Sonic Temple is keeping the volume up long after Historic Crew Stadium goes quiet. The 2026 festival has tacked on five late-night aftershows in smaller Columbus venues for its May 14–17 run, sending metalcore and death metal into North Campus bars and neighborhood clubs. The add-ons give festivalgoers a way to stretch the night past the stadium curfew and let bigger-touring bands pack into intimate rooms.
Aftershows, venues and lineups
The five aftershows are spread across local spots over the festival weekend, each built around stacked heavy-music lineups. Donatos Basement (2084 N. High St.) is set for May 16 with Gideon, Mugshot and Samarra. Ace of Cups (2619 N. High St.) will host Orthodox, Legion and Violent Nature on May 14, then Dying Fetus with Biohazard on May 16, followed by 156/Silence, Fox Lake and Goroh on May 17. The KING of CLUBS (6252 Busch Blvd) is slated to present Deicide, Rotting Christ and Immolation on May 14, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Tickets and passes
Sonic Temple runs May 14–17 at Historic Crew Stadium and posts its full lineup and festival offerings online. The festival’s Lineup and Experiences sections list dates, venue information and where to grab add-ons and package deals. For the latest official details, head to Sonic Temple and the Experiences section on Sonic Temple.
When aftershow tickets go on sale
Aftershow tickets are scheduled to go on sale to Sonic Temple passholders at noon on March 11, with a general public on-sale at 10 a.m. March 13, according to the Dispatch. Shows are expected to kick off at around 9 p.m. each night, and capacity will be tight at these club dates. For specific purchasing options and package info, check the festival’s Experiences section and contact the venues directly.
Local rooms get a late-night boost
The smaller rooms stand to get a welcome late-night surge of festival traffic. Ace of Cups is a long-running North Campus beer-and-music hangout, and Donatos Basement has hosted underground and student shows for years beneath the pizza shop. For more on the rooms getting in on the action, see Ace of Cups and past coverage from The Lantern.
Plan ahead
With stadium sets by day and club shows by night, fans who want to chase both parts of the experience will need to plan ahead. Lock in a festival pass, watch the aftershow ticket windows closely and confirm door times, age policies and availability with venues before heading out, since schedules and lineups can shift.
