The static crackles before the needle drops, and suddenly, alternative rock’s past, present, and future are all sharing the same stage.

On October 14, iHeartMedia unveiled the lineup for the 2026 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO presented by Capital One, and it reads less like a festival bill and more like a time capsule bursting open. On Saturday, January 17, 2026, the Kia Forum in Los Angeles will become ground zero for a genre-spanning celebration, bringing together icons, cult favorites, and rising voices under one roof.

Leading the night are Green Day, Twenty One Pilots, Cage the Elephant, Sublime, and Good Charlotte – artists who didn’t just soundtrack eras, but helped define them. Joining them are breakout and next-wave names Myles Smith, Gigi Perez, and almost monday, signaling exactly where the genre is headed next.

The evening will be hosted by Woody of the Woody Show, whose enthusiasm mirrors the scale of the night itself. “If it were a lesser lineup, you’d need a stronger host, but look at this list of performers – it’s incredible,” Woody comments. “I can’t wait to see all these bands and help guide a full house at the Forum through what’s going to be an insane experience.”

And insane might be the understatement of the year.

This edition of ALTer EGO feels especially symbolic, a collision of generations that highlights just how wide and elastic alternative rock has become. According to Lisa Worden, program director for ALT 98.7 and senior vice president of rock and alternative for iHeartMedia, the lineup was built to reflect that full spectrum.

“This year’s iHeartRadio ALTer EGO brings together a powerhouse lineup that reflects the full diversity of Alternative and Rock,” Worden said. She highlighted Sublime’s current run at No. 1 on Alternative radio, Good Charlotte’s first Los Angeles show in more than a decade, and Cage The Elephant’s momentum following a U.S. tour with Oasis. “All of these artists are ready to bring it,” she added.

Fans won’t have to wait until January to feel the excitement. All week, iHeartRadio stations nationwide are giving listeners the chance to win trips to Los Angeles before tickets even go on sale. The promotion spans more than 80 Alternative, Rock, and ’90s Classic Rock stations, turning airwaves into golden tickets.

For Capital One cardholders, the experience goes even deeper. An exclusive presale opens Tuesday, October 21, at 10 a.m. PT, running through Thursday, October 23, while supplies last. Cardholders can also unlock a Capital One Access Pass, which includes a private soundcheck performance by Cage The Elephant, complimentary food and drinks, and additional pre-show perks – a rare behind-the-scenes moment before the lights come up.

“We’re proud to once again present iHeartRadio ALTer EGO, which has become a must-attend event for Alternative Rock fans,” said Byron Daub, vice president of sponsorships and experimental marketing at Capital One. “The early ticket access and Capital One Access Pass experiences are our way of connecting cardholders even closer to their passion for music.”

Following the presale, ALT 98.7 will host a 24-hour VIP ticket window, with general public tickets officially going live Friday, October 24, at 12 p.m. PT via Ticketmaster.

ALTer EGO has long stood as one of iHeartMedia’s signature live events, sitting alongside staples like iHeartRadio Music Festival, Jingle Ball, and iHeartCountry Festival. But the 2026 edition feels uniquely cinematic, a reminder that alternative rock has never been one thing, one sound, or one generation.

It’s distortion and melody. Nostalgia and reinvention. A room full of people who grew up with these songs, and those just discovering them, singing along together. For one January night in Los Angeles, the past and future of alternative rock won’t just coexist. They’ll collide.