Only 25% of tickets remain for Fortress Festival and it is on track to sell out well in advance!
One of Europe’s biggest black metal festivals, with the fourth edition of the event set to take place at Scarborough Spa on 30-31st May 2026 featuring exclusive headline performances by Old Man’s Child, Gallowbraid, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult and Whoredom Rife.
Fortress Festival has also revealed the official poster for its 2026 edition, designed by renowned French artistic duo Førtifem. The festival, which takes place on May 30-31, 2026, at Scarborough Spa, iwith only around 25% of tickets remaining.
The poster reveal comes as the majority of the line-up has been confirmed, with more bands and information to be announced in the coming months. The line-up has been curated to bring a host of rare, exclusive and debut performances.
Fluisteraars is the final addition to its 2026 line-up, packed with exclusive and debut shows. The Dutch atmospheric black metal duo will perform a UK exclusive show on the main stage, the Grand Hall at Scarborough Spa.
Hailing from Bennekom in the Netherlands, Fluisteraars are known for their immersive and nature-inspired atmospheric black metal. Their 2024 album, “Manifestaties van de Ontworteling”, has been widely praised, and their live performances are celebrated for their hypnotic and intense energy. The band made a memorable impression with their UK debut at Fortress Festival in 2024.
Swedish melodic black metal legends Vinterland will perform their cult classic debut album, Welcome My Last Chapter, in its entirety for the album’s 30th anniversary. This will be the first time the band has ever performed in the UK, making their set a truly historic and unmissable occasion. Released in 1996, Welcome My Last Chapter has since achieved legendary status among black metal fans and is often celebrated as a pivotal release.
Italian epic/atmospheric black metal project Emyn Muil, who will deliver a UK exclusive performance on the new Dungeon Synth stage. Led by the multi-instrumentalist Saverio Giove (aka Nartum), Emyn Muil’s music is deeply rooted in the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien, weaving cinematic and epic atmospheres.
Saverio Giove revealled he had a unique vision for the performance: “Fortress 2026 will reveal a different incarnation of Emyn Muil. This time, the veil lifts in a more intimate form, three performers, one vision. We return to the UK with a set rooted in instrumental dungeon synth and deep cuts from the discography, alongside a few essential classics. Expect a more immersive, introspective performance. A different journey, same spirit.”
London’s Akercocke will perform a worldwide exclusive full album set of their acclaimed 2003 release, Choronzon. The album was praised by the scene when it was released, with many publications naming it album of the year, including Kerrang! and Terrorizer. Formed in 1997, the band is known for their extreme sound that blends death, black and progressive metal elements.
Akercocke said: “Akercocke will perform Choronzon, in full, at this historic venue. As we begin the countdown to May 2026 we invite all to join us in celebrating Choronzon at this truly special event.”
Joining the bill are Norwegian black metal duo Whoredom Rife, who will headline the Ocean Room. Formed in Trondheim in 2014, the band is a part of the contemporary Norwegian black metal scene, creating a sound that pays homage to the genre’s second wave while creating a powerful atmosphere. The band’s latest album is the 2024 release Den Vrede Makt (Terratur Possessions).
Gary Stephenson, founder of Fortress Festival, said: “Following our initial announcements for 2026, which have seen over 50% of tickets sold, we’re thrilled to continue building a unique lineup for our audience. Having Akercocke perform Choronzon in full on the main stage is a true honour, and securing Whoredom Rife to headline our third stage is another testament to the diverse and high-quality acts we aim to bring to Fortress.”
From Québec, Canada, the mysterious Vespéral will make their UK debut and perform a worldwide exclusive of their recently released album, La Mort De L’âme, an atmospheric and melancholic black metal journey.
A claustrophobic ambience and suffocating riffs will wash over the Ocean Room as Portuguese raw black metal act, Black Cilice, makes their Fortress debut. Known for their abrasive, lo-fi sound and harrowing vocals, this will be their only UK show in 2026.
The festival has also revealed two new additions to the event’s dedicated Dungeon Synth stage in the theatre room. Atlantean Sword, a mysterious UK artist, will bring medieval and high fantasy adventure to the stage. Joining them are Gate Master, who are known for weaving cryptic atmospheres and raw intensity.
The festival will host a return show from British progressive black metal band A Forest Of Stars. Formed in Leeds in 2007, the band is known for its blend of black metal with psychedelic, folk, and classical elements, along with a Victorian-era aesthetic.
The festival will also feature a worldwide exclusive performance from Dutch black metal band Ossaert. The one-man project from the Netherlands, known for its mix of raw, melodic, and progressive black metal with a punkish d-beat drive, will perform their only live show of 2026.
Joining the bill are Totenwache and Darkenhöld, both performing their first-ever UK shows. Totenwache is a black metal band from Hamburg, Germany, that formed in 2017, while French black metal band Darkenhöld, formed in 2008 in Nice, focuses on lyrical themes of castles, medieval and fantasy.
Gary Stephenson commented: “Obtaining the rarest and most exclusive bookings from the dark corners of the world that you cannot see anywhere else is what Fortress Festival is all about. So I am very excited to share the news that Ossaert will perform their only live show for the foreseeable future in North Yorkshire next year. We welcome Totenwache and Darkenhöld, both of whom will perform in the UK for the very first time at Fortress. We also, finally, welcome back A Forest Of Stars, who will perform something special for us in the Grand Hall.”
