Rain threatened Douglass Park all day on Friday, but it never really arrived. The crowd had a different kind of weather to deal with: a lineup that stacked legacy pop punk and emo acts alongside a few true punk pioneers. The result was a multi-generational crowd, with plenty of chances for fans on both ends of that spectrum to cross over. Here’s some of the highlights of day one of Riot Fest 2026.

Younger pop punk act The Paradox got the crowd moving early on the Riot Stage, and their set felt like a strong indicator of where the genre is headed. Emo stalwarts Bayside followed on the Roots Stage with a set that balanced favorites and surprises. The biggest surprise was a cover of NOFX’s “Linoleum,” possibly the first of many NOFX tributes we’ll hear this weekend.

Back on the Riot Stage, Joey Valence and Brae, by now something of festival regulars, announced themselves with a huge bass drop the moment they walked out. From there, their energetic set sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Motion City Soundtrack took the Rebel Stage mid-day and turned it into a sing-along, both for the crowd favorites and for newer material like their recent single “She Is Afraid.”

Alkaline Trio and Rise Against are currently on tour together, and both got a warm hometown welcome. Each band was openly appreciative of the Chicago crowd, and each honored its roots with sets that included deep cuts for the day one faithful.

Things really kicked into gear when the Sex Pistols, with Frank Carter on vocals, made their long-awaited return to Chicago. After having to cancel last year’s set, Carter greeted the packed crowd with a simple “Thank you for waiting for us.”

He spent the set making sure the crowd didn’t stand still, twice jumping into the center of circle pits to sing and urging the pits to keep going. Before the set ended, the band got a ladies-only mosh pit started, which Carter called the “most important part of the set.” At one point he stood on the crowd’s hands and declared, “this is what real karaoke looks like,” a direct response to former Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten’s criticism of the band’s reformation.

The Rise Stage’s night belonged to Iggy Pop. At 79, he’s every bit as feisty as anyone could hope, and he took the stage shirtless, as always. Pop and his backing band rattled off hit after hit, and the former Stooges frontman was noticeably limping around the stage. It didn’t matter. He delivered “Now I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “Search and Destroy” with full conviction, and he even asked the crowd if anyone had any drugs or alcohol for him.

If day one is any indication, the weekend ahead should be a loud one. Be sure to follow along from a rain-soaked Chicago.