Bourbon & Beyond 2026 Reveals Daily Schedule, Fork & Flask Programming

The daily music schedule and programming for the Fork & Flask curated by Kroger experience have been unveiled for the 8th year of Bourbon & Beyond — the World’s Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival — September 24-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Bourbon & Beyond 2026 will feature 100+ artists on 5 stages, topped by superstars including:

Thursday, September 24: Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Goose

Friday, September 25: Mumford & Sons, Kacey Musgraves, Foster the People

Saturday, September 26: Chris Stapleton, The Red Clay Strays, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Sunday, September 27: Dave Matthews Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, Counting Crows

See below for the full schedule of music performances.

This year, Bourbon & Beyond is rolling out a revitalized Fork & Flask curated by Kroger experience, bringing fresh momentum to the festival’s spirits and culinary programming, highlighting bold spirit and food pairings, unexpected flavor combinations, and a dynamic mix of talent and taste that reflects the pulse of Louisville’s ever-evolving food and drink scene. The Fork & Flask curated by Kroger culinary and spirits demonstrations at Bourbon & Beyond will be hosted by Chef Chris Santos (Chopped) and bourbon, wine and spirits expert Chris Blandford, and they will be joined by acclaimed chefs including Chef Tyler (Sargento Brand Ambassador), Chef Sara Bradley (Top Chef and Freight House), Chef Claudette Zepeda (Top Chef and Founder of Chispa Hospitality), Chef Sean Brock (Mind of a Chef and Emmy Nominee, Husk Restaurant), Chef Amanda Freitag (Chopped and Iron Chef America), Chef Mei Lin (Top Chef), local Chefs Mike Bowe (Red Yeti), Chef Dustin Olsen (Mill Iron 4), and Chef Lawrence Weeks (Murray’s Creole Pub).

The Fork & Flask curated by Kroger experience will also feature premium brands including Old Rip Van Winkle, Angel’s Envy, Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark, Old Forester, and more. Music talent participating in the culinary and bourbon programming includes Chris Stapleton, Derek Trucks, Lisa Loeb, Nappy Roots, Tonic, Better Than Ezra, Stanley Simmons, Noah Rinker and more.

“Bourbon & Beyond is where the energy of music, the creativity of food, and the spirit of Kentucky come together, making it a world-class celebration of music, culinary excellence, and hospitality. I’m excited to crank up the heat on the stage and in the kitchen, with celebrated chefs bringing their best dishes to the table alongside some of your favorite musicians,” said Chris Santos, Celebrity Chef & Judge on Food Network’s Chopped.

The initial Fork & Flask programming highlights include:

Thursday, September 24

The Search With Derek Trucks: Join Derek Trucks and Chris Blandford for an intimate conversation celebrating Ass Pocket Whiskey's new release.

Burger Battle with Santos and Stanley Simmons: Chef Santos introduces one of his signature burgers, then challenges Stanley Simmons (Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons, sons of KISS legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons) to put their own spin on it — showcasing their creativity and competitive spirit in front of a live audience.

Friday, September 25

A Taste of the Commonwealth: Governor Andy Beshear joins Kentucky Chef Sara Bradley and bourbon enthusiast Chris Blandford to celebrate the Commonwealth's culinary heritage and world-renowned bourbon industry. Chef Bradley prepares a Kentucky-inspired dish while the Governor reflects on what makes the state unique — plus an exclusive look at his forthcoming book.

Sean Brock Live: Chef Sean Brock takes the Fork & Flask stage for an exclusive cooking demonstration. Learn the techniques behind his legendary flavors, discover unexpected pairings, and hear the stories that connect the plate to the glass.

Chef Tyler and Sargento® Join Fork & Flask Stage: Joining this year's Fork & Flask lineup is Sargento® brand ambassador Chef Tyler, whose larger-than-life grilled cheese creations have earned him more than 6 million social followers. Throughout the festival, fans can see him on stage and stop by the Sargento® Cheese Wheeler to enjoy complimentary grilled cheese samples featuring Sargento® Natural American Cheese.

Saturday, September 26

Guardians of Great Bourbon: The people entrusted with iconic brands share what it means to protect something bigger than themselves. Experience the greats from Pappy Van Winkle, Woodford Reserve, Jefferson's, 1792, and Maker's Mark.

Chris Stapleton x Harlen Wheatley: Chris Stapleton and Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley take the stage for a conversation about Traveller Whiskey, the craft behind every bottle, and the connection between bourbon and music.

Viral Bites & Bourbon Flights with Owen Han x H Woo Lee: Social media sensation Owen Han joins Chef H Woo for a high-energy session centered on creating the ultimate festival sandwich — blending culinary creativity with great conversation and personality.

Sunday, September 27

Fork, Flask & Flavor Featuring Carrie Van Winkle & Dan from Dan-O's: Carrie Van Winkle (Pappy & Co.) and Dan from Dan-O's Seasoning come together for a lively session on bold flavors and approachable cooking, featuring a live demo and thoughtfully paired bourbon.

Plates, Pours & Pop w/ Mei Lin, Lisa Loeb & Melissa Rift (Old Forester): Three women who've mastered their crafts — food, music, and bourbon — explore the artistry behind creating something memorable through a live cooking demonstration, curated pairings, and conversation.

The official 2026 Bourbon & Beyond mobile app is now available and gives fans the option to create personalized itineraries and offers all the festival details in one place. The app is available for both iPhone and Android here.

