You’ve gotten your tickets, you’ve pre-ordered your merch, and if it’s your first time coming, there are probably a thousand questions flying through your mind right now.

A festival can be overwhelming and confusing, especially if you’re going for the first time. Don’t worry! Hopefully, some of the info below can help you feel more prepared.

*The official First Timers’ Guide page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Riot Fest is an annual 3-day music festival in Douglass Park, Chicago, featuring the best of punk, rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, metal, alternative, and just about everything in between. We’ve been around 21 years and you can see who’s played Riot Fest in past here.

We’ve got 90+ performances across 5 different stages on top of carnival rides, tons of food & drink options, a wide array of merchants selling records, art, jewelry, and more! We also have the Riot Fest Wedding Chapel for the 5th year in a row.

Don’t forget; Riot Fest is ALL-AGES (kids 5 and under are FREE), so bring the fam, snag a corn dog, and strap in for the best weekend of your life.

We strongly suggest that you take public transportation, ride a bicycle, or take a cab or ride-sharing service to Riot Fest. These are the most effective, environmentally sound, and neighborly methods to get to Douglass Park!

Main Entrance Address
W. Ogden Ave. & S. Sacramento Dr.
Chicago, IL 60623

TAKING THE BUS/TRAIN? The CTA Pink Line’s California Ave stop is just blocks away from the festival entrance—it’s the most convenient route to the fest.

Getting to Riot Fest via CTA

• CTA Pink Line (California Stop)
• Schedules/Service Hours For All Trains & Buses
• Bus Tracker + Train Tracker
• CTA System Map

RIDING A BIKE? Bike parking, traditionally provided by local organization Working Bikes, will likely be available just north of Ogden, between Albany and Sacramento. Working Bikes will keep an eye on bicycles parked in this sea of metal bike racks (but bringing your lock is still a good idea!). Is something up with your ride? Feel free to ask the WB crew for air, a quick safety check, or to talk through the solution. This service is at no cost. Donations are strongly encouraged. Working Bikes provides a repair and retail storefront and operates a donation center to recycle and reuse old bike parts. Hell yeah for sustainability!

If you haven’t already, booking accommodations is a good idea before you arrive in Chicago since this is a 3-day music festival.

To get you the best deal on a hotel room for your Riot Fest trip, we’ve partnered with CREWFARE. Prices increase as the festival date approaches, so we recommend booking your hotel stay as soon as possible.

GA Ticket Holders — Our passes are electronic and will be issued to you starting Sept 2, 2026. We recommend you print your ticket in advance, or at least screenshot it on your phone before you get to the fest, because cell service can be spotty in crowds. You DO NOT need to visit the box office or Will Call; you can head straight to the main entrance with your ticket!

As a courtesy to Douglass Park residents, General Admission tickets DO NOT permit re-entry throughout the day. 3-Day and 2-Day GA tickets will use the same ticket to enter each day, so don’t lose it! (If you DO lose your ticket, the original purchaser can receive assistance from the Box Office at the Customer Support window.)

VIP/Deluxe/Deluxe+ — Please check your confirmation email or Tixr account for the delivery method. Some wristbands will be shipped, and some will be held at will call, depending on your purchase date or whether you are an international attendee.

Box Office Location
On the corner of W. Ogden Ave. and S. Sacramento Dr.

POWERED BY TIXR

• If there are issues with the passes, only the customer whose name is on the order will be able to receive customer support.
• All pass holders must clear security, and all bags are subject to inspection. (If security takes your stuff, you will not get it back.)
• Riot Fest is a rain-or-shine event. All sales are final. Lineup and set times are all subject to change.
• Unable to view or print your ticket from your Tixr account? 
  Please be sure to log in with the same email address used for purchase. Still having trouble? Customer support will be available on-site. Photo ID of original purchaser required. Sorry, we cannot help you if you purchased through a third-party website, ie. StubHub.
• VIP, Deluxe, and Deluxe+ upgrades are available! Learn how to upgrade your ticket before the event. Or you can upgrade your ticket on-site at the box office or inside the festival at any VIP or Deluxe gate. (Please Note: some upgrades may be unavailable if sold out.) We promise it’s worth the air-conditioned bathrooms.
• Please review our Anti-Harassment Policy before you get here.
• ADA Accessibility Questions? If you can’t find your answer in our FAQs, please email [email protected] with the subject line: “Accessibility at Riot Fest 2026” or visit the Accessibility Booth at the festival, located inside the main gate.
• Lost something? Found something? Visit the Info Booth at the festival and/or email [email protected].
• Lockers will be available for rental during the fest. These sell out quickly, so you can reserve them ahead of time online. Get one now to charge your phone and keep your stuff safe!

• We have dozens of food vendors with multiple vegan options across the festival grounds.
• Douglass Park is surrounded by a delectable array of local food, with some places staying open late each night after the fest. If you’re looking for a late-night bite after a long day of Riot Fest, see our Neighborhood Guide or use the Riot App! (Also, plan your post-fest munchie trips before 50,000 people are trying to upload selfies.)

• Get the Riot Fest App! It has all the info you need: the schedule, the map (with GPS location), the annoying-but-lovable Riot Fest Twitter Person notifications… what more could you ask for?
• Wear sunscreen, you fool. (Don’t forget to re-apply too, or else…)
• Stay hydrated. Drink as much water as you can over the weekend. We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle and taking advantage of the water station (the line moves fast).
• Ask for consent. Riot Fest has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for harassment of any kind. Read our Anti-Harassment Policy before you get here.
• Respect our neighbors! Don’t loiter on private residences (including lawns, porches and alleys). Yield for traffic when you leave the festival—especially emergency vehicles. And please… DON’T LITTER!
• Take a picture of the schedule and set it as your home screen. Saves serious battery life not having to constantly unlock your phone. You’re welcome.
• Get here early if you can (around 90 minutes before the first band you want to see). Some of the best sets you’ll see will be early in the day (we promise!)—and if it’s your first time, you’ll appreciate getting to know the festival grounds before the crowd gets bigger.
• Discover new music. Watch at least one band you’ve never heard of, and make time for the opening bands at the beginning of the day.
• Bring your comfiest shoes. You’re going to be walking a lot. You don’t have to sacrifice fashion to pick a durable, reliable pair of kicks for the weekend.
• Avoid the chafe! If those shorts are short, try wearing deodorant in between your thighs (or use baby powder) to alleviate chafing.
• Pick up your trash, you filthy animal.
• Wear different shoes each day, if you can—or opt for insoles so that your feet aren’t sitting in the same spots in your shoes!
• Bring hair ties. You will find a way to use them or you’ll find someone who needs one (Make a new friend!)

No problem. For information on renting a locker, what you can/can’t bring to Riot Fest—and more!—read our full FAQ here.

[yarpp]