After a thunderous year of unforgettable music festivals 2025, metal concerts are gearing up for an even bigger and bolder experience in 2026. The energy and intensity of last year’s metal music festivals have set the stage for what promises to be a groundbreaking year for metal fans. With new lineups, electrifying performances, and an atmosphere that defies expectations, 2026 will take music lovers on an epic journey. Get ready to dive into the heart of metal and prepare for a new chapter in the world of music festivals. This year, the sound of metal will resonate louder than ever before!
No longer passive gatherings, these metal festivals pulsate with raw emotion and unfiltered passion. They are cauldrons where legendary bands reignite the flames, rising stars ignite the next mosh pit revolution, and every headbanger becomes a participant in the glorious chaos. Beyond the frenzy, an unbreakable bond forms, forged in the shared fervor of the music. These are not just moments; they are timeless rites of passage for true metal disciples.
This year, don’t just attend metal fests, experience them.
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Headbang Your Way Through 10 Epic Metal Music Festivals in 2026
1. Headbangers Parade
After an unforgettable Headbangers Parade music festivals 2024 that left metalheads craving more, the band has decided to take a break in 2025 to gear up for an even bigger, more explosive event in 2026. The 2024 music fest, held on March 9th at Klokgebouw Eindhoven, delivered a night of headbanging madness that fans won’t soon forget. While they take a pause this year, stay tuned for exciting updates about the upcoming heavy metal concerts and the much-anticipated return in 2026.
After a monumental 2024 edition at Klokgebouw Eindhoven, Headbangers Parade pauses in 2025 and returns stronger on March 13–14, 2026, launching a new era: two consecutive standalone club shows instead of a single-day festival. Each night delivers its own identity, full-length sets, and an uncompromised, immersive experience. The iconic Klokgebouw remains the home of this raw energy, and fans can choose one night or go all-in with a combi ticket. Headbangers Parade enters a new chapter—two nights, two shows, one vision.
In the meantime, relive the magic of the 2024 music fest by visiting this link and experiencing those unforgettable moments once again. Get ready for the ultimate metal experience and keep an eye out for more news to come!
2. Hells Heroes Festival 2026
The Hell’s Heroes Festival 2026 promises to be an unforgettable event for metal fans, set to take place from March 19th to 21st at White Oak Music Hall in Houston. Hell’s Heroes Festival returns in 2026 with another stacked lineup celebrating the best in classic and underground metal. This year’s bill features standout acts such as Blood Fire Death (Bathory tribute), Loudness, Doro performing Triumph and Agony, Enslaved revisiting Vikingligr Veldi, Udo Dirkschneider with a Balls to the Wall anniversary set, and Voivod delivering an all-80s performance.
They’re joined by Sanctuary, Destruction, Midnight, Jag Panzer, Evil Invaders, Grand Magus, Bütcher, BAT, and more across three intense days. New for 2026, special headlining showcases and expanded late-night programming are planned. Tickets are available through official outlets—secure yours before they sell out.
3. Inferno Metal Festival 2026
Inferno Metal Festival 2026 is set to ignite Oslo, Norway, from April 2nd to 5th, 2026, following the success of music festivals 2025. Delivering four nights of elite heavy metal concerts with a powerful lineup featuring Mayhem, Deicide, Enslaved, Samael, Primordial, and new additions Cult of Luna, 1914, Der Weg einer Freiheit, Hulder, Carnivore A.D., Tormentor, Mork, Møl, and more. Known as one of Scandinavia’s premier extreme-metal events, Inferno blends intense performances with workshops, panels, and Oslo’s vibrant cultural backdrop. Tickets are available now, offering fans access to an immersive celebration of black, death, and experimental metal at multiple venues across the city.
4. Metal and Beer Fest 2026
With the 2025 Decibel Metal & Beer Fest banger now wrapped, attention shifts to Decibel Fest 2026, whose exact dates and locations remain unannounced as of Dec 2025. Fans can expect a Spring or Fall return to its usual strongholds—Philadelphia (and possibly Los Angeles)—bringing another round of top-tier extreme metal and curated craft breweries. Early details are likely to drop in late 2025 or early 2026, so keep watch on Decibel Magazine’s official channels for lineup reveals and ticket availability as the festival gears up for another massive year.