The full music schedule for Bourbon & Beyond 2026 is as follows (subject to change):

Thursday, September 24

Oak Stage
8:55 PM Foo Fighters
6:50 PM The War On Drugs
4:55 PM Live
3:15 PM Gary Clark Jr.
1:45 PM The Return Of Jackie And Judy
12:30 PM Langhorne Slim

Barrel Stage
7:50 PM Queens of the Stone Age
5:50 PM Goose
4:05 PM 4 Non Blondes
2:25 PM Cheap Trick
1:05 PM Congress The Band
12:00 PM The Stews

100 Proof Stage
8:00 PM The Fray
6:15 PM Plain White T's
4:55 PM Nine Days
3:45 PM Howie Day
2:35 PM Kevian Kraemer
1:25 PM Stanley Simmons

Revival Stage
7:05 PM Lindsey Stirling
5:30 PM Couch
4:20 PM Hey, Nothing
3:10 PM S.G. Goodman
2:00 PM Penelope Road

The Bluegrass Situation Stage
5:15 PM Sierra Hull
4:15 PM Magoo
3:15 PM Mason Via
2:15 PM Wood Box Heroes
1:15 PM As You Were
12:15 PM Caitlynne Curtis

Friday, September 25

Oak Stage
9:20 PM Mumford & Sons
7:00 PM Foster The People
5:10 PM Father John Misty
3:35 PM Angus And Julia Stone
2:05 PM The Devil Makes Three
12:35 PM Noah Rinker

Barrel Stage
8:05 PM Kacey Musgraves
6:05 PM Of Monsters And Men
4:20 PM Marcus King Band
2:50 PM St. Paul And The Broken Bones
1:20 PM Gabriella Rose
12:00 PM Nathan Bess

100 Proof Stage
7:00 PM The Flaming Lips
5:15 PM Maoli
3:50 PM Henrik
2:30 PM Sawyer Hill
1:15 PM Ben Chapman

Revival Stage
6:05 PM Violent Femmes
4:30 PM Jet
3:10 PM Amigo The Devil
1:50 PM Jason Scott & The High Heat
12:40 PM Palmyra

The Bluegrass Situation Stage
5:55 PM Yächtley Crëw
5:00 PM Kitchen Dwellers
4:05 PM Shelby Means
3:10 PM Rainbow Girls
1:50 PM Fireside Collective
12:50 PM Lou Ridley

Saturday, September 26

Oak Stage
9:20 PM Chris Stapleton
7:00 PM Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
5:00 PM Charley Crockett
3:15 PM Durand Jones & The Indications
1:55 PM Buffalo Traffic Jam
12:35 PM Bryan Martin

Barrel Stage
8:05 PM The Red Clay Strays
5:55 PM Jessie Murph
4:05 PM Cameron Whitcomb
2:35 PM Maddox Batson
1:15 PM Avery Anna
12:00 PM Atlus

100 Proof Stage
8:25 PM Noah Cyrus
6:45 PM Stella Lefty
5:05 PM Matt Hansen
3:45 PM Kaitlin Butts
2:30 PM The Creekers
1:20 PM Levi Turner

Revival Stage
7:30 PM Squeeze
5:50 PM Adam Ant
4:25 PM Cracker
3:10 PM Haircut 100
1:55 PM Rattlesnake Milk

The Bluegrass Situation Stage
6:45 PM Yächtley Crëw
5:50 PM The Infamous Stringdusters
4:55 PM Meels
4:00 PM The Fretliners
3:05 PM Still Unknown

Sunday, September 27

Oak Stage
8:05 PM Dave Matthews Band
6:05 PM Counting Crows
4:30 PM Portugal. The Man
3:00 PM Amos Lee
1:30 PM Sons Of Legion
12:20 PM Uncle Lucius

Barrel Stage
7:00 PM Hootie And The Blowfish
5:15 PM Jesse Welles
3:45 PM Max McNown
2:15 PM Fitz And The Tantrums
12:55 PM Ryman
11:45 AM Hunter Hawkins

100 Proof Stage
5:20 PM Better Than Ezra
3:40 PM Our Lady Peace
2:10 PM Vertical Horizon
1:00 PM Tonic
11:50 AM The Verve Pipe

Revival Stage
6:10 PM Lisa Loeb
4:25 PM Joan Osborne
2:50 PM Paula Cole
1:35 PM World Famous Pets
12:25 PM Clover County

The Bluegrass Situation Stage
7:20 PM Yächtley Crëw
6:05 PM Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country
5:05 PM The Steel Wheels
4:05 PM Caleb & Reeb
3:05 PM Vickie Vaughn Band

Bourbon & Beyond attendees can enhance their festival experience further with FREE access to various amusement rides inside Kentucky Kingdom, which became part of the festival footprint in 2025. Kentucky Kingdom will be open exclusively to festival attendees during Bourbon & Beyond.

General Admission and Bourbon & Beyond parking passes are available here. Angel’s Envy VIP and Mint VIP passes are SOLD OUT, but some can be found on StubHub here. Hotel packages that bundle festival passes with hotel nights are still available through Jampack and include daily festival re-entry and additional perks. Find more information here.

Bourbon & Beyond — Pollstar’s Global 2025 Festival of the Year — is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents and each year welcomes fans from all 50 states and from around the world to Louisville.

Bourbon & Beyond is teaming up with an incredible lineup of partners for 2026 including Angel's Envy, Bud Light, Cutwater, Ford Bronco, Jack Daniel's, Kroger, Monster Energy, Old Forester, Tito's Handmade Vodka, White Claw and more. Bourbon & Beyond’s community partners include Crowne Plaza, Galt House Hotel, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Venues, Louisville Metro, Louisville Tourism, Louisville Marriott Downtown, and Team Kentucky. In 2026, The DWP Foundation will be supporting Dare to Care, the Preston Area Business Alliance and other nonprofits.

Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky 40209.

For more information on Bourbon & Beyond please visit:

Website: BourbonAndBeyond.com
Facebook: facebook.com/andbeyondfestival
Twitter: x.com/andbeyondfest
Instagram: instagram.com/andbeyondfestival/