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Your Ultimate Guide to Bourbon & Beyond Festival 2026: Everything You Need to Know to Get Ready for the Fun!




The Bourbon & Beyond Festival 2026 is widely billed as the "World's Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival". Because the festival footprint incorporates the neighboring Kentucky Kingdom amusement park, the event offers a massive mix of rollercoasters, rare spirit tastings, celebrity culinary spectacles, and live music.


The Music: 100+ Artists Across 5 Stages

The musical core covers an expansive, multi-genre playground across four complete days.

 

Main & Supporting Stage Daily Splits

While exact stage assignments (such as the Oak, Barrel, and Yonder stages) won't be mapped out until the schedule drops, the artists are scheduled by day as follows:

 

Thursday, September 24: 

 

Thursday, September 24: 

  • Foo Fighters

  • Queens of the Stone Age

  • The War On Drugs

  • Goose

  • Gary Clark Jr.

  • Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

  • 4 Non Blondes

  • Cheap Trick

  • The Fray

  • Lindsey Stirling

  • Plain White T's

  • The Return of Jackie and Judy

  • Langhorne Slim

  • Nine Days

  • The Stews

  • Howie Day

  • Congress the Band

  • Couch

  • hey, nothing

  • Penelope Road

  • Kevin Kraemer

  • Mumford & Sons

  • Kacey Musgraves

  • Foster the People

  • Of Monsters and Men

  • The Flaming Lips

  • Father John Misty

  • Marcus King Band

  • Angus & Julia Stone

  • Violent Femmes

  • Maoli

  • St. Paul and the Broken Bones

  • Jet

  • The Devil Makes Three

  • The Church

  • Gabriella Rose

  • Noah Rinker

  • Henrik

  • Amigo the Devil

  • Yachtley Crew

  • Sawyer Hill

  • Nathan Bess

  • Ben Chapman

  • Palmyra

  • Chris Stapleton

  • The Red Clay Strays

  • Jessie Murph

  • Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

  • Charley Crockett

  • Squeeze

  • Cameron Whitcomb

  • Maddox Batson

  • Noah Cyrus

  • Adam Ant

  • Durand Jones & the Indications

  • Avery Anna

  • Matt Hansen

  • Buffalo Traffic Jam

  • Kaitlin Butts

  • Bryan Martin

  • The Creekers

  • Cracker

  • Atlus

  • Levi Turner

  • Rattlesnake Milk


Getting There: Pegasus Global Shuttle & Private Transportation

Make festival travel easier by booking Pegasus Global for shuttle service or private chauffeured transportation (B&B, LTL). Leave the driving to them and enjoy a stress-free festival experience. Our air-conditioned motor coaches provide continuous service between the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) and the Kentucky Exposition Center. Skip parking fees, avoid traffic, enjoy a dedicated shuttle drop-off near the entrance, and relax knowing a professional Pegasus chauffeur is handling the drive. At only $175 for the entire four-day event, it's one of the smartest upgrades you can make to your festival weekend.


Tickets from General Admission to All-Inclusive Suites

Ticket tiers for Bourbon & Beyond 2026 range from standard general admission to ultra-premium, all-inclusive luxury suites. Pricing operates on a scaling tier system, meaning costs rise as each inventory level sells out.

 

General Admission (GA)

GA passes grant you baseline entry to the grounds, access to all five music stages, entry into Kentucky Kingdom, the culinary demonstrations, and open access to the primary beverage experiences like the Big Bourbon Bar.

  • Single-Day GA: Starts between $181 and $225 depending on the specific day (Thursdays and Saturdays historically trend slightly higher).

  • 4-Day GA Weekend: Starts around $442.

  • Single-Day Student GA: Discounted to $130 for verified college/university emails.

 

Mint VIP Upgrade

The first upgrade tier provides premium physical comforts while maintaining freedom around the main festival floor.

  • Pricing: Starts at $321 – $364 for single days and $935 for a 4-day weekend pass.

  • Perks Included: Front-of-stage VIP viewing zones, dedicated fast-track entrance lanes, a shaded lounge featuring live audio/video feeds of the stages, private air-conditioned restrooms, and exclusive premium bars and food vendors.

 

Angel's Envy Beyond VIP Upgrade

The most luxurious, all-inclusive pass structure designed for maximum ease and top-shelf amenities throughout the weekend.

