Release Athens 2026 welcomes HELLOWEEN on Friday July 10th at Plateia Nerou. Following their epic performance on the same stage in 2023, the German pioneers of power metal are returning for another fantastic show featuring all their greatest hits.
HELLOWEEN is one of the most influential bands to emerge from the metal boom of the ’80s. The Hamburg-based group quickly became one of the genre’s leading forces, with the legendary “Keeper of the Seven Keys Parts I and II” shaping the mould of European power metal and cementing their place in the consciousness of metalheads around the world.
What followed was equally impressive. With 15 gold and six platinum albums, not to mention sales of over ten million worldwide, Helloween has remained at the forefront of metal for decades. Following the highly anticipated return of Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen to the group, alongside the continued involvement of Weikath and Grosskopf, Helloween opened a new chapter with the release of their eponymous album in 2021, which topped the charts.
Last year, the German legends celebrated their 40th anniversary by releasing a follow-up to their successful album. “Giants & Monsters” is the band’s second album since their reunion, and it once again reminds us why they are considered the Masters of Power Metal.
Release Athens 2026 also welcomes SAXON on Friday, July 10th at Plateia Nerou. The iconic British band will share the stage with headliners Helloween for an unforgettable night, bringing together two European metal legends who have left an indelible mark on the genre.
Now in their fourth decade of making music and continuing the tradition that they helped create, Saxon are still very much a tour de force in heavy metal music. The band are comprised by Peter “Biff” Byford (vocals), Brian Tatler and Doug Scarratt (guitars), Nibbs Carter (bass) and Nigel Clockler (drums).
During the 1980s, Saxon established themselves among Europe’s most successful metal acts selling in excess of 20 million albums worldwide with their classic albums such as “Wheels of Steel”, “Strong arm of the law” and “Denim and Leather” all of which still continue to resonate with metal fans globally as much today as they did when released.
The band notched up eight UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s alone and many more since including their recently released and well received 2024 hit album “Hell, Fire and Damnation” which was voted by readers of Metal Hammer magazine in the Top 10 metal albums of last year, highlighting that Saxon are still very much a band on the very top of their game.
In 2024, SAXON toured Europe as Special guests of Judas Priest and closed the Saturday night at Hellfest festival playing after Metallica, as well as performing at a number of Europe’s other biggest and most prestigious metal events. So far this year the band have already finished an almost completely Sold out and very successful tour of Europe ahead of a jam-packed calendar of upcoming tours and shows across the globe.
If you are looking for a place to stay for Release Athens 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!
If you also need to find a flight to get you there, try our flight search feature below! Simply add in your home and destination city, select the dates you want to travel and search away!
