2026 Festival Season Guide
2026 Festival Season Guide
by Oli Gonzalez
2026 is shaping up to be an incredible year for live music. The UK’s festival scene is looking stronger than ever. Though with so much choice can come with some side effects, like feeling a little overwhelmed with all the options. Perhaps there’s some happening right under your nose that you had no idea were taking place. Here’s a brief whistle stop tour to some of the UK’s independent festival scene, and some further afield!
Disclaimer; Information accurate as of January 15th 2026
Reaper Festival – 14-15th February, Manchester
3 years since the last edition, Reaper Festival returns and will call Manchester’s Rebellion venue home for 2 days. The British black metal underground is well represented with the likes of Hecate Enthroned, Ofnus, Blood Countess, and Abduction playing a special 10 year anniversary set. Barshaketh impressed with a headline set almost a year prior and will return. UK debuts will be handed to Naxen and Aera, with an exclusive fly in show for headliners The Spirit, alongside a welcome injection of genre adjacent death-doom by Krypts. At just £40 a weekend ticket, this represents unbelievable value and practical alternative to Valentine’s Day for a genuinely stacked lineup.
https://www.facebook.com/ReaperAgencyUK
Goremaggedon – 21st March, Manchester
Festival season will begin for fans of the brutal slamming side of metal at The Bread Shed, Manchester in March. This will be the only place to see Carnal Diagframa, performing a UK exclusive date, whilst Fupa Goddess and MysteryxMeat come to the island for the first time. Belgian’s Brutal Sphincter will ensure carnage in Manchester whilst Taiwanese legends Fatous Rump perform an exclusive UK debut show. Will The Bread Shed handle this level of carnage? We’ll see…
https://www.facebook.com/GoremageddonFest
Incineration – 2nd May, London
After a sold out edition in 2025, Incineration returns to London and will takeover Camden in a unprecedented wave of extreme metal! The Electric Ballroom will be lit up by a deep pool of talent that includes Vreid, Vomitory, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, and headliners Hypocrisy. The elusive and fearsome Dragged Into Sunlight make a rare appearance in what will be a festival highlight. Internal Bleeding will surely cause carnage in the Underworld, whilst Tomb Mold have got people excited about their Roundhouse stage appearance. Though headlining the stage are an act that represent a major coup for the festival in the shape of Blood Fire Death, a star studded ensemble and who’s who of black metal assembled to play tribute to the iconic Bathory, the band who carved the way for pretty much every band on this bill.
https://www.facebook.com/incinerationfestival
Fortress – 30-31st May, Scarborough
For a fourth year in a row, the quiet and quaint seaside town of Scarbrough will be invaded by a horde of nearly 2000 lovers of black metal from across the globe in what’s becoming one of the island’s flagship festivals.
Featuring many incredible returning bands including Fluisteraas and Mispyrming, this time storming the main stage after outgrowing the Ocean Room. Whoredom Rife and Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult top the bill on the second stage on their respective nights. An all new dungeon synth stage will take place in the Theatre third stage, headlined by genre legends Mortiis. The festival is becoming synonymous with rare band sets. This year will be no different with British legends Akercocke returning from the wilderness to play “Choronzon” in full, whilst the elusive Ossaert play for only the second time in their history. Old Mans Child return to the UK since the turn of the millennium to close the main stage on the Saturday. Though no set could possibly feel more special than that of Sunday’s headliners, a band described as the ‘impossible finally happening’ by festival organisers; Gallowbraid. Yep, the elusive and thought to be studio only project is finally making it’s world live debut and Fortress Festival is perhaps the only place we’ll ever get to see this take place! Ever.
https://www.facebook.com/fortressfestival
Offal Fest – 24-26th July, Manchester
With the shockwaves just about settling from 2025’s blockbuster, Offal Fest returns in a new home. This time, The Bread Shed has been chosen as the venue to host a weekend of slamming brutal death metal! UK exclusive sets come from Immortal Suffering, and Unbirth, whilst Guttural Slug return to the festival, alongside UK/Irish slamming legends Crepitation! Genre legends Devourment top the bill on the Saturday whilst Regurgitation will ensure a crushing and brutal end to the festival!
https://www.facebook.com/OffalFest
Radar – 31st July – 2nd August, Manchester
Back again and stronger than ever, Radar festival is ensuring that lovers of tech metal will be more than satisfied with an impressive line up! Thy Art Is Murder, Northlane, and Animals As Leaders ensure this quota is met, whilst Skindred and Chelsea Grin provide more firepower! Fast rising UK talents Graphic Nature and Dacara occupy slots lower on the card, whilst Heart Of A Coward and Hacktivist will ensure the pits will be in full operation. The festival offers masterclasses from industry experts, a gaming village, and other side shows to offer a well rounded festival experience.
https://www.facebook.com/RDRfestival
Bloodstock Open Air – 6-9th August, Burton
In it’s 25 edition, the festival set a record early bird ticket sales after a huge announcement of 25 bands on the Friday night of the 2025 festival! This included all headliners; Lamb of God, Slaughter To Prevail, and Judas Priest. Saxon will headline the Ronnie James Dio main stage on the Thursday night; the first time this has ever happened! Perhaps the final ever show on UK soil for Sepultura will make the Friday night feel more special, whilst Black Label Society, Testament, and Orbit Culture ensure value for money on the Sunday. Though the festival’s second ‘Sophie’ stage is not without it’s quality too, with the likes of Leprous, Mushroomhead, Carpenter Brut, and Cryptopsy taking prominent spots on the card. Though weekend tickets have been sold out for months so resale sites like Tixel may be the only way to secure your place at Catton Hall Park this summer.