5. Roadburn Festival 2026
With the 2025 banger now at an end, all eyes turn to Roadburn Festival 2026, taking place April 16–19, 2026, in Tilburg, Netherlands. As one of Europe’s most visionary music festivals, Roadburn continues its legacy of boundary-pushing artistry with tickets already available through See Tickets.
Early highlights include Acid Mothers Temple as Artists in Residence delivering three distinct performances, Lane Shi (Otay:Onii) with a commissioned project, and standout acts such as The Body with Dis Fig, The Bug, Uniform performing American Standard in full, Xiu Xiu, Dälek, The Ex, and Unsane presenting Occupational Hazard. Celebrated worldwide as a pioneering metal festival, Roadburn 2026 promises immersive, genre-defying experiences. For updates, visit roadburn.com and official social channels.
6. Dark Force Fest 2026
Brace yourselves for the ultimate gothic-industrial extravaganza as VampireFreaks unveils Dark Force Fest 2026! From May 1st to 3rd, 2026, prepare to immerse yourself in a realm of darkness and decadence at the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel
199 Smith Rd
Parsippany, NJ
This year’s event unleashes a massive industrial and goth lineup, featuring London After Midnight, Front Line Assembly, Combichrist, Das Ich, Leaether Strip, Rabbit Junk, Ultra Sunn, PIG, Priest, 16volt, Ayria, and many more. A special pre-party at QXT’s brings Ego Likeness and BlakLight to the stage. The roster spans Darkwave, EBM, Industrial, and Synthpop, with acts like FrozenPlasma, Light Asylum, and En Esch. Tickets are available at this location.
7. M3 Rock Festival 2026
The M3 Rock Festival 2026 returns on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD, delivering a powerhouse celebration of classic rock and heavy metal concerts. This year’s lineup features Tom Keifer (Cinderella), Queensrÿche, Buckcherry, White Lion, Faster Pussycat, Trixter, and Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room, ensuring a full day of nostalgic arena-rock energy.
VIP events elevate the weekend with Quiet Riot headlining the Friday kickoff party and Steven Adler hosting the Saturday afterparty. Tickets—on sale since December 12, 2025—are available via Ticketmaster and M3RockFest.com. Renowned as a global pilgrimage for ’80s rock lovers, M3 promises an unforgettable communal celebration of iconic hits.
8. Northwest Terror Fest 2026
Prepare to immerse yourself in the dark and heavy sounds of Northwest Terror Fest in Seattle, Washington! This annual metal festival is a haven for fans of all things extreme, featuring a diverse lineup of metal, punk, and hardcore bands from around the globe.
Happening from May 7th to 9th, 2026, across Neumos and Barboza in Seattle, WA, the Northwest Terror Fest promises an electrifying experience. With headlining acts like Hedonist, Horse Butcher, and Iron Lung, along with a slew of other exciting bands, attendees are in for a weekend of relentless headbanging and intense moshing.
The organizers are thrilled to bring three days of diverse and devastating music to Seattle in 2026. From long-awaited reunions to showcases of young and ambitious bands, Northwest Terror Fest celebrates the underground music fest scene in the Pacific Northwest.
9. Welcome to Rockville 2026
Welcome to Rockville 2026 promises to be the ultimate rock experience, following a record-breaking music festivals 2025 with over 200,000 fans. Set for May 7th–10th, 2026, in Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida, this four-day extravaganza will feature five stages and over 150 bands, making it North America’s largest rock festival.
You can check the Lineup here.
Grab Your Festival Tickets here.
10. Sonic Temple Festival 2026
Get ready to rock your world because Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival is back and bigger than ever! Returning to Historic Crew Stadium from May 14th -17th, 2026, this metal music festival is bringing the heat with a lineup that’ll blow your mind!
Bringing an enormous lineup headlined by My Chemical Romance, Tool, Shinedown, and Bring Me The Horizon. They’re joined by major acts such as Breaking Benjamin, Pierce The Veil, The Offspring, Godsmack, Megadeth, Marilyn Manson, and many others across five stages. This four-day celebration promises huge crowds, standout performances, and unforgettable moments. Tickets are on sale now.
