Riot Fest 2026 Rocks Through the Rain

Mud, Faygo and corndogs were the holy trinity of Riot Fest 2026. 

The punk-rock festival, held at Douglass Park Friday through Sunday Sept. 18-20, prevailed despite severe thunderstorm warnings and heavy rain. On Saturday and Sunday, performances for all artists, including headliners, were shifted or cancelled, as the festival complied with city recommendations. 

Fifty thousand people were projected to attend the festival, ready to sing along and mosh —  no matter the weather conditions. 

Over 100 acts were slated to perform, including Twenty One Pilots, Tool, Pierce the Veil, Iggy Pop, Alanis Morrisette and Patti Smith and Her Band. 

Friday, Sept. 18

Starting the festival’s Rise stage off with a bang, Cardiff-based band Panic Shack performed an electric set, bringing bright vocals and animated choreography with songs like “Thelma and Louise,” “Pockets” and “The Ick” adding a modern twist to their riot grrrl-adjacent sound. 

“I’m gonna jiu jitsu you bitch,” lead singer Sarah Harvey sang on “Jiu Jitsu You.” 

In contrast, the smooth and soft vocal stylings of Violet Grohl filled the Riot stage. Her shy, ‘90s-Hope Sandoval-esque stage presence contrasted with the strong guitar of “Bug in the Cake,” blending dream-pop and alternative rock elements into the performance. 

Bratmobile, a foundational riot grrrl band, performed the popular “Cool Schmool” alongside various covers, including a fresh rendition of “Where Eagles Dare” by Misfits. Lead singer Allison Wolfe pulled out her twin sister — clad in a matching red-and-white sequined mini dress — to perform the song. 

Bouncing and twirling around the stage, Wolfe broadcast the power of girls in punk. 

“You think you’re so cool, breaking every rule,” Wolfe sang. “A boy that drools!”

Across the park on the Rebel stage, The Pixies garnered audience approval, with “Wave of Mutilation” invoking an eager crowd to sing along. 

Iggy Pop, known as the “Godfather of Punk,” performed at the Rise stage. Keeping to his classic look — shirtless with leather pants — the legendary punk rocker kept the show going despite the dreary weather.

Main headliner Twenty One Pilots performed to an enthusiastic crowd. Proving their dedication, some fans camped out starting at 5 a.m. for a chance at standing by the barricade. Audience members matched frontman Tyler Joseph’s signature black neck and hand paint, representing the suffocating insecurities he often sings about. 

Saturday, Sept. 19

In spite of light rain, NOBRO opened up the festival Saturday afternoon making their Riot Fest debut. Strong guitar and powerful, gritty yells came from lead singer Kathryn McCaughey, resulting in a raw — yet promising — performance. 

The pit at the Rebel stage grew as punk band The Chats performed. With macho attitude and speed, the Australian band gave an exhilarating performance, eliciting intense mosh pits and crowd participation. 

Mud became an issue as the rain worsened throughout the afternoon, with Riot Fest announcing sets would be shortened to allow the festival to end early at 7:30 p.m. Going from stage to stage became a rush as acts that weren’t previously overlapping performed at new times. 

But the fest must go on, and Gurriers lead singer Dan Hoff encouraged the crowd to get rowdy. The Irish group performed a powerful set at the Radical stage that concluded with their song “Approachable.” 

On the other side of the park, Sugar, led by Bob Mould, ushered in a chill set on the Roots stage. Even though it was shortened, the band’s Riot Fest debut was sharp and chock full of hits.

After Sugar performed, Tom Skilling, WGN’s legendary former meteorologist with 45 years of experience, came on stage to placate the audience and explain the weather.

“I hope you don’t throw me into a mosh pit,” Skilling said. “I’ll try to keep the rain away, but I have no control over it.”  

After Skilling, Morrissey graced the stage, wearing his own merch. A controversial figure in the festival’s history, fans still showed up to watch him perform. His confident bravado and pompous performance stunned, his melodic vocals filling the park. 

The main headliner for the night, Tool, performed on the Riot stage with a shorter set, much to the dismay of Tool fans. They ended early while Nas and Bad Religion kept their sets going past the 7:30 p.m. curfew.

Sunday, Sept. 20

In order to clear out large swaths of puddles in Douglass Park, Riot Fest was postponed until 2 p.m. Sunday. 

Regardless of the weather and time, fans showed up to watch Chicago-based Sincere Engineer, with corn dogs in hand. A “corn dog pit” ensued, a tradition for fans based on their song “Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7.” 

Throughout the afternoon, the sludge in the park worsened, with shoes, boots and sandals all caked with mud. 

Through the seemingly never-ending rain, The Beths, Jejune and This is Lorelei all performed for strong crowds, despite the harsh conditions. 

Like a beacon of light, legendary rocker Patti Smith and Her Band performed later, calling for political change with her songs “People Have the Power” and “Peaceable Kingdom.” Smith’s gritty belt was filled with deep emotion and honest reflection, passion filling every move. 

A joke realized, 95-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner performed with The Fuckers, speaking the lyrics like prose while the band shredded. 

Simultaneously, Alanis Morissette rocked out with the crowd singing back at her. A set filled with emotion, Morissette cinematically performed her hits “U Oughta Know” and “Ironic” in the rain. 

The festival’s closing bands were the highly anticipated Pierce the Veil, Insane Clown Posse and Elvis Costello & The Imposters. 

Insane Clown Posse fans, also known as Juggalos, threw bottles of Faygo all over the audience while rocking black-and-white clown makeup to match the band. 

In comparison, Pierce the Veil and Elvis Costello & the Imposters had tamer, Faygo-less sets. As the fest closed for the year, lingering cheers of “Woop Woop” from the Juggalos filled the park. 

Through the weather, bands and fans rejoiced in the music, creating mud-filled memories to last a lifetime.