Leading-edge protuberances on airfoils have been shown to soften the onset of aerodynamic stall and to increase lift in the post-stall regime. The present study examines the effect of tubercles during dynamic stall. Pitching airfoils with tubercles of different amplitudes are studied by wind-tunnel experiments, where the three-dimensional time-resolved velocity field is determined using large-scale particle tracking velocimetry (PTV). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are carried out that complement the experimental observations providing pressure distribution and aerodynamic forces. The dynamic stall is dominated by a vortex formed at the leading-edge; we characterize the vorticity, circulation , and advection path of this dynamic-stall vortex (DSV). The presence of the tubercles profoundly modifies the boundary layer from the leading-edge. The roll-up of the vorticity sheet is significantly delayed compared to a conventional airfoil, resulting in a weaker DSV. The vortex formation is shifted downstream, with the overall effect of a weaker and shorter lift overshoot, in turn enabling a quicker transition to deep stall. Regions of flow separation (stall cells) are visibly compartmentalized with a stable spacing of two tubercles wavelengths.