Milwaukee Metalfest Lines Up 2026 Return With Acid Bath, Killswitch Engage, Ministry

Acid Bath will headline the 2026 edition of Milwaukee Metalfest. Killswitch Engage, Ministry, Obituary, Suicidal Tendencies, Machine Head, and Power Trip are among the other top names on a bill that spans death metal, thrash, hardcore, metallic hardcore, and doom. The festival returns to Milwaukee from May 7–9, 2026.

The lineup was assembled with a clear curatorial hand. It acknowledges the deep roots of the festival, which ran from 1987 to 2004 and was revived in 2022, while pulling in acts that have rarely or never played it. Acid Bath’s inclusion is a draw in itself. The Louisiana band’s reunion shows have been scarce, and their set becomes one of the most talked-about points of the weekend. Power Trip, continuing as an active live act following Riley Gale’s death, lands in a slot that reflects their growing stature. Agalloch and Integrity, both with recent returns to the stage, add a layer of atmospheric weight.

Napalm Death, Death Angel, Vio-lence, and All Shall Perish cover the aggressive spectrum. Pallbearer and After the Burial round out the more sonically expansive corners. The festival doesn’t look like a nostalgia run. The presence of bands that formed in the late 2010s alongside acts with roots in the ’80s and ’90s suggests an attempt to connect metal’s past to its current live circuit without treating legacy as a museum piece.

Milwaukee Metalfest has been rebuilding its identity since coming back three years ago. A booking of this scale and range shows a willingness to compete with larger destination festivals while staying true to the underground logic that once defined it.