Louder Than Life 2026 lands in Louisville with Circa Survive, Hot Mulligan and Danzig

Louder Than Life returns to the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville from September 17 to 20, with Tool, Iron Maiden and My Chemical Romance holding down the top of the bill. Beyond the headliners, the four-day lineup stretches across punk, hardcore, emo and metal.

The biggest draw for scene fans is Circa Survive. The band went on indefinite hiatus in 2022, shortly after releasing some of the strongest material of its run, and a reunion looked unlikely after singer Anthony Green told the HardLore podcast that the split felt more like a breakup than a pause. Louisville marks the group's first show in close to five years. Green also pulls double duty with L.S. Dunes, whose members are all on the bill twice thanks to sets from My Chemical Romance, Coheed and Cambria and Thursday.

Friday's hardcore stage carries several other highlights. Boston's Haywire arrive as one of the fastest-rising bands in the style, with second album I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye due October 2 through new label home Roadrunner Records. Playing before them is New York heavy hardcore outfit Missing Link, while Knocked Loose, previously billed as a secret guest, has now been confirmed for the same day.

On the pop punk side, Hot Mulligan continue to be a festival fixture. The Lansing, Michigan band, now four full-lengths deep, performs Thursday between Alkaline Trio and Jimmy Eat World. Danzig rounds out the most anticipated names on a lineup that spans generations of heavy music. The complete schedule is available through the festival.