We are just a bit over a month out from Bourbon & Beyond, Louisville’s premier four-day event, billed as the “World’s Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival.” The festival weekend is fast approaching and scheduled for September 24-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
Star-Studded Daily Lineups
Festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents revealed a packed roster spanning multiple genres, with major headliners scheduled each day:
- Thursday, Sept. 24: Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Goose
- Friday, Sept. 25: Mumford & Sons, Kacey Musgraves, and Foster the People
- Saturday, Sept. 26: Chris Stapleton, The Red Clay Strays, and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Dave Matthews Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, and Counting Crows
“Bourbon & Beyond is built to be the best weekend of your year,” said festival producer Danny Wimmer. “This lineup reflects everything Bourbon & Beyond stands for… There is nothing else quite like it in this space.”
Highlights and Unique Performances
The 2026 festival boasts several highly anticipated appearances and milestones:
- Foo Fighters: The 15-time Grammy winners and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees return to Louisville.
- Mumford & Sons: Marking their first show in Louisville in nearly a decade.
- Chris Stapleton: The Kentucky native and 2026 Grammy winner takes the stage on Saturday.
- Dave Matthews Band: Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their hit album Crash.
- Hootie & the Blowfish: Making their first performance in Kentucky in more than 20 years.
- Special Supergroup: “The Return of Jackie and Judy,” a Ramones tribute supergroup featuring Sleater-Kinney and comedian Fred Armisen, will make a select live appearance.
Local flavor is also well represented, with Kentucky-based artists like Joan Osborne, S.G. Goodman, Vickie Vaughn Band, and The Creekers taking the stage.
Food, Spirits, and Amusement Rides
Organizers are rolling out a revitalized “Fork & Flask curated by Kroger” program, which will feature local restaurants, speakeasies, and curated spirit-and-food pairings. The Kroger Big Bourbon Bar will also host the Bluegrass Situation Stage, featuring line dancing and live bluegrass acts.
In addition, festival attendees will receive free access to the amusement rides inside Kentucky Kingdom, which will open exclusively for Bourbon & Beyond attendees during the event.
According to organizers, Bourbon & Beyond and its companion festival, Louder Than Life, generated over $43 million in local economic impact in 2025, drawing over 450,000 visitors to the area.
Ticket and Pass Information
Passes are on sale now at BourbonAndBeyond.com, with layaway options starting at $1 down.
Available ticket options include:
- Single-Day and 4-Day General Admission
- Mint VIP and Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP Packages
- Exacta Pass: Provides GA entry to both Louder Than Life (Sept. 17-20) and Bourbon & Beyond (Sept. 24-27) starting at $700.
- Student and Military Discounts: Special pricing is available for students (.edu verification required) and military, first responder, and nursing personnel via GOVX.
