Megadeth's appearance is billed as one of the band's farewell performances. Hardcore act Blood for Blood are playing a special reunion set, and Cavalera will perform Sepultura's Roots album live for the first time in nearly a decade.
Other high points include Sleeping With Sirens marking 15 years of their album Let's Cheers To This, Chad Gray of Mudvayne and Hellyeah performing a solo set, and the live debut of Blue Medusa, the new band from Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy and The Agonist. Attendees also get free access to the amusement rides at Kentucky Kingdom.
Last year's festival drew more than 240,000 fans to the Kentucky Exposition Center, and the 2026 edition is on course to match it. Louder Than Life runs September 17 through 20, with tickets and VIP packages still available; the full weekend is listed in the festival tracker.
The bill also includes Mastodon, which plays Louisville on September 20 while touring behind its new album Marrow Deep, released the same week this year's schedule went public.
The facts
- The festival runs September 17 to September 20
- It takes place in Louisville, Kentucky
- More than 200 bands play across seven stages
- Headliners include Iron Maiden, Tool, Pantera and Megadeth
- Last year's edition drew more than 240,000 fans
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