Alien Ant Farm to Play Free Live Show at Anime Riverside on May 31
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Apr. 8, 2026 — Alt-rock band Alien Ant Farm will headline a free live concert at Anime Riverside on May 31, 2026, bringing a full performance to the Riverside Convention Center as part of the convention’s fifth annual weekend event.
The show is included free with convention admission, meaning any attendee holding a weekend or Saturday day pass can catch the band without an additional ticket purchase.
The booking carries a particular resonance: Alien Ant Farm formed in Riverside in 1996, making this appearance a homecoming of sorts for a band that built its name in the same city hosting the convention.
The timing also coincides with the 25th anniversary of ANThology, the band’s breakthrough 2001 album , which featured the hit single “Movies” and their era-defining cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”, a record that went on to be certified multi-platinum.
Attendees can expect a setlist celebrating the album that launched the band to global fame, alongside fan-favourite tracks.
The concert is one headline act within a much larger event. Anime Riverside 2026 runs May 30 and 31 at the Riverside Convention Center, marking the convention’s fifth annual edition.
The event features professional anime wrestling, a free arcade area, cosplay contests, stage performances, an anime karaoke lounge, live music, panels, free photo rooms, and an official after-party. More than 40 celebrity guests from anime, gaming, and pop culture are scheduled to appear, alongside over 250 vendors on site. Children aged 12 and under are admitted free, with two child passes included per adult ticket purchase.
Alien Ant Farm’s current lineup consists of Dryden Mitchell on vocals, Terry Corso on guitar, Mike Cosgrove on drums, and Tim Peugh on bass. The band is also planning a special vinyl edition of ANThology to mark its 25th anniversary, slated for a 2026 release.
Join us May 31st for a free live concert experience included with your badge.
Tickets for Anime Riverside 2026 are on sale now through Tixr. For convention updates, Anime Riverside can be followed on Instagram and Facebook.
Abi has been writing about gaming, sports, puzzles, and UK entertainment since 2019. She covers everything from game reviews and festival previews to your daily Wordle hints — always from a British perspective.