Nothing can quite match the sweat fuelled, sometimes satanic, always energetic sound of rock and metal. And in the UK, we have some of the best festivals in the world that celebrates the genre on big and small stages alike.
Whether you’re looking for experimental thrash or big name acts, here are some of the best rock and metal festivals for 2026.
ArcTanGent
Festival: ArcTanGent
Location: Bristol, UK
Dates: 19-22 August 2026
Acts: Primus, Napalm Death, Chelsea Wolfe, Igorr and more
Playing host to the mathier, more experimental and electronic corners of metal and rock, ArcTanGent is a place where “music devotees and visionaries can indulge in 4 days of ground-breaking, idiosyncratic sounds,” says the festival. And as a bonus for 2026, you’ll also be able to lose your mind to Napalm Death.
Bloodstock
Festival: Bloodstock
Location: Catton Park, Derbyshire, UK
Dates: 6-9 August 2026
Acts: Saxon, Judas Priest, Sepultura, Lamb of God and more
Known as one of the UK’s most beloved festivals for heavy and alternative music, Bloodstock attracts a dedicated legion of ‘Bloodsuckers’ thanks to a line-up that pays homage to metal titans while acting as a springboard for the next generation of bands. Oh, and expect pyro. Lots and lots of pyro.
Download Festival
Festival: Download Festival
Location: Donington Park, UK
Dates: 10-14 June 2026
Acts: Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Architects, Trivium and more
What can be said about Download Festival that hasn’t already been said? Throughout its long history the Donington Park festival has welcomed iconic sets from Slipknot to Sabbath and Metallica to Maiden, gaining legendary status along the way. 2026 is only set to build on that with Linkin Park, Guns N’ Roses, Bad Omens and more.
Damnation Festival
Festival: Damnation Festival
Location: Manchester, UK
Dates: 7-8 November 2026
Acts: Fange, HEALTH, Holy Fawn, Slow Crush and more
Billed as ‘Europe’s largest extreme music festival, Damnation will this year bring high intensity noise to Manchester’s BED Arena. From the electronic thrash of bands like HEALTH to the self-proclaimed ‘abrasive sludge’ of Fange, Damnation is a place for the weirder edges of the hardcore genre.
Incineration Festival
Festival: Incineration Festival
Location: London, UK
Dates: 2 May 2026
Acts: Negative Frame, Grave Miasma, Final Dose and more
Bringing metal into the iconic halls of Camden’s Roundhouse, Incineration Festival is a city festival that trades the sunkissed parks of the UK capital for the dark walls of a north London venue. In addition to hosting a myriad of metal and rock acts, Swedish death metal icons GRAVE will play the festival with what they a describe as a unique ‘old school corpse and grave set’. If that’s not worth the ticket price alone, we don’t know what is.
RADAR Festival
Festival: RADAR Festival
Location: Manchester, UK
Dates: 31 July – 2 August 2026
Acts: Skindred, Thy Art Is Murder, Chelsea Grin, Northlane and more
RADAR is a festival that encompasses the wider culture and industry of rock and metal, bringing together progressive and innovative acts alongside a gaming marketplace, a programme of masterclasses from musicians and industry figures. There’ll also be plenty of mosh pits, too.
Slam Dunk
Festival: Slam Dunk
Location: Hatfield (23 May) and Leeds (24 May)
Dates: 23 May (Hatfield) and 25 May (Leeds) 2026
Acts: Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose, Taking Back Sunday and more
Set across two locations over two days, Slam Dunk is a regular pilgrimage for fans of classic punk, emo and hardcore. This year’s edition will see classic ‘Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous’ act Good Charlotte headline, while the likes of Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, Malevolence and more will perform across the Bank Holiday weekend.
Steelhouse Festival
Festival: Steelhouse Festival
Location: Wales nr. Ebbw Vale Parkway, Wales
Dates: 24-26 July 2026
Acts: Reef, Alien Ant Farm, The Temperance Movement, Mason Hill and more
There are few festivals that can boast a location as unique as Steelhouse. Set atop a Welsh mountain – quite literally – Steelhouse Festival will celebrate its 15th birthday in 2026 with the likes of Reef, Alien Ant Farm and a legion of dedicated fans all journeying to the edge of the skies.