https://www.facebook.com/bloodstock
Arctangent – 19-22nd August, Bristol
Persistence. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. That mantra describes the festival’s approach to booking their headliners. They finally secured a dream booking in the shape of USA alt rock legends Primus! Other headline slots are awarded to Chelsea Wolfe and a rare “Mariner” set from Cult Of Luna and Julie Christmas. Napalm Death, Igorrr, and Pertubator add star power lower on the card, whilst Oathbreaker will make heart thumping return to the UK. From returns to finales, Svalbard will play a final show on the Wednesday. If that’s not enough to get some tears flowing, a combination of Dimscua and Overhead, The Albatross will do the trick. A fantastic festival that everybody should try at least once!
https://www.facebook.com/atgfestival
Bristol Extreme Fest – 29th August, Bristol
Those in the south west of the UK may feel a little hard done by, with Manchester and London seeming like the only places to get their extreme metal fix. Fear not, as Bristol Extreme Fest makes its return in a single day of extreme metal brutality. Though only 3 bands have been announced, there’s no shortage of firepower as Greek legends Rotting Christ headline, alongside UK exclusive shows from Kraanium and Benighted. Who else will we see coming to the West Country this August?
https://www.facebook.com/bristolextremefest
Mangata Festival – Saturday 5th September, Nottingham
Moving from its regular summer slot, this year’s Mangata will take place in September now. Despite the change in calendar, the same multi-venue setup will be employed and will not compromise on talent! Star power will come in the shape of Raised By Owls, Red Method, and headliners .ten56! Lovers of post-rock will be enamoured by Nordic Giants whilst Hundred Year Old Man will bring the sludgy post metal goodness. Not many festivals can offer the quality Mangata can for less than £50 so if you’re from the midlands or fancy a road trip, then this definitely one to consider!
Cosmic Void – 18-20th September, London
Camden Town will find itself under siege from an intense wave of crushing extreme metal once again! Cosmic Void has been known for it’s niche black metal bookings. We will still have plenty including Eldamar, Vemod, and Cult Of Fire performing UK exclusive shows. The UK’s black metal scene will be well represented with the likes of Devastator and Necronautical being announced. Though the festival has expanded its offering to include an impressive array of old school death metal bands; Sinister, Asphyx, and Bloodbath, to name a few! Bands like Tiamat, Hate, and Moonspel; encapsulate this broader offering too, who don’t easily fit into the traditional black or death metal categories. This will be my first time at this festival and I’m getting more and more excited as I type this!
https://www.facebook.com/mangatafestival
Samhain Festival – April 4-5th (Antwerp, BE), October 24th-25th (Maastricht, NL)
My love for this festival is no secret, as anybody who’s spent more than 5 minutes with me will have learned! No wonder considering that
Antwerp 2025 was a colossal lineup and the pressure was already on to deliver again. Though this years has ensured that many will be spending Easter weekend in the north of Belgium. This year will be one of discovery for me, with Full Of Hell, The Body, and Predatory Void being far out of my usual comfort zones. Wolvennest and Esoteric will ensure lovers of the riff will be satiated, whilst the likes of Blackbraid, Dodsrit, and a rare performance from Panopticon will provide a steady diet of black metal. The top of the card lacks no firepower with Rotting Christ, Tom ‘Warrior’ Gabriel’s Hellhammer performing Triumph Of Death, and Mysticuum ensuring the festival will be closed in style.
The Maastricht lineup is still in it’s early formation, as the time of writing. Though black metal lovers will be happy with Gehenna, Mork, and Vemod being announced, as well as other local talent in the shape of Soulburn and Walg. No doubt there’ll be a few aces up their sleeves as more announcements roll in.
https://www.facebook.com/Samhainbe
Damnation – 7-8th November, Manchester
A reported 2000 out of 6000 tickets have already been shifted, speaking to the immense trust the festival’s fanbase has in those in charge of booking as the majority of these were sold before a band had been announced. A third of the bands have now been announced, with a blockbuster 16 bands being revealed.
This includes black metal favourites Ultha, and Dodsrit, a sprinkling of post metal from Slow Crush and Moth Gatherer, as well as Benediction and Kabal providing different flavours of heavy music. Eyehategod make a festival debut after 20 years of trying, whereas Walls Of Jericho will likely take the covered mid-afternoon metalcore slot. Though perhaps the most shocking announcement is that of British grind legends Gorerotted! After almost 20 years of inactivity, the band were convinced to reform for a UK exclusive show and will surely tear up whatever stage they find themselves on.
Originally planned as a one off for the 20th anniversary, the festival will continue in a 2day format, offering a deeper dive into the world of extreme and niche music.
https://www.facebook.com/damnationfestival/?locale=en_GB
Thrashchester – 13-14th November, Manchester
Featuring the largest lineup to date, 2026’s edition was simply too big to be played over one day. Instead, this annual celebration of thrash will begin on Friday evening, a line up featuring festival favourites and fast rising act Imperium, as well previous headliners Solitary. The evening will be closed by Gamma Bomb and provides ridiculous value for money in doing so! More festival favourites Beyond Salvation, Hellfekted and Thrasherwolf will ensure the circle pits won’t stop, whilst Costa Rica’s Chemicide add an international flavour. Though the addition of genre legends Onslaught represents a major MAJOR step up in quality and statement of intent from the 0161 Manchester Underground Metal Community! A festival that WILL sell out so no messing about if you’re thinking about coming to this!
https://www.facebook.com/0161MUMCTHRASHCHESTER
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Disclaimer: This article is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this article, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
