Sacramento has two seasons: summer and Aftershock season. Every fall, Discovery Park transforms from a quiet greenway at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers into one of the largest rock and metal festivals in the country. In 2026, it’s back for four days — October 1 through October 4 — with a lineup that reaches from My Chemical Romance and Tool to Wu-Tang Clan, The Offspring, and Stone Temple Pilots.
If you’ve never been, this is a strong year to start.
What Aftershock Is
Aftershock is a Danny Wimmer Presents production, the same company behind Welcome to Rockville in Florida and Sonic Temple in Ohio. Sacramento has hosted it since 2012, and it has grown into one of the defining events on the city’s cultural calendar. The 2026 edition spans multiple stages, more than 150 artists, and an audience that typically tops 50,000 people across the weekend.
The genres run wider than the name implies — rock and metal sit alongside hip-hop, alternative, and punk, which is part of why the crowd tends to be genuinely mixed. The same bill might draw teenagers in fresh band merch and people who were in the pit when these bands were first coming up.
The 2026 Lineup by Day
Thursday, October 1: My Chemical Romance and Tool headline, with Queens of the Stone Age, Limp Bizkit, Pierce The Veil, and $UICIDEBOY$ rounding out the day. For a lot of people, this is the night.
Friday, October 2: The Offspring and A Day To Remember anchor the day, joined by Wu-Tang Clan, Sublime, Danny Elfman, BABYMETAL, Circa Survive, and Public Enemy. The genre range on Friday is genuinely unusual.
Saturday, October 3: AFI, The Used, and Stone Temple Pilots headline alongside Cypress Hill, Slaughter To Prevail, The Pretty Reckless, Dance Gavin Dance, Coheed and Cambria, and The Story So Far (playing a “Hometown Play” set).
Sunday, October 4: Black Label Society, DOWN, Dethklok, Sleeping with Sirens, Highly Suspect, Nothing More, Hot Mulligan, Chiodos, and Three 6 Mafia close out the weekend on the heavier end of the bill.
The full lineup also includes Body Count feat. Ice-T, Cavalera, Killswitch Engage, Zakk Sabbath, and Insane Clown Posse, among many others across all four days.
Getting There
The festival is held at Discovery Park in Sacramento, where the American River meets the Sacramento River. There are two main entrances: Garden Highway on the north side and Jibboom Street on the south.
The smoothest option for most people is the Park & Ride shuttle from Cal Expo (1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento). Your shuttle pass includes free car parking, and buses run nonstop to and from the festival site starting roughly 60 minutes before gates open. SacRT also runs supplemental bus service from the 8th and K Street stop in downtown Sacramento, with drop-off on Jibboom Street.
If you’re arriving by train, Sacramento Valley Station (401 I Street) is the closest stop — the festival is about 1.7 miles away, a 35–40 minute walk or a quick rideshare. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is designated at the Jibboom Street entrance.
ADA parking is available at $50 per day, first-come, first-served, and opens at 10 a.m. Free bike valet is available for bikes, skateboards, and scooters.
What to Bring and What to Leave Home
Aftershock has a strict bag policy. Allowed items include your cell phone, one sealed water bottle, sunscreen, binoculars, a point-and-shoot camera, a hat, and earplugs. Leave behind: outside food and drinks, glass containers, folding chairs, umbrellas, large bags, and anything you’d normally pack for a tailgate.
Re-entry is not permitted once you leave the festival grounds for the day — the only exceptions are for camping pass holders, attendees with hotel packages through JamPack, and Costco 2-Day/4-Day pass holders. Plan to stay once you’re in.
The Details
- Dates: October 1–4, 2026
- Venue: Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA
- Entrances: Garden Highway (north) or Jibboom Street (south)
- Single Day GA: From $235–$252 (all-in, fees included)
- 2-Day GA: From $440 (all-in, fees included)
- 4-Day GA: From $603 (all-in, fees included)
- 4-Day VIP: From $963 (all-in, fees included)
- Capital Club 4-Day: $2,669 (all-in, fees included)
- Shuttle: From Cal Expo (1600 Exposition Blvd) — free car parking included
- ADA Parking: $50/day, opens 10 a.m., first-come
- Bike Valet: Free
- Gate Times: To be announced; typically 11 a.m.–Noon
- Re-Entry: Not permitted (exceptions: camping, hotel packages, Costco passes)
- Ages: All ages (mature content — parental discretion advised)
- Tickets: aftershockfestival.com
Bottom Line
Aftershock 2026 is one of the stronger lineups the festival has assembled, particularly if you have any attachment to rock and alternative music from the past three decades. Thursday and Friday are the most cross-genre days and probably the easiest to recommend to a broader audience. Saturday leans emo and punk revival, Sunday goes heavier.
If you’re going for a single day, buy the day you care most about — prices vary, and popular days will sell out. If the full four days sounds like a lot, the 2-Day GA at $440 all-in is a reasonable middle ground.
For more fall things to do around Sacramento while the festival is in town, see the Best Fall Festivals and Markets in Sacramento and the Sacramento Concert Guide for year-round live music options across the city.
