Cold Waves XIV Announced with TR/ST, Bragolin, Spike Hellis, Tear Garden, Youth Code, PIG, and More!

Chicago’s Cold Waves Festival has announced the lineup for its 2026 Chicago edition, with Cold Waves XIV set to take place September 24-27 across Metro, GMan Tavern, and Bottom Lounge. This year’s bill is led by TR/ST, Stabbing Westward, King Woman, and Tear Garden, with a deep lineup that once again spans industrial, post-punk, darkwave, synth-driven abrasion, and left-field heaviness.

Also set to appear are Youth Code, <PIG>, Chalk, N8NOFACE, Haunt Me, Acumen Nation, 16Volt, Spike Hellis, Die Sexual, Nuxx, Purest Form, Kaputt, Bragolin, Black Cross Hotel, Clubdrugs, Insula Iscariot, Carrellee, Patriarchy, Flesh_Bot, and Scary Lady Sarah.

According to the newly unveiled flyer, the festival will feature 24 acts plus DJs, food trucks, vendors, charity raffles, and auctions, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Darkest Before Dawn and other Chicago-area non-profits. The flyer also notes that main-stage shows are 18+, while GMan after-shows are 21+.

Metro doors open at 6 PM, with shows beginning at 7 PM. Bottom Lounge doors open at 7 PM, and GMan after-shows begin at 12 AM. The festival will offer GA and VIP passes, as well as multi-event discounts.

Cold Waves also notes that the day-by-day lineup schedule will be announced on Tuesday, April 14, at 10 AM CT. At that same time, Metro discount 3-day passes will go on sale. All single-day GA and VIP tickets will then go on sale Friday, April 17, at 10 AM CT.

If no other North American appearances are announced or have taken place beforehand, Dutch post-punk band Bragolin also appears set to make its North American debut at Cold Waves XIV and its first-ever Chicago performance.

The full lineup for Cold Waves XIV is as follows:

TR/ST
Stabbing Westward
King Woman
Tear Garden
Youth Code
<PIG>
Chalk
N8NOFACE
Haunt Me
Acumen Nation
16Volt
Spike Hellis
Die Sexual
Nuxx
Purest Form
Kaputt
Bragolin
Black Cross Hotel
Clubdrugs
Insula Iscariot
Carrellee
Patriarchy
Flesh_Bot
Scary Lady Sarah