A Forest Of Stars said: “Greetings! We are so proud to be playing Fortress Festival. After being sequestered away for some time on charges of gross incompetence (upheld), we are pleased as punch to be returning to the live stage to make a mad shambling fool of our collective selves. It is especially appropriate that we should re-emerge during Fortress 2026, considering the debts we owe for having to shamefully cancel our performance previous, and we hope to take this opportunity to either a) make some vague amends or b) remind of you of why we shouldn’t be let out on our own at any cost whatsoever.”
Ossaert added: “Fortress Festival! After three years of sorrow and repentance, behold, for my return will come.. I foresaw not that I should once again deliver mine own flesh unto the scourge of affliction; yet, there is no rest for the wicked.
“It’s an honour to be presenting these blasphemous rites in the presence of fellow artists and sinners who have for many years broken the boundaries of black metal and walked proudly the path of rebellion for these dark arts. I’ll cherish this with pride, and we rejoice I’ll partake, and add my voice, cries and hatred to this legacy in the form of a second sacrament. behold! This shall be the sole offering of Ossaert in the year of 2026.
“May our chants of blasphemy and our rites of sacrilege ascend as incense unto the multitude, and sound forth mightily in the courts of Scarborough.’For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?’ Revelation 6:17.”
Old Man’s Child, the project of longtime ex-Dimmu Borgir guitarist Galder, is the Saturday headliner, and the festival will be closed on Sunday by Gallowbraid, the US black/folk metal project of Jake Rogers, in what will be the project’s worldwide live debut.
The Norwegian experimental black metal band Dødheimsgard will perform their latest album Black Medium Current in its entirety and exclusively at Fortress. The American atmospheric black metal band Abigail Williams will return to the UK for the first time in eight years for a UK exclusive – and potentially final ever UK – set at Fortress Festival. The German black metal band Groza is also set to make their British return for the first time in three years in a UK exclusive set. The dungeon synth pioneer Mortiis will also visit the North Yorkshire shore for a performance at Fortress.
The festival will also include UK exclusive sets from Mesarthim, an atmospheric black metal project from Australia known for their cosmic themes; Midnight Odyssey, the Australian ambient black metal project; Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, the revered German black metal band. Plus Fortress Festival will also see the return of Misþyrming to its stages for a UK exclusive set.
The audience will also be able to witness debut performances from: Old Sorcery, with a worldwide live debut from the Finnish dungeon synth project; This Gift Is A Curse, with a UK debut and exclusive performance from the Swedish blackened sludge metal/hardcore band; and Antrisch, a UK debut and exclusive performance from the German atmospheric black metal act.Slovak symphonic black metal act Aeon Winds will perform a worldwide exclusive set of the 2013 split Aeon Odyssey.
Gary Stephenson, founder of Fortress Festival, said: “We announced Old Man’s Child at our 2025 event, and quickly sold nearly 50% of the festival’s capacity within a few days. That’s a lot of pressure to build an entire bill that everyone will be content with. So, it is my absolute pleasure to announce the first wave of bands that will perform in 2026; 12 exclusive bookings including Dødheimsgard performing their masterpiece album, Black Medium Current in full, Abigail Williams finally return to the UK after 8 years following the recent release of their excellent record, A Void Within Existence, and the impossible has finally happened; multi-instrumentalist Jake Rogers’ Gallowbraid project will perform live for the very first time and close the Sunday Grand Hall main stage at Fortress Festival.
“As with previous years, our third theatre stage is something we would like to continue to experiment with, so I am very excited to announce that next year one of the days will play host to a dungeon synth line-up featuring some of the leading acts within the genre.”
“Fortress 2025 welcomed people from all around the world – over 50 different countries in fact – so we can’t wait to do this all again in Scarborough come next May. More announcements will follow in the coming months and we have a lot left up our sleeve for 2026.”
Jake Rogers of Gallowbraid said: “I truly didn’t think this would ever happen, but here we are. Sixteen years after the release of the Ashen Eidolon EP, Gallowbraid will be making its very first live appearance of any kind at the esteemed Fortress Fest in Scarborough, North Yorkshire next year. This project was never intended to be presented in a live setting, but I’m already working with a group of incredible musicians to make this a reality. We’re looking forward to cracking open these old songs and experiencing them live for the first time ever with you!”
Groza said: “After 3 long years, we are finally bringing the storm back to the UK. After a triumphant debut in London in 2023, we will now be playing an exclusive show at Fortress 2026, Scarborough, England. This will be our only performance in the UK for the whole year, do not miss out on this. Onwards!” While Abigail Williams said: “This will be our first time back in the UK in eight years. There’s no clear plan beyond this, no guarantee we’ll return anytime soon-if ever. So, we’re approaching Fortress as something final in a way. One night. Everything we’ve carried. Let the weight of it speak.” And Aeon Winds said: “A few years ago, we had the honour of sharing the stage with our friends from Midnight Odyssey. Given the vast distance between us, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That’s why it feels all the more special that Fortress Festival has managed to reunite what once seemed impossible. Together, we will once again revive the spirit of Aeon Odyssey.”
The news follows the sold-out third edition of the festival last month, which boasted a headline and European exclusive performance from American atmospheric black metal band Agalloch. The black metal weekend in Scarborough also included performances from 1349, RUÏM, Forteresse, Fen, The Great Old Ones and Ulcerate among many others
Purchase tickets for Fortress Festival here.
