Shaky Knees Announces 2026 Line Up

Shaky Knees 2026: A Deep Lineup Worth the Trip to Atlanta

Rising bands Geese and Fontaines D.C. will share stages with LCD Soundsystem, Pavement and dozens of other genre-defining acts when Shaky Knees returns to Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Sept. 18–20, 2026.

Now in its 13th year, the three-day festival has firmly established itself as one of the Southeast’s premier live music events. Spread across multiple stages in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, Shaky Knees has built a reputation for pairing legacy headliners with next-wave indie, punk, electronic and alternative artists — and this year’s lineup might be one of its strongest yet.

Friday: Indie royalty meets rising firepower

Opening night belongs to The Strokes, Turnstile, Fontaines D.C. and Geese — a blend of garage rock revivalists, hardcore-leaning disruptors and one of the most exciting young bands currently touring. The bill stretches beyond the bold-font names. Composer Danny Elfman brings his cinematic catalog to the park, while Alice Phoebe Lou offers her intimate, indie-folk songwriting in contrast to the night’s louder acts. Snow Strippers, Hot Mulligan and Ben Howard round out a Friday that moves fluidly between punk urgency, dreamy indie and singer-songwriter introspection.

Saturday: Genre collision in the best way

Twenty One Pilots, The Prodigy and Pavement headline Saturday’s sprawling lineup, delivering everything from arena-ready alt-pop to electronic chaos to indie rock canon. Blood Orange and Peach Pit add lush, groove-heavy sets to the mix, while Taking Back Sunday and Jimmy Eat World bring nostalgic emo energy that’s practically tailor-made for a festival singalong.

Dig a little deeper and Saturday might actually be the sleeper day. Wolf Alice continues their ascent as one of the most dynamic live rock bands around. The Rapture’s dance-punk catalog feels built for sunset sets. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets bring high-octane Australian psych-rock, while Minus the Bear and Congress The Band lean into mathy grooves and tight musicianship. Elio Mei, Villanelle and Sophie’s Body add fresh indie-pop textures, proving Shaky Knees is just as committed to discovery as it is to nostalgia.

Sunday: Legends close it out

Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem and Wu-Tang Clan anchor Sunday with a cross-generational lineup that spans hip-hop, electronic and alternative rock. Modest Mouse and Japanese Breakfast provide indie staples with deep catalogs, while Knocked Loose delivers one of the heaviest sets of the weekend.

And then there’s the undercard: Santigold’s genre-blurring pop, Coheed and Cambria’s prog-rock theatrics, Jet’s garage-rock punch, OK Go’s precision live performance, and even curveballs like American Hi-Fi and The Two Lips. Big Special and Porch Light hint at the next wave of gritty, heart-on-sleeve rock, while bands like Garbagebarbie and Showing Teeth ensure there are still a few discoveries waiting for anyone willing to wander from the main stage.

Why it matters

Shaky Knees isn’t just another festival stop. It’s become a carefully curated crossroads of eras and styles — a place where you can watch one of the biggest indie bands of the 2000s and then walk 100 yards to discover a band that might headline in five years.

Tickets and full details are available at:
https://www.shakykneesfestival.com