Bloodstock’s Winter Gathering is back for round two! After last year’s debut at KK’s Steelmill in Wolverhampton proved that the UK’s premier metal festival could bottle its magic indoors, the one-day event returns on Saturday 5th December 2026 with a lineup that screams commitment to heavy music in all its glorious forms.
We love Bloodstock and their continued support of heavy music. While plenty of festivals chase mainstream appeal, Bloodstock keeps doubling down on what the people want, and this Winter Gathering bill is proof of exactly that.
Headlining the main stage are Greek metal legends Rotting Christ, whose ritualistic blend of black metal and gothic atmosphere has commanded reverence for over three decades. They’re joined by Ukrainian blackened death metal outfit 1914, whose harrowing World War I themed sonic brutality carries genuine emotional weight. Leeds crossover thrashers Pest Control bring razor-sharp riffs and ferocious energy, while slam extremists Party Cannon guarantee chaos, colour, and full-bore pit carnage. Self-proclaimed neoclassical fantasy pirates Red Rum offer swashbuckling theatrics, classic doom purveyors Witchsorrow provide the slow-burning heaviness, and punk-infused progsters Square Wild kick things off in style.
The second stage is headlined by UK thrash powerhouse Shrapnel, joined by doom/death heavyweights The Crawling, epic storytellers Moon Reaper, and Staffordshire punk bruisers Head Dent. There’s also a live Bloodstock Festival Management Q&A, giving fans the chance to grill the team behind it all.
Beyond the music, expect the return of S’tanta’s Grotto, band signing sessions, giveaways, and that now-infamous snow machine.
Co-director Vicky Hungerford summed it up perfectly: “It reminded us exactly why Bloodstock began as an indoor event in the first place. The atmosphere was so intimate and felt just like those early days.”
Doors open at 2pm with bands from 3pm to 11pm across two stages. KK’s Steelmill is just a 20-minute walk from Wolverhampton station, with affordable parking nearby. Tickets are on sale now at £55 plus booking fees.
