Danny Wimmer Presents has announced early details for the 11th edition of Louder Than Life, set for Sept. 18-21, 2025, at Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
Fans can expect the return of metal legends Slayer, who will headline after Hurricane Helene forced the cancellation of their set this year. Additional headliners and a full lineup will be announced this winter. Early bird passes go on sale in November, and fans can sign up now for updates and first access to passes.
“We can’t wait to welcome fans back to finish what we started this year and celebrate the return of Slayer,” says Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents. “Our team is finalizing an incredible lineup we can’t wait to reveal this winter. It’s going to be epic, and we’re excited to see everyone back in Louisville next September.”
Danny Wimmer Presents has also shared options for 2024 pass holders affected by the Friday, Sept. 27 weather cancellation. Single-day Friday pass holders can receive a full refund or credit toward 2025 passes, while weekend pass holders are eligible for a 25% refund or credit. Fans will receive an email with details on redeeming these offers.
Fans eager for a Slayer fix ahead of Louder Than Life can explore the new “Slaytanic Verses” archive, which delves into the band’s 40-plus-year career and will be updated regularly.
The 10th-anniversary edition of Louder Than Life drew 150,000 fans over three days, cementing its reputation as North America’s Loudest Rock Festival. The festival, which debuted in Louisville in 2014, reflects an ongoing partnership between Danny Wimmer Presents and the city. Full economic impact details will be released later this fall in conjunction with Louisville Tourism.
Festivities for the 2024 event began on Sept. 25, with the Big Four Bridge illuminated in green to honor Louder Than Life fans, known as “Loudmouths.” On Sept. 26, Mayor Craig Greenberg commemorated the festival’s anniversary with a ceremonial guitar and bourbon bottle break, accompanied by a flyover and an introduction by SiriusXM host Jose Mangin.
“What an incredible 10 years it’s been, and it’s all thanks to you,” said Danny Hayes, CEO of Danny Wimmer Presents, from the stage on Thursday. “We’re so grateful for the amazing Loudmouths who show up every year—even during a hurricane.”
The 2024 weekend featured performances across five stages, with anniversary-themed sets from Slipknot celebrating 25 years of their debut album, Mastodon performing their 20-year-old classic Leviathan in full, and Saosin marking 20 years as a band. Other highlights included headliners Mötley Crüe and Korn, who both performed at the inaugural 2014 festival; Gojira’s set following their Olympic appearance in Paris; and one of Till Lindemann’s (of Rammstein) first solo U.S. shows. Spiritbox welcomed guests like Poppy, Jinjer’s Tatiana Shmayluk, and Architects’ Sam Carter for collaborative performances.
Disturbed also gave a special performance with local singer Katelyn Webb, who won a contest with Louisville’s Alt 105.1 and joined the band to perform “Don’t Tell Me.”
Alongside the music, Louder Than Life offered local spirits and cuisine, with highlights such as the Headbangers Hall featuring celebrity bartenders and Kroger’s Big Bourbon Bar with a curated selection of bourbon and cocktails.
LEO Weekly remarked, “If you’d told me ten years ago that Louisville would be the music capital of the world for even a day, let alone for two weeks, I would have never believed it.” Metal Injection added, “Danny Wimmer Presents has redefined the rock festival experience in the U.S., making Louder Than Life Louisville’s premier rock festival and growing it from 36,000 attendees to nearly 200,000 in 2024.”
Louder Than Life is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.
More details can be found at https://louderthanlifefestival.com/.