Inkcarceration Competition is an iconic pageant for Mansfield, Ohio, held on the grounds of the intensely haunted Ohio State Reformatory — the filming web site for 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption.
Returning for its 2026 version on July 17-19, attendees can get a tattoo from the handfuls of artists who arrange store on the grounds, go on a self-guided tour, or cease by the Monster Power sales space to customise their gear — to not point out catch a set from the various bands taking part in the pageant. On Friday, Dying Want, Jutes, and Papa Roach — plus a headliner from Disturbed on The Yard Stage — set the scene. Saturday is fairly stacked, that includes heavy hitters like Hatebreed, Sleep Concept, and Poppy. Lastly, Sunday brings it residence, with appearances from Silent Planet, Static Costume, Ice 9 Kills, Immobile In White, A Day to Bear in mind, and Limp Bizkit.
Learn extra: Music pageant matches to make you stand out from the remaining
That being stated, there’s so much to see on this yr’s invoice. That’s why we’ve pulled collectively a brief listing of Inkcarceration Competition’s must-see bands, from new-gen torchbearers to established acts. Try our picks under.
Unhealthy Omens
Every time Unhealthy Omens play reside, it’s an enormous manufacturing on all fronts. Assume blinding lights, intricate stage design with pyrotechnics, and intriguing visuals on screens that sync to no matter music they’re performing. Their look at Inkcarceration Competition will probably be no totally different, capping off Saturday evening with the identical big and infectious power that they dropped at the North American leg of their DO YOU FEEL LOVE world tour earlier this yr. If their set is something like these exhibits, followers can anticipate to listen to an assortment of THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND favorites, Discovering God Earlier than God Finds Me cuts, and a few of their current singles.
Sleeping With Sirens
Between returning to their previous label Rise Data, releasing their Will Yip-produced album, An Ending in Itself, and stunning followers with an impromptu efficiency on a NYC subway platform, Sleeping With Sirens have already had fairly the yr. At Inkcarceration, they’ll give a nod to their previous by taking part in their second LP, Let’s Cheers To This, in its entirety to mark its fifteenth anniversary. The album is full of fan favorites, together with “If You Can’t Grasp,” so the set guarantees to be a nostalgic spotlight and an opportunity to expertise one in every of post-hardcore’s most influential data reside from begin to end.
Static Costume
When Static Costume performed Outbreak Fest final weekend, they trolled followers throughout their secret set by making it seem to be a Title Struggle reunion. For sure, this can be a band that know learn how to gentle up a pageant stage and have enjoyable with the viewers. Harnessing a blistering sound that lands someplace between post-hardcore, early aughts emo, and digital rock, Static Costume go a lot deeper than nostalgia. See for your self after they take the Infirmary Stage on Sunday afternoon, ripping by way of songs from their hard-hitting sophomore album (and AP reader favourite) harm episode.
Poppy
If this yr’s Empty Palms proved something, it’s that Poppy is on one other stage proper now. As her second album made with producer Jordan Fish, the LP swings between emotional depth, digital weirdness, and brutal screams. Coming off a current headlining tour with Beartooth and PRESIDENT, 2026 is shaping as much as be one other large yr for Poppy — and there’s no higher time to witness it than at The Yard Stage on Saturday night. Maybe we’ll even get to listen to her current cowl of Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket.”
Sleep Concept
Few bands have loved a breakout like Sleep Concept. They’ve continued to construct momentum with their acclaimed debut album, Afterglow, and so they’ve been releasing covers for his or her (E)motional (S)upport (C)are (P)ackage EP which are reminicisnt of the Punk Goes Pop period – NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye,” Taylor Swift’s “Merciless Summer time,” and Paramore’s “My Coronary heart,” all of which they’ve been teasing throughout their current reside exhibits. The brand new EP has solely added to the joy surrounding the band, so in the event you’re trying to uncover the following arena-ready rock band, Sleep Concept’s Inkcarceration set needs to be on the prime of your listing.
