Aftershock 2026 Sacramento: Lineup by Day, Stages and Schedule Guide

When and where it happens

Aftershock, now in its 14th year, takes place October 1 through 4, 2026, at Discovery Park in Sacramento, California, according to the festival's own lineup page and VisitSacramento's event coverage.

Organizers describe the 2026 bill as the largest in the festival's history, with more than 140 artists performing across five stages, per BroadwayWorld's report on the daily schedule reveal and VisitSacramento's lineup announcement.

Headliners by day

Each of the four days has its own top-of-bill act, with two additional marquee names rounding out the night on the main stage. The lineup below is drawn from the festival's official lineup page, VisitSacramento and BroadwayWorld, which report the same day-by-day headliners.

On Friday, the main stage also carries a hip-hop-heavy slot with Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy and Cypress Hill performing alongside the rock acts, according to BroadwayWorld's breakdown of the lineup.

Five stages and gate times

Aftershock 2026 is spread across five stages: the Aftershock Stage, Shockwave Stage, The Point Stage (sponsored by Coors Light), Faultline Stage and Epicenter Stage, BroadwayWorld reports. Gates open at 11 a.m. on each of the four days.

• Aftershock Stage — main stage, hosts the nightly headliner
• Shockwave Stage
• The Point Stage (Coors Light)
• Faultline Stage
• Epicenter Stage

Reunions and anniversary sets

Several 2026 sets are built around anniversaries or rare reunions. BroadwayWorld reports that My Chemical Romance's set marks 20 years since the release of 'The Black Parade,' Wu-Tang Clan is touring under the banner 'Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber Tour,' and Cavalera is performing Sepultura's 'Roots' album in full for the first time in nearly a decade. Circa Survive's Saturday set is billed as a West Coast reunion show and one of the band's first performances since 2021, per BroadwayWorld.

How to plan your visit

1. Pick your day(s): match the table above against your must-see headliner, then decide between a single-day pass or the full four-day general-admission pass.
2. Buy tickets through AftershockFestival.com, where passes are available via a layaway plan starting at $1 down, VisitSacramento reports; students can get an all-in single-day pass for $150, and military members and first responders can apply a GOVX discount.
3. Check exact set times and stage assignments before you go on the festival's official lineup page, since specific artist slots are added closer to the event and can change by stage.
4. Arrive by 11 a.m. if you want early access, as gates open at that time each day, per BroadwayWorld's schedule report.
5. Sort out transportation and camping early: 2026 is the first year Aftershock offers official RV and car-plus-tent camping at Cal Expo with re-entry to the festival grounds, alongside a Park & Ride shuttle service, according to VisitSacramento.
6. Consider a Capital Club upgrade if you want comfort: VisitSacramento describes the package as including an elevated mainstage viewing platform, an air-conditioned lounge, all-inclusive drinks and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.

Attendance and economic impact

The 2025 edition of Aftershock drew a record crowd of more than 164,000 fans from all 50 U.S. states and over 30 countries, according to both VisitSacramento and a Pollstar report on the festival's attendance figures.

Estimates of that edition's economic impact on the Sacramento region differ by source: VisitSacramento cites an estimated $39 million boost, while Pollstar, citing festival organizers, reported a $35 million impact.