Sonic Temple 2027: Why Rock’s Past and Future Are Colliding

Iron Maiden alongside blink-182? Korn on the same weekend as Turnstile? The Sonic Temple 2027 lineup sounds like several generations of rock fans arguing over the perfect playlist, then deciding to play it all. Announced in full on 22 October 2026, the Columbus festival is bringing nearly 150 artists to five stages for its most ambitious edition yet.

Running 13 – 16 May 2027 at Historic Crew Stadium, Sonic Temple 2027 also promises rare reunions, hometown returns and live art. The real story is not simply how many bands made the poster. It is the festival’s attempt to show where rock came from, what it sounds like now and who might carry it forward.

Sonic Temple 2027 Headliners: Four Different Eras

The Sonic Temple 2027 headliners tell the story immediately: blink-182 on Thursday, Iron Maiden on Friday, Falling in Reverse on Saturday and Korn on Sunday. One weekend moves from pop-punk singalongs to classic heavy metal, then into genre-bending modern rock and the unmistakable grooves of nu-metal.

Thursday: Pop-Punk Nostalgia Meets a New Heavy Generation

Thursday, 13 May puts blink-182 alongside The Offspring and Turnstile, an unusually revealing combination. The first two bands helped define different corners of a pop-punk generation; Turnstile have become a bridge between hardcore intensity and a wider alternative audience. Sonic Temple 2027 gives those sounds the same opening-night spotlight.

The deeper lineup makes Thursday even more interesting. Knocked Loose, Jimmy Eat World, Meshuggah and Circa Survive are among the scheduled acts, with Circa Survive billed for an exclusive Ohio reunion appearance. Rather than promising one nostalgic mood, the day moves between melody, abrasion and unexpected returns.

Pop-Punk Nostalgia Meets a New Heavy Generation

Friday: Iron Maiden Turns a Festival Set Into a Milestone

On Friday, 14 May, Iron Maiden bring their Run For Your Lives celebration to Columbus, revisiting material from the band’s early catalogue as part of a tour marking five decades of music. For fans who have followed the group through generations, Sonic Temple 2027 puts a major anniversary inside a larger rock gathering.

A Perfect Circle and Alice in Chains join Friday’s top billing, while acts including The Pretty Reckless, Seether and Skid Row broaden the day’s sound. Maiden might be the headline, but the contrast between theatrical metal, darker alternative rock and newer hard-rock voices is what makes Sonic Temple 2027 feel like a meeting of generations.

Iron Maiden Turns a Festival Set Into a Milestone

Saturday: A Modern Headliner and a Hometown Return

Saturday, 15 May is led by Falling in Reverse, with A Day to Remember and Beartooth among the biggest supporting names. For Sonic Temple 2027, it is arguably the clearest statement about contemporary heavy music: bands comfortable blending metalcore, melody, electronic production and arena-scale choruses.

There is also a local story. Beartooth come from Columbus, making their appearance a hometown performance in a stadium packed with visiting fans. Elsewhere, The Prodigy, Till Lindemann, Underoath and GWAR add very different kinds of spectacle. Sonic Temple 2027 is not trying to make Saturday sound like Friday.

A Modern Headliner and a Hometown Return

Sunday: Korn Shares the Spotlight With a Rare Reunion

Korn close Sunday, 16 May, but one of the most intriguing names beside them is Faith No More. The band are billed for a rare U.S. reunion appearance, giving Sonic Temple 2027 a second reason to pay attention to the final day beyond its nu-metal headliner.

The lineup also features $UICIDEBOY$, Primus, Poppy and Ministry, whose farewell-tour appearance is being promoted as their final Columbus show. It is a particularly unpredictable combination of rap, alternative metal, experimental rock and industrial music. The closing night feels less like a single genre’s victory lap than a celebration of its many offshoots.

Korn Shares the Spotlight With a Rare Reunion

The Smaller Print May Hold the Biggest Surprises

Beyond the four main headliners, Sonic Temple 2027 has become a gathering point for performances fans cannot assume will happen again soon. Organisers have highlighted Ghostemane’s return to the stage, a 40th-anniversary appearance by Meshuggah and reunion sets from bands including Forever the Sickest Kids, Palisades and The Color Morale.

There are rare appearances, too, from Relient K, OTEP and Impending Doom, alongside an announced performance by composer Bear McCreary. That depth matters: with nearly 150 acts, some of the weekend’s most talked-about moments may come from names printed far below the headline tier.

Historic Crew Stadium Becomes an Art Space, Too

The festival’s official name is Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and its visual programme is part of the identity. At Sonic Temple 2027, organisers plan to bring back towering art pillars, live-painted murals and Art Mart, a marketplace for prints, artwork and other creations. Specific artists for the 2027 programme are still to be announced.

The scale is also growing. Organisers reported 184,000 attendees across the 2026 festival, a record for the event, and Sonic Temple 2027 is being presented as another step forward. Historic Crew Stadium is not just a place to watch bands; over four days, it becomes a temporary meeting point for music, visual art and festival culture.

Sonic Temple 2027 Dates, Tickets and Planning Your Weekend

The confirmed Sonic Temple 2027 dates are Thursday, 13 May through Sunday, 16 May, at Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio. The festival has announced its daily artist divisions, but individual set times and stage assignments remain subject to updates. Check the official festival website before finalising travel or planning a day around one band.

For those searching for Sonic Temple 2027 tickets, organisers list single-day and four-day passes, with GA, GA Plus, VIP and higher-tier options including Rock Royalty. Benefits and availability vary by pass. Readers planning a longer music-led trip can explore Avenhill Dale’s Concerts & Festivals guide for selected premium access and tailored arrangements, subject to confirmation.