Bikini Kill returns to Milwaukee on September 13 to play Turner Hall Ballroom. The riot grrrl pioneers, who reunited in 2019 after their original 1990s run, have spent this year appearing at festival stages and other dates, but Hanna is candid about the fact that Bikini Kill will not tour forever.
A Legacy Act Looks Toward the Finish Line
Bikini Kill's current touring is part of a 2026 U.S. fall tour announced in January according to Panache, with Los Angeles and Chicago among the cities mentioned in the surrounding tour material.
Bikini Kill formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1990 and was active from 1990 to 1998, according to historical context reported by WXPN. The core trio of Hanna, Kathi Wilcox, and Tobi Vail reunited in 2019 for their first full live shows since 1997.
From DIY Grind to a Professional Crew
During some 1990s tours, the band worked under more challenging touring conditions than it does today.
At the band's 2023 Riverside Theater show, professional equipment supported the performance. The current lineup includes touring guitarist Sara Landeau, who previously played with Hanna and Wilcox in The Julie Ruin and joined Bikini Kill during the 2022–2023 tour; Billy Karren is identified as an earlier guitarist, according to Milwaukee Record. That outlet also wrote about the band's 2023 stop at the Riverside Theater.
Bikini Kill faced media antagonism in its earlier era, including heckling and debris being thrown at Hanna. Despite that, the band also received support from women who traveled from different places just to attend.
A Historic Milwaukee Stage
Turner Hall Ballroom, built in 1882, is a historic Milwaukee venue, according to the Pabst Theater Group. Tickets for the September 13 show are on sale via the Pabst Theater Group website.
Bieber Cover and Cross-Generational Fans
Hanna also discussed a recent side project: a recording titled “Let Me Love You,” made with her husband Ad-Rock for an anti-ICE compilation. Hanna and Ad-Rock made their own version of the track. The account does not identify further details about the recording.
The UK duo released their debut album, “Who Let the Dogs Out,” in January 2025 and have opened select 2026 Bikini Kill tour dates, according to Treble Zine.
Teenagers in the Crowd
Bikini Kill's audience includes people across different demographics, with young girls among those attending festivals. The band also plays all-ages shows.
The Milwaukee date follows a busy year for the band beyond its own shows. Bikini Kill headlined Oakland's Mosswood Meltdown alongside Iggy Pop, played Olivia Rodrigo's inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival at Irvine Great Park in August alongside Chappell Roan and Garbage, and is slated to appear at Seattle's Bumbershoot festival. Whether or not Milwaukee truly ends up being the last stop, Hanna's remarks suggest Bikini Kill is treating this tour with the weight of something that won't come around again.
