BLOODSTOCK is delighted to return to Catton Park in August 2026 to celebrate its 25th anniversary – will you be there to celebrate this momentous occasion with everyone?
BLOODSTOCK is overjoyed to welcome back titans of groove metal, the unmistakable LAMB OF GOD as Friday’s headliner on the Ronnie James Dio stage!
We are thrilled to return to headline Bloodstock in 2026! The UK is one of our favourite countries in the world to play and Bloodstock is one of our favourite festivals. And to Bloodstock security… I will make sure I have my pass on me at all times. See you next August! – D. Randall Blythe
BLOODSTOCK is always keen to give fresh faces the opportunity to show what they’re made of and step it up to headliner status. Without further ado, Saturday’s RJD headliner will be none other than the crushing SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL. That gives you a year to get up to speed with their just released, new album ‘Grizzly.’ Beware of bears on site from tomorrow…
BLOODSTOCK salutes one of our most iconic metal bands on Sunday, who are celebrating more than fifty years of making heavy metal history. Who else to headline then, but metal gods JUDAS PRIEST. The pioneering group have so many classic tracks, you should start debating what the set list will look like now.
Over on the Sophie Lancaster stage, your Thursday headliner will be tech death Canadians CRYPTOPSY, with a None So Vile 30-year anniversary set. Friday’s headliner sees the Duke of Spook, WEDNESDAY 13 at his spellbinding and macabre best. On Saturday, Norwegian progressives LEPROUS will close out the stage. And to wring out any last energy you might still have after JUDAS PRIEST have finished with you on Sunday, dark synth artist CARPENTER BRUT will wrap up the weekend in dazzling fashion.
Who else might you catch on the Ronnie James Dio main stage over the festival? BLOODSTOCK can reveal the legendary SEPULTURA will appear as part of their final farewell tour, see them while you still can. Sure to challenge the crowd surfer record again, are you ready for MUNICIPAL WASTE? Speaking of pulverizing, you won’t want to miss seminal thrashers DEATH ANGEL lay down the law. Fans of modern metalcore should get revved up about the confirmation of Australian squad NORTHLANE and Scottish bruisers BLEED FROM WITHIN.
But if nu-metal is more your thing, then Des Moines massive VENDED will be just what you are hoping for. There’s plenty of excellent talent coming over from mainland Europe too with melo-death Swedes ORBIT CULTURE added to the line-up. For a musical curveball, how do you feel about Irish traditional music mixed with heavy metal? THE SCRATCH will offer you a chance to find out. Don’t be downhearted symphonic & power metal fans, you haven’t been forgotten – IMPERIAL AGE are coming to make all things right. 2026 also sees the inimitable LIFE OF AGONY return to BLOODSTOCK, after sadly a medical emergency forced cancellation in 2022 – they will be worth the wait! And that’s not all, Californian rockers OF MICE & MEN are also locked in, plus hardcore giants BIOHAZARD, who are sure to create one of the most impressive pits of the weekend too.
But the fun doesn’t stop there! There’s plenty of headbangin’ shenanigans to be had over in the Sophie tent all festival too, not least with Jurassic levels of entertainment coming from HEAVYSAURUS (yes, we like dinosaurs). Cleveland death metallers 200 STAB WOUNDS and THE HELL also join the affray to blow any cobwebs away, and if that’s not enough, Sheffield crew BLACK SPIDERS bring some rock n roll classic riffs guaranteed to get the party in full swing. For something a little more avant garde, maybe a blackjazz set from Norwegians SHINING will take your fancy. Have we saved the best for last? We know you’ll be pleased with the very long awaited return of NEVERMORE!
If you are looking for a place to stay for Bloodstock Open Air 2026 then check out our interactive accommodation map below. Just add in the dates you want to stay and the venue and you will be able to see what’s available nearby!
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