After years of anticipation and lineup speculation, Sonic Temple Festival has announced Tool and My Chemical Romance as headliners for its 2026 edition, scheduled for May 14-17 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
The four-day rock and metal festival, which attracted approximately 175,000 fans in 2025, continues its upward trajectory as promoter Danny Wimmer Presents extends its venue partnership through 2030.
Tool’s inclusion brings their progressive metal influence to the festival’s diverse musical landscape. Frontman Maynard James Keenan’s involvement extends beyond the stage, as his Merkin Vineyards will provide specialty wine selections at the Caduceus Wine Garden, offering festival-goers a taste of the musician’s viticultural pursuits.
Keenan brings both musical mastery and vineyard expertise to Sonic Temple, creating a multi-sensory festival experience.
Known for their genre-bending approach, Tool is expected to draw both dedicated metal enthusiasts and progressive rock fans to their performance.
My Chemical Romance joins the lineup fresh off their successful 2025 summer stadium tour, which averaged 45,000 attendees per night.
Sonic Temple marks one of three Danny Wimmer Presents festivals featuring MCR in 2026, alongside Welcome to Rockville and Louder Than Life. The band’s continued presence at high-profile festivals demonstrates their enduring appeal across punk, emo, and alternative rock audiences.
The festival’s extensive lineup features additional headliners Shinedown and Bring Me The Horizon, supported by an impressive roster of over 110 bands.
Notable acts include Lamb of God, Public Enemy, Coheed & Cambria, Anthrax, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, and Godsmack, creating a musical tapestry spanning heavy metal, punk, alternative, and classic rock genres. The lineup also includes nostalgic pop-punk favorites such as All Time Low and Simple Plan, further diversifying the festival’s musical offerings.
The expansion to five stages this year allows for more acts and greater genre diversity than previous editions of the festival.
Fans can engage with the festival’s social media advertising campaigns ahead of time to access exclusive content and pre-save opportunities for featured artists.
Beyond music, Sonic Temple 2026 will showcase art installations by American painter Terry Urban and Jay Howell, creator of “Bob’s Burgers,” enhancing the multi-sensory festival experience. Organizers have crafted the performances with a methodical approach to sound palette selection, ensuring intentional tonal balance across all stages.
The combination of curated musical performances, visual arts, and specialty food and beverage options underscores the event’s commitment to creating an immersive cultural experience for rock and metal enthusiasts from across the spectrum.
