Bourbon & Beyond Festival Reveals Lineup of Huge Iconic Artists for 2026

The Bourbon & Beyond music festival has announced its 2026 lineup – and it rocks. Danny Wimmer Presents officially released the full bill for the eighth edition of the World’s Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival, and it’s huge. More than 100 artists. One. Freakin. Hundred. Five stages. Four days of amazing non-stop music, world-class bourbon, and food that actually deserves to be there. The music festival runs September 24–27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. It is the place to be.

The Headliners Are No Joke

Let’s start with the names at the top of the poster, because they’re doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Thursday, September 24 kicks off with Foo Fighters leading the charge. Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. Fifteen Grammy wins. A legacy that’s basically bulletproof. Queens of the Stone Age and jam-band darlings Goose round out the night — an unpredictable combo that somehow makes complete sense for this festival.

Friday, September 25 belongs to Mumford & Sons – they haven’t played Louisville in nearly a decade. That alone is worth the ticket price. Kacey Musgraves brings her effortlessly cool country-pop energy, and Foster the People are back to make everyone feel like it’s 2011 again. No complaints here. Nice! 

Saturday, September 26 is arguably the most Kentucky night of the entire music festival. Chris Stapleton — born and raised in the Commonwealth — headlines fresh off his 2026 Grammy win for Best Country Solo Performance. Yes! The Red Clay Strays and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are the kinds of acts that make music fans feel things they weren’t expecting to feel at a bourbon festival. All good things. 

Sunday, September 27 closes it all out with Dave Matthews Band celebrating 30 years of “Crash.” Thirty years. If you know, you know. Hootie & the Blowfish are playing their first Kentucky show in over two decades and Counting Crows are counting on the fact that nobody leaves there dry-eyed.

The Rest of the Lineup Is Stacked Too

The Bourbon & Beyond 2026 lineup reads like a greatest hits compilation of artists. We’re talking The Flaming Lips, The War on Drugs, Portugal. The Man, Gary Clark Jr., Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Father John Misty, Cheap Trick, Violent Femmes, Fitz and the Tantrums, Of Monsters and Men, The Fray, Charley Crockett, Lindsey Stirling, Better Than Ezra, Our Lady Peace, and Tonic — just to scratch the surface.

There are also some truly exciting special appearances. The Return of Jackie and Judy — a Ramones tribute supergroup featuring members of Sleater-Kinney and comedian/actor Fred Armisen — is the kind of thing you’d never expect and immediately need to see. Several Kentucky-native acts are also on the bill, including Joan Osborne, S.G. Goodman, Vickie Vaughn Band, and The Creekers, which gives the whole weekend a real sense of place.

It’s Not Just a Music Festival

Here’s the thing about Bourbon & Beyond that sets it apart from a standard music festival: the bourbon and food programming is taken just as seriously as the music. What’s not to love?

The Bourbon & Beyond 2026 edition is rolling out a revitalized Fork & Flask, which is curated by Kroger, spotlighting bold spirit and food pairings, local Louisville restaurants,, standout bars, and innovative speakeasies. It’s designed to be immersive – not an afterthought. The Kroger Big Bourbon Bar is home to the Bluegrass Situation Stage, which features live bluegrass and line dancing. That’s super fun – and you know it.

Festivalgoers also get free access to Kentucky Kingdom amusement park, which became part of the festival footprint in 2025. Roller coasters between sets. That’s the move. (Hope your stomach can handle it!) 

What Tickets Cost and How to Get Them

Passes are on sale now at bourbonandbeyond.com, and there are options for every budget:

• Single Day GA — starting at $164
• 4-Day GA — starting at $391
• 4-Day Mint VIP — starting at $829
• 4-Day Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP — starting at $2,249

There’s also the Exacta Pass, which gets you into both Bourbon & Beyond (Sept. 24–27) and the companion festival Louder Than Life (Sept. 17–20) for around $700 all-in. That’s less than $88 per festival day for eight straight days of music in Louisville. Do the math – not bad. 

Student passes, military and first-responder discounts, camping packages, glamping options, and hotel bundles through Jampack are available too. New for 2026: a Group Reward Offer that refunds $10 per pass when your group hits 10 or more — and the largest group of 50+ wins the Ultimate Bourbon & Beyond Experience.

Why This Music Festival is Different

Bourbon & Beyond was named Pollstar’s Global 2025 Festival of the Year. It drew fans from over 50 states and generated more than $43 million in local economic impact alongside Louder Than Life last year. This isn’t a festival that’s still figuring itself out – it knows exactly what it is and keeps getting better at it.

Per GotoLouisville, Danny Wimmer put it plainly: “It’s a vacation inside a vacation.” That might sound like marketing speak, but when you look at the full picture – the lineup, the bourbon, the food, the rides, the community – it’s definitely hard to argue with him.

The 2026 Bourbon & Beyond music festival is shaping up to be the best version of itself yet. Get your passes now, because this one will likely sell out.