Major Music Festival Expands 2026 Dates with Surprise Headliner Additions
Festival grows to five stages and 140+ bands with Tool and Shinedown joining previously announced My Chemical Romance and Bring Me The Horizon
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 20, 2025 — Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival will expand to a four-day format May 14-17, 2026, at Historic Crew Stadium, adding two surprise headliners to create the event’s most ambitious lineup in its five-year history. Festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents announced Wednesday that Tool and Shinedown will join previously revealed headliners My Chemical Romance and Bring Me The Horizon, completing a 140-band roster across five stages.
The expansion responds to unprecedented demand following 2025’s record-breaking attendance, which established Sonic Temple as Ohio’s largest rock event in history. The 2026 edition adds an extra festival day and increases stage capacity by 25 percent to accommodate the enhanced lineup. Single-day, four-day, GA, GA Plus, VIP, and Premium Experience passes are available now at SonicTempleFestival.com, with early-bird pricing in effect through December 31.
The music festival industry continues its rapid growth trajectory, with the global market valued at $4.61 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $37.12 billion by 2035, according to recent market analysis from Business Research Insights . North America commands 40 percent of global festival revenue, with gross ticket sales increasing more than 20 percent year-over-year. Data shows 72 percent of festival-goers prioritize live experiences, driving demand for expanded multi-day events. The research indicates rock and alternative festivals represent 25 percent of market share, making them a significant segment in the live entertainment sector.
Thursday, May 14, will feature My Chemical Romance, Pierce The Veil, and Breaking Benjamin. Friday, May 15, introduces Shinedown alongside The Offspring and Staind. Saturday, May 16, presents Bring Me The Horizon with Good Charlotte and Marilyn Manson. Sunday, May 17, concludes with Tool headlining alongside Godsmack and Megadeth. The lineup balances legacy acts with contemporary artists, including Megadeth’s farewell tour, Body Count’s festival debut, Flyleaf’s 20th-anniversary performance, and exclusive reunions from Anberlin, Snot, Egypt Central, and Drop Dead, Gorgeous.
“This isn’t just adding bands—it’s redefining what a rock festival can be,” said Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents. “After breaking every attendance record last year, we asked ourselves how to deliver something bigger without losing what makes Sonic Temple special. The answer was more time, more stages, and frankly, the strongest top-to-bottom lineup we’ve ever assembled.”
Beyond music, Sonic Temple’s immersive art program returns with expanded visual installations. Contemporary American painter Terry Urban and Bob’s Burgers illustrator Jay Howell will create large-scale, interactive pieces alongside Columbus-based artists painting live murals throughout the weekend. The festival transforms its grounds into a living gallery, with Art Boutiques, Art Towers, and Art Walls featuring real-time creation. The Dive Bar, a fan-favorite pop-up venue for surprise performances, returns with an enhanced layout. The Caduceus Wine Garden, featuring selections from Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan’s Arizona vineyards, offers a refined retreat within the festival grounds.
Economic impact projections indicate the expanded four-day format will generate an estimated $45 million in direct visitor spending for the Columbus region, based on average per-fan expenditure data from the 2025 event. Organizers have partnered with 15 local hotels for official fan packages and expanded shuttle services from downtown Columbus. The festival will employ more than 2,000 temporary staff and has committed to a 60 percent sustainability target through waste reduction and carbon offset initiatives, aligning with industry-wide eco-friendly trends that saw 60 percent of major festivals adopt green programs in 2023.
About Danny Wimmer Presents
Danny Wimmer Presents is a leading producer of destination music festivals in the United States, specializing in rock, alternative, and metal events. Founded in 2011, the company produces Sonic Temple, Welcome to Rockville, Louder Than Life, and other major festivals, hosting more than 500 bands annually across its portfolio. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with regional offices in Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky.
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