Aftershock: Sacramento's Premier Rock & Metal Destination

After Shock Festival has established itself as the West Coast's largest rock, metal, and punk music festival, returning to Sacramento's Discovery Park for 2026 with an unprecedented lineup spanning rock, metal, punk, hip-hop, and alternative genres. The 14th iteration of this four-day destination event runs October 1-4, 2026, and promises to be the most unforgettable rock experience of the year.

World-Class Headliners & Legendary Acts

The 2026 lineup features an extraordinary collection of rock and metal icons. Major headliners include My Chemical Romance, Tool, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, Queens of the Stone Age, Sublime, and Wu-Tang Clan, with Danny Elfman bringing orchestral rock to the mix. The festival also celebrates legacy acts and special performances: Public Enemy marking 40 years of the group, Circa Survive reuniting for an exclusive West Coast show, Cavalera performing Sepultura's legendary Roots album, Wolfmother on their 20th Anniversary Tour, The Story So Far and DRAIN performing hometown plays, and Kylesa reuniting for their first West Coast show since 2015.

Five Stages of Non-Stop Music

With 140+ bands spreading across five distinct stages, Aftershock delivers continuous music with zero downtime. The festival brings together established metal acts like Dethklok, Slaughter To Prevail, and Killswitch Engage; pioneering metal bands like Melvins and Suicidal Tendencies; punk legends including AFI, The Used, and New Found Glory; alternative icons such as Coheed and Cambria and The Devil Wears Prada; plus hip-hop acts like Three 6 Mafia, Cypress Hill, and Body Count featuring Ice-T. Post-hardcore and metalcore bands round out the roster with acts like Underoath, Sleeping with Sirens, and The Acacia Strain.

Festival Passes & VIP Experiences

AfterShock offers tiered pass options to suit all budgets. A 4-Day General Admission pass starts at $581 (all-in, fees included). VIP passes (starting at $941 for 4 days) include dedicated entry lanes, access to a VIP lounge with shaded seating, live video streams of the main stages, dedicated restrooms with air conditioning, and a guest services team. The premium Capital Club experience ($2,669 for 4 days) elevates the festival with an exclusive elevated Main Stage viewing platform, private air-conditioned lounge, fast-track entry, daily re-entry privileges, all-inclusive food and beverages, dedicated WiFi, and festival merchandise fast lane. Single-day passes are available starting at $235 for General Admission. A Coast to Coast Pass bundles Aftershock with Welcome to Rockville in Florida for an 8-day rock experience.

Camping & Getting There

Camping comes to Aftershock 2026 at Cal Expo with shuttle service and re-entry access, plus a Wednesday night pre-party at Rock & Brews. Car plus tent and RV camping options provide convenient on-site overnight stays. The Park & Ride Shuttle program offers parking at Cal Expo with nonstop shuttle service to Discovery Park, operating from approximately 60 minutes before gates open through 75 minutes after festival close each night.

Amenities & Accessibility

Festival amenities include food and beverage vendors, merchandise booths, locker rentals across four locations (accommodating backpacks and personal items), and accessible shuttle services. Aftershock is an all-ages event with accessibility services and detailed health/safety information available on the festival website. The festival's outdoor venue at Discovery Park provides a scenic natural setting while hosting the scale of production required for 140+ acts across five stages.

The Danny Wimmer Presents Legacy

AfterShock is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, the promoter behind a portfolio of major rock festivals including Welcome to Rockville, Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, and others. Every pass purchase includes a charity fee supporting the DWP Foundation's giving to local and national charities, making the festival experience extend beyond music to community impact.