2026 has proved to be a year of celebration music festival wise, here in the UK and across the sea over in Europe. For the most part there’s been good weather, and even more importantly there’s been solid feedback regarding the various events being well-organised, with improvements made on previous years and with 2027 looking set to follow in that positive vein.
This year’s Download took place Friday 12th June through to Sunday 14th June. Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park headlined each day, while bands new and old played throughout, and poignantly Lemmy Kilmister‘s ashes were laid to rest on the site.
In a special Lemmy Forever ceremony, longtime friend Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses placed a miniature of Lemmy’s custom urn containing a portion of his ashes inside one of his own personal fruit machines. A fitting tribute for a man who lived life on his own terms and found joy in the places and moments that brought people together.
The ceremony took place at Download’s Lemmy’s Lounge, where fans gathered to honour the Motörhead and Hawkwind road warrior’s memory and hear McKagan share personal stories of friendship, music, and the impact Lemmy had on so many lives.
The ashes remained at Lemmy’s Lounge throughout the festival, giving fans the opportunity to visit and pay their respects. Thereafter, Lemmy’s ashes travelled up north, arriving on Tuesday 16th June at the O2 Apollo Manchester, where another Lemmy Forever ceremony took place. Another of his longtime friends, Ace of Skunk Anansie, shared his own memories of Lemmy. His ashes will remain there for fans to visit throughout the year, before making an annual pilgrimage back to Download, ensuring Lemmy remains forever connected to the music, the places, and the people who loved him.
For years, these ceremonies have been about making sure Lemmy remains where he belongs: among the fans, the music, and the places that meant something to him. Because of his brotherly connection, Phil Campbell always felt strongly about personally placing Lemmy’s ashes at these events. With Campbell’s own unfortunate passing, another longtime friend of Lemmy’s, someone who knew him well and shared that same spirit of friendship and loyalty, will carry the torch (as many of his friends have carried on the torch of keeping his legacy alive) in the years to come and preside over the ceremony.
The Lemmy Forever journey has already seen Lemmy honoured at some of his favourite places, including Hellfest in France, Wacken Open Air in Germany, The Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood, Stringfellows in London, Bloodstock Open Air, and in Lemmy’s hometown of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
“It remains a responsibility we proudly carry,” said Motörhead manager Todd Singerman. “Not everyone can make the pilgrimage to visit Lemmy in Hollywood, so we are bringing Lem back to his fans. These places meant something to him, and they mean something to the people who loved him. It’s important that they have somewhere they can come, raise a glass, share a story, and spend a moment with him.”
The ceremony at Download also gave fans a chance to pay their respects for Lemmy’s bandmate, longtime guitarist Phil Campbell, who tragically passed away in March of this year. “When Phil passed we lost such an important family member, and I know Lem would insist we all raise a glass to Phil as well,” said Singerman.
Friends of Lemmy will gather to share stories, celebrate his extraordinary life, and honour a man whose influence on rock ‘n’ roll remains as powerful as ever. Fans will once again have the opportunity to spend time with Lemmy, pay their respects, and be part of the continuing celebration of his legacy.
For more on Download, see RAMzine’s coverage.
Earlier in the year, Frontiers Rock Festival took place 1st May through to the 3rd at the Live Club in Trezzo sull’Adda in Milan, Italy, celebrating the record label and featuring live performances from many of its artists.
Sadly, what were referred to as “serious and unexpected health issues” meant some of the acts originally announced could no longer attend. German hard rock band Frontline had to cancel, as did Robin Beck, and House Of Lords, whose singer James Christian is married to Beck.
Two UK acts were among those stepping in near the last minute.
Holding his head up, former Unit 4 + 2 and Argent frontman and guitarist Russ Ballard, renowned songwriter of hits for Rainbow, Kiss, Uriah Heep and countless others in the rock and pop fields, delivered numbers from his recent Songs From The Warehouse/The Hits Rewired album.
Alongside the legendary act, hotly-tipped UK rocker Dan Byrne stepped into the fray. Debuting as a solo artist in 2023 with his Beginnings EP, and with the album This Is Where The Show Begins on its way, Byrne has found strong support from radio station Planet Rock and Classic Rock magazine, and brought his high energy rock and vocal prowess to an Italian audience.
Swedish sleaze metal act Smoking Snakes also arrived to entertain the crowd and perform tracks from their new album All Lights On.
