Inkcarceration Festival is an iconic festival for Mansfield, Ohio, held on the grounds of the intensely haunted Ohio State Reformatory — the filming site for 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption.
Returning for its 2026 edition on July 17-19, attendees can get a tattoo from the dozens of artists who set up shop on the grounds, go on a self-guided tour, or stop by the Monster Energy booth to customize their gear — not to mention catch a set from the many bands playing the festival. On Friday, Dying Wish, Jutes, and Papa Roach — plus a headliner from Disturbed on The Yard Stage — set the scene. Saturday is pretty stacked, featuring heavy hitters like Hatebreed, Sleep Theory, and Poppy. Finally, Sunday brings it home, with appearances from Silent Planet, Static Dress, Ice Nine Kills, Motionless In White, A Day to Remember, and Limp Bizkit.
Read more: Music festival fits to make you stand out from the rest
That being said, there’s a lot to see on this year’s bill. That’s why we’ve pulled together a short list of Inkcarceration Festival’s must-see bands, from new-gen torchbearers to established acts. Check out our picks below.
Bad Omens
Whenever Bad Omens play live, it’s a massive production on all fronts. Think blinding lights, intricate stage design with pyrotechnics, and intriguing visuals on screens that sync to whatever song they’re performing. Their appearance at Inkcarceration Festival will be no different, capping off Saturday night with the same huge and infectious energy that they brought to the North American leg of their DO YOU FEEL LOVE world tour earlier this year. If their set is anything like those shows, fans can expect to hear an assortment of THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND favorites, Finding God Before God Finds Me cuts, and some of their recent singles.
Sleeping With Sirens
Between returning to their old label Rise Records, releasing their Will Yip-produced album, An Ending in Itself, and surprising fans with an impromptu performance on a NYC subway platform, Sleeping With Sirens have already had quite the year. At Inkcarceration, they’ll give a nod to their past by playing their second LP, Let’s Cheers To This, in its entirety to mark its 15th anniversary. The album is packed with fan favorites, including “If You Can’t Hang,” so the set promises to be a nostalgic highlight and a chance to experience one of post-hardcore’s most influential records live from start to finish.
Static Dress
When Static Dress played Outbreak Fest last weekend, they trolled fans during their secret set by making it seem like a Title Fight reunion. Needless to say, this is a band that know how to light up a festival stage and have fun with the audience. Harnessing a blistering sound that lands somewhere between post-hardcore, early aughts emo, and electronic rock, Static Dress go much deeper than nostalgia. See for yourself when they take the Infirmary Stage on Sunday afternoon, ripping through songs from their hard-hitting sophomore album (and AP reader favorite) injury episode.
Poppy
If this year’s Empty Hands proved anything, it’s that Poppy is on another level right now. As her second album made with producer Jordan Fish, the LP swings between emotional intensity, electronic weirdness, and brutal screams. Coming off a recent headlining tour with Beartooth and PRESIDENT, 2026 is shaping up to be another giant year for Poppy — and there’s no better time to witness it than at The Yard Stage on Saturday evening. Perhaps we’ll even get to hear her recent cover of Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket.”
Sleep Theory
Few bands have enjoyed a breakout like Sleep Theory. They’ve continued to build momentum with their acclaimed debut album, Afterglow, and they’ve been releasing covers for their (E)motional (S)upport (C)are (P)ackage EP that are reminicisnt of the Punk Goes Pop era – NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye,” Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer,” and Paramore’s “My Heart,” all of which they’ve been teasing during their recent live shows. The new EP has only added to the excitement surrounding the band, so if you’re looking to discover the next arena-ready rock band, Sleep Theory’s Inkcarceration set should be at the top of your list.
