Riot Fest
All Events
About Riot Fest
Riot Fest
Sunday, September 9
Fort York: Garrison Common
DESCENDENTS
NOFX
FUCKED UP
HOT WATER MUSIC
LESS THAN JAKE
ANDREW WK
THE LAWRENCE ARMS
MOCKINGBIRD WISH ME LUCK
ORGAN THIEVES
JUNIOR BATTLES
Gates at Noon
On Sale Friday, June 15th 10am
at Ticketmaster.ca, Rotate This and Soundscapes
Riot Fest
Get loud, get weird, and get ready for Riot Fest: Chicago’s ultimate punk-rock-meets-alt-everything celebration, and the largest punk festival in the nation.1 Every year, this fan-favorite festival takes over Douglass Park with epic lineups, unexpected band reunions, carnival rides, food, and an all-ages crowd that lives for mosh pits and deep cuts.
Score your Riot Fest tickets at AXS and get ready for three days of punk legends, up-and-coming stars, and local acts.
Riot Fest Lineup
Each year, Riot Fest brings together a mix of punk, rock, indie, and nostalgic pop‑punk icons. The 2026 Riot Fest line-up should be released in early summer of 2026. The Riot Fest line‑up for 2025 continued that trend, packing in major headliners like:
About Riot Fest
Riot Fest began in Chicago in November 2005 as a gritty, small punk‑rock gathering founded by local punk rock enthusiasts Mike Petryshyn and the late Sean McKeough.2 It originally took place in multiple small venues, such as Metro, the Congress Theater, and Subterranean.
By 2012, these gatherings evolved into Riot Fest & Carnival in Humboldt Park with rides, food vendors and wrestling, then landed at Douglass Park in 2015, becoming a defining annual showcase of punk, indie, alt, metal and hip hop. Its influence includes spearheading iconic band reunions and nurturing Chicago’s underground music ecosystem into a cultural institution.
Riot Fest Policies
Rock out, don’t stress out, by knowing Riot Fest’s policies and major rules before attending:
- Bags: Please refer to the event's policy page for more information on the up to date bag policy.
- Re-Entry & Smoking: Re-entry is allowed with VIP, Deluxe, and Deluxe+ tickets but not for general admission attendees. Smoking is not allowed.
- Payment Options: Cash and credit cards are accepted.
- Prohibited Items: Prohibited items include weapons, fireworks, distracting devices like glow sticks and laser pointers, and audio/video equipment.
- Age Restrictions: This is an all-ages event, and children 5 years old and younger can attend for free with a paying adult.3
For the most up-to-date guidance, check the official Riot Fest policy page.