  • Pricing: Starts at $2,249 for the 4-day weekend pass.

  • Perks Included: Dedicated side-stage viewing zones and an elevated, shaded viewing platform. You receive complimentary hors d’oeuvres and curated bites from elite regional chefs, an open bar with all-inclusive beer, wine, cocktails, and premium spirits, private high-end restrooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, private locker rentals with device charging, and first-right-of-refusal to renew your VIP spots for the 2027 festival.

 

Unique Add-On Passes

  • 8-Day Exacta Pass: Priced at $814, this pass bundles a 4-day GA wristband to Bourbon & Beyond with a 4-day GA wristband to its sister rock festival, Louder Than Life, held at the same venue the following weekend.

  • Lawn Chair Pass: Outside chairs are heavily banned by security. If you want to bring seating, you must purchase a dedicated daily Lawn Chair Pass, with all proceeds going to charity.


KENTUCKY KINGDOM
KENTUCKY KINGDOM

The Beyond: Free Amusement Park Access

A massive feature of your festival pass is exclusive entry to Kentucky Kingdom, which is closed to the public and open only to festival attendees.

  • Thrill Rides: Get free access to 18 amusement rides, including the Lightning Run rollercoaster, Scream Extreme, and Skycatcher.

  • Late-Night Views: Ride the Giant Wheel (Ferris wheel) until 10:00 PM for incredible aerial, illuminated views of the festival grounds.

  • Indoor Retreats: Escape the elements by utilizing the park's air-conditioned indoor dining facilities, shops, and concessions.


The Bourbon: Elite Tasting Activations

True to its name, the festival grounds host immersive whiskey programs designed for casual fans and serious collectors alike.

  • The Kroger Big Bourbon Bar: Sample custom-curated bourbon expressions, specialized craft cocktails, and high-end pours from Kentucky's finest distilleries.

  • The Hunter's Club: Visit this specialized lounge near the 100 Proof Stage to find an impressive library of rare, vintage, and highly allocated experimental bourbons.

  • The Bourbon Experience: Attend guided workshops, educational panels, and flavor profiles hosted by world-renowned master distillers.

  • The Jim Beam Tiki Barrel Bar: Grab an island-inspired beach cocktail mixed with classic Kentucky bourbon for a refreshing mid-afternoon twist.



The Food: Celebrity Chef Showcases

The Fork & Flask Stage: The culinary presentation functions as its own major entertainment pillar. Watch live celebrity chef cooking demonstrations hosted by massive names in the food industry.

 

Leading the Fork & Flask curated by Kroger Stage culinary demonstrations at Bourbon & Beyond are hosts Chef Chris Santos (Chopped) and Chef Edward Lee (The Mind of a Chef). They will be joined by acclaimed chefs including Chef Claudette Zepeda (Top Chef Season 15 and Founder of Chispa Hospitality), Chef Esther Choi (Food Network TV personality, Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped), Local Louisville Chef Anthony Lamas, (Seviche A Latin Restaurant and Bar Rescue), and Chef Lawrence Weeks (North of Bourbon). It will also include bourbon expert Chris Blandford and Chef Amanda Freitag (Top Chef and Chopped) 

 

  • Local Louisville Fare: Taste curated culinary items, pop-up menus, and gourmet food trucks showcasing the best independent restaurants in the region.


The App: Keep In The Know…Download the App!

You can download the official mobile app for the festival depending on your device:

 

The app allows you to view the interactive festival map, customize your own schedule once hourly slots are published, and receive real-time schedule adjustments or weather updates during the event weekend.

 

Final Sip: Get Ready for an Unforgettable Weekend

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 is shaping up to be the kind of weekend that has a little bit of everything: powerhouse performances, rare bourbon pours, chef-driven bites, amusement park thrills, and plenty of only-at-the-festival moments you will be talking about long after the last encore. Whether you are mapping out must-see artists, planning your tastings, saving room for local Louisville flavor, or making travel easy with Pegasus Global’s shuttle or private transportation services, a little preparation means a lot more time for fun.

 

So charge your phone, download the app, gather your crew, and get ready to raise a glass to four days of music, food, bourbon, and beyond. See you at the Gate!

 



While in town, consider a bourbon tour! Pegasus Tours offers both group and private tours highlighting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

 


Want to learn more about NuLu and The Whiskey Row? Pegasus Tours offers our City Social™ Walking Tours.




 
 
 

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