Bourbon & Beyond returns to Louisville, Kentucky, from September 24–27, 2026, bringing four days of music, bourbon, and food back to the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
The festival has grown into the largest event of its kind in the United States, drawing more than 200,000 fans in recent years. Headliners for 2026 include Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, and Dave Matthews Band.
If you are planning the trip, here is everything you need to know about Bourbon & Beyond before buying tickets and booking your stay.
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READ THE STORYBourbon & Beyond 2026 Headliners & Lineup
The 2026 edition of Bourbon & Beyond brings another large lineup that mixes rock, country, and Americana across four days. Each night features a major headliner, supported by dozens of artists across multiple stages.
Thursday, September 24’s headliner is Foo Fighters, one of the biggest rock bands of the past three decades. The opening day also features Queens of the Stone Age, Gary Clark Jr., Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, and The War on Drugs. Fans of jam bands and roots music will also see sets from Goose, Langhorne Slim, and Lindsey Stirling.
Friday, September 25, belongs to Mumford & Sons, whose folk rock sound has long fit the Bourbon & Beyond crowd. The supporting lineup includes Kacey Musgraves, Foster the People, Father John Misty, The Flaming Lips, and Of Monsters and Men.
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Saturday, September 26, is led by Kentucky native Chris Stapleton, one of the most celebrated voices in modern country music, and creator of the celebrated Traveller Whiskey brand in collaboration with Buffalo Trace Distillery. The day also includes The Red Clay Strays, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Charley Crockett, Noah Cyrus, and Durand Jones & The Indications.
Sunday, September 27, closes the festival with Dave Matthews Band. The final day lineup features Hootie & The Blowfish, Counting Crows, Portugal. The Man, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Better Than Ezra.
Across the weekend, the festival hosts well over 100 artists across several stages, which makes Bourbon & Beyond one of the largest music festivals in the United States.
Tickets and Passes — How Much Does It Cost?
Bourbon & Beyond offers several ticket tiers, from standard general admission to premium VIP experiences. Prices are tiered and increase as each allocation sells out, so early buyers typically pay less than those purchasing closer to the festival.
General Admission
General Admission (GA) provides access to all festival stages along with many of the signature experiences that define Bourbon & Beyond. This includes celebrity chef demonstrations, bourbon workshops, the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar, the Wine Garden, and art installations across the festival grounds.
Current starting prices are:
4-Day GA: from $442
4-Day GA 4-Pack: from $1,726
Single-day GA passes currently start at:
Thursday: $197
Friday: $181
Saturday: $197
Sunday: $181
There is also a single-day student GA ticket starting at $130, which offers a lower-cost option for younger fans attending the festival.
Mint VIP
The next tier is Mint VIP, which includes access to all GA areas plus several comfort upgrades. These include dedicated entry lanes, VIP viewing areas near the main stages, shaded lounge seating with live stage feeds, air-conditioned restrooms, and dedicated bars and food vendors.
4-Day Mint VIP: from $935
Single day Mint VIP: from $321–$364
Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP
At the top end sits the Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP experience, which sees Louisville distillery, Angel’s Envy, partner with the festival. This tier includes express entry, elevated viewing platforms, air-conditioned lounges, and complimentary food curated by Louisville chef Anthony Lamas. Guests also receive all-inclusive beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks within the Beyond VIP area.
4-Day Beyond VIP: $2,360
Single day passes: $626–$735
There is also a $1 deposit option to help people spread the cost of their tickets. Full ticket details are available on the official festival site.
The Bourbon and Food Experience
Bourbon & Beyond stands apart from most music festivals because the whiskey and culinary programs carry as much weight as the music lineup. For many attendees, the bourbon programming is the main reason to travel to Louisville.
At the center of the festival sits The Bourbon Experience, a program of workshops, panels, and tastings that explore American whiskey from production to flavor. Master distillers, brand ambassadors, and industry experts regularly lead discussions on topics such as barrel maturation, blending, and tasting technique. The sessions are designed to be approachable for casual fans while still offering substance for serious whiskey enthusiasts.
Another focal point is the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar, curated by bourbon expert Chris Blandford. The bar typically features a wide selection of Kentucky whiskey along with specialty cocktails created specifically for the festival.
For drinkers looking to explore rare bottles, The Hunter’s Club offers a different kind of experience. This space focuses on vintage and allocated bourbons, with pours that have previously included names such as Blanton’s, Weller, and Eagle Rare.
Food is another major part of the event. The Fork & Flask culinary stage hosts chef demonstrations, while the festival grounds feature vendors ranging from Dave’s Hot Chicken and Prince Street Pizza to Cousins Maine Lobster and Gus’s Fried Chicken.
Beyond food and whiskey, attendees can also explore attractions such as rides inside Kentucky Kingdom, which are included with festival admission.
Camping and Hotels
Many fans choose to stay on site, and Bourbon & Beyond offers several camping options at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Standard car and tent camping starts at $369, while RV camping without hookups begins at $513. Those traveling with larger setups can choose premium RV sites with power starting at $936.
For visitors who want more comfort, the festival also offers Barrel Cove glamping packages, which include furnished tents and upgraded amenities. These packages start at about $2,843 for two people.
Hotel packages are available through the festival’s official travel partner Jampack, which bundles festival passes with three to five nights at nearby hotels. Packages begin at about $1,166 per person, with upgraded options that include welcome party access and additional perks.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets for Bourbon & Beyond 2026 are available directly through the festival’s official website at https://bourbonandbeyond.com/. Buyers can choose between General Admission, Mint VIP, and Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP passes, along with single-day tickets for those attending only part of the weekend.
Prices increase in stages as each ticket tier sells out, so purchasing earlier often means paying less. Fans planning to attend with friends can also look for multi-ticket bundles and travel packages that combine festival passes with nearby hotel stays.
A Festival Like No Other
For four days each September, Louisville becomes one of the most exciting places in America for whiskey lovers and music fans alike.
Will you be attending Bourbon & Beyond 2026?
