Get ready to unleash your inner metalhead because Hellfest 2026 is shaping up to be an epic showdown! With a staggering 183 bands announced, including legendary headliners like Iron Maiden, Bring Me the Horizon, Limp Bizkit, and The Offspring, this festival promises to be a heavy metal extravaganza like no other. But here's where it gets even more exciting: Hellfest, one of Europe's largest open-air metal festivals, is pulling out all the stops for its 2026 edition, set to rock Clisson, France, from June 18-21.
Imagine this: After the pandemic forced cancellations in 2020 and 2021, Hellfest roared back in 2022 with a two-weekend, seven-day celebration of metal and hard rock. In 2023, they upped the ante with a four-day format, hosting over 200 bands across six stages. And now, 2026 is set to continue this legacy, drawing not just local fans but a global crowd—20% of attendees come from abroad! But here's the part most people miss: Hellfest isn't just about the music. It's an immersive experience. Picture yourself wandering through Hell City Square, a futuristic metal market straight out of a sci-fi movie, complete with partner booths, exhibitors, and a vibe that's as unique as the bands themselves.
Now, let’s dive into the lineup—because this is where opinions start to clash. Are you Team Mainstage or Team Warzone? Do you prefer the classic riffs of Deep Purple and Alice Cooper, or are you more into the modern intensity of Bring Me the Horizon and Limp Bizkit? The diversity is staggering. From the brutal sounds of Behemoth and Napalm Death to the melodic vibes of The Offspring and The Hives, there’s something for every metalhead. And this is the part that sparks debate: Is Hellfest selling out by including more mainstream acts, or is it smartly broadening its appeal? Let’s discuss in the comments!
Here’s a breakdown of the lineup by day and stage, so you can start planning your mosh pit strategy:
Thursday, June 18:
- Mainstage 01: Bring Me the Horizon, Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, The Plot in You, We Came as Romans
- Mainstage 02: Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, The Pretty Reckless, Alestorm, Mikkey Dee With Friends Playing Motörhead Classics
- Warzone Stage: Social Distortion, All Time Low, Lagwagon, Shelter, Satanic Surfers
- Valley Stage: Kadavar, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, The Inspector Cluzo, Elder, Truckfighters
- Altar Stage: Igorrr, The Halo Effect, Rivers of Nihil, Devangelic, Skaphös
- Temple Stage: Skáld, Feuerschwanz, Borknagar, Winterfylleth, Perchta
Friday, June 19:
- Mainstage 01: Iron Maiden, Helloween (40th-anniversary set), Ultra Vomit, Accept, Queensrÿche, Sortilège, Winds of Steel, Blackrain
- Mainstage 02: Sabaton, Opeth, Sepultura, Bloodywood, Tesseract, Brothers of Metal, Return to Dust, Uravena
- Warzone Stage: The Dillinger Escape Plan, La Dispute, Malevolence, Ceremony, Pogo Car Crash Control, Point Mort, Die Spitz, Gridiron, Wake the Dead
- Valley Stage: Mastodon, Slift, Loathe, Torche, Stoned Jesus, Primitive Man, Rezn, Yarostan, Dragunov
- Altar Stage: Blood Incantation, Periphery, Decapitated, Sylosis, Sinsaenum, Blood Red Throne, Crypta, Esodic, Impureza
- Temple Stage: The Gathering, My Dying Bride, Rotting Christ, Carach Angren, Trelldom, Einherjer, Ponte del Diavolo, Killus, Mourir
Saturday, June 20:
- Mainstage 01: Limp Bizkit, A Perfect Circle, Tom Morello, Static-X, Enhancer, House of Protection, Thornhill, Slay Squad
- Mainstage 02: Volbeat, Megadeth, Anthrax, Cavalera ('Chaos A.D.' set), Crisix, Gatecreeper, Escuela Grind, Insanity Alert, Locomuerte
- Warzone Stage: Hatebreed, Lionheart, Kubla Khan TX, Cro-Mags, Trash Talk, Cancer Bats, King 810, Combust, False Reality
- Valley Stage: Cult of Luna, Amenra, The Young Gods, God Is an Astronaut, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Psychonaut, Fange, Bruit ≤, Cold.Capsule
- Altar Stage: Deicide, Carcass, Septicflesh, Obscura, Severe Torture, Defeated Sanity, Cabal, Profanation, Dvrk
- Temple Stage: Behemoth, Old Man’s Child, Aurora Noir, Oranssi Pazuzu, Gaerea, 1914, Non Est Deus, Hulder, Vígljós
Sunday, June 21:
- Mainstage 01: The Offspring, The Hives, Rise Against, Pennywise, The Ataris, The Bones, The Dwarves, Not Scientists
- Mainstage 02: Bad Omens, Architects, Three Days Grace, Black Veil Brides, President, Resolve, Revnoir, The Funeral Portrait
- Warzone Stage: The Adicts, Agnostic Front, Circle Jerks, Buzzcocks, Drain, End It, Maid of Ace, Karen Diό
- Valley Stage: Down, Acid Bath, Corrosion of Conformity, Eyehategod, Soilent Green, Black Tusk, Gnome, Alta Rossa
- Altar Stage: Napalm Death, Possessed, Forbidden, Six Feet Under, Fulci, Sublimate Cadaveric Decomposition, Bloodstain, Tempt Fate
- Temple Stage: Mayhem, Marduk, Wolves in the Throne Room, Scour, Gehenna, Thy Light, Austere, Silhouette
So, here’s the burning question: With such a massive and diverse lineup, is Hellfest 2026 the ultimate metal festival, or is it spreading itself too thin? Do you think the inclusion of more mainstream acts like Limp Bizkit and The Offspring dilutes the festival’s hardcore roots, or does it bring in a new generation of fans? Share your thoughts below—let’s get this debate started! For more details, head over to hellfest.fr.