They joined the likes of Giant, featuring a return of classic band members, Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas, H.E.A.T, Night Ranger, John Corabi, and Stryper among others.
For the full line-up and everything that took place, see RAMzine’s report.
Later in May, and on our shores, this year’s Fortress Festival sold out for a fourth consecutive year over the weekend of the 30th to 31st May, and they’re already making announcements for next year’s event.
Norwegian black metal pioneers Emperor have been confirmed as the first headlining act for next year’s metal extravaganza, taking place on 29th to 30th May at the Scarborough Spa in North Yorkshire. It will be Emperor’s only and exclusive UK performance in 2027.
Fortress Festival founder Gary Stephenson said about next year’s event: “It’s our fifth anniversary of Fortress in 2027 and we’re pulling no punches this time. Emperor, one of the biggest names in black metal, will close the festival with a headlining performance to show why this band is still such a phenomenon 20 years after their last studio album. We’ve sold out every edition of Fortress so far, and we expect no less to happen in 2027. So secure those tickets, and we will drop another dozen or so worldwide live debuts, UK exclusives and eye-watering bookings very soon for you all.”
Formed in 1991, Emperor are one of the most important and influential black metal bands. They are known for blending traditional black metal with atmospheric and symphonic elements. Landmark releases such as In The Nightside Eclipse and Anthems To The Welkin at Dusk introduced complex song structures and orchestral keyboards to the genre. Following an initial dissolution in 2001, the group’s live appearances became incredibly scarce. Their later reunion has been strictly limited to select festival slots and rare special engagements, making this upcoming Fortress Festival performance a highly anticipated UK event.
Canadian atmospheric black metal project Gris will make their worldwide live debut at Fortress Festival in 2027. The band has been an elusive studio entity for years, making this an unprecedented event for their followers. “We have been hesitant for years to bring the music of Gris to the stage,” they said. “The idea has been undulating in our minds for more than a decade now, swaying from doubt to possibility, and to doubt again. We knew that it would require us to adapt the music we’ve done with great respect and care, and it seemed daunting at times. But seeing the dedication of Fortress Festival to make their event unique and of high quality, it felt like a perfect context for us to embrace the challenge of making Gris alive for the first time.”
Joining them will be Bavarian black metal outfit Gràb, performing a 2027 worldwide exclusive show. “Last year I announced to step back from doing music due to health issues,” said Grànt. “However, things changed for the better. Like it or not, I decided to return. For years, Gary of Fortress Festival showed heavy interest in booking Gràb. We, as a band, decided that the fantastic venue of Fortress is the right place to do a 2027 exclusive Gràb concert. This marks our first concert outside Germany and Austria. We will bring Bavarian black metal to UK soil for the first time ever. Be there!”
Yellow Eyes will perform their Confusion Gate album in full for a UK exclusive. The band shared their excitement, stating, “Eight years after our last UK performance, Yellow Eyes will finally return to England. We’re honoured to make our exclusive UK appearance of 2027 at the legendary Fortress Festival. It is rare that we make it to England, and we don’t know when we’ll be back again. If you’ve ever wanted to see us in the UK, we hope you’ll join us in Scarborough. This will be something special.”
Quebecois black metal pioneers Forteresse will return to Fortress Festival in 2027 and deliver a special UK exclusive set. Promising an unforgettable performance, the band declared, “The ghosts of epic death and rebellion are returning to England once again to storm the shores of Scarborough. This time, a special set will be curated especially for this event that shall remain secret until the time draws near.”
Also announced to appear are Miserere Luminis, Tardigrada, Mourir, Trha, Slagmaur, Havukruunu, Sinmara, Erang, Spectral Castle, Wraith Knight, Lord Bakartia, Hole Dweller, Atlantean Sword and DragonKeep, while the Dungeon synth stage expands to two days in the venue’s theatre room, with Fantasy synth artist Dungeontroll due to deliver a worldwide exclusive set created purely for Fortress. “Join Dungeontroll for a one-of-a-kind ritual at Fortress Festival MMXXVII,” said Dungeontroll. “Tales of adventure and woe will be woven, calling forth the ancient spirits of the woods. These songs will be written and performed exclusively for Fortress; there are no plans to record or perform them again after this night.”
Fortress tickets for 2027 are already available now.
For more on Fortress Festival, see RAMzine’s coverage.
As things began to warm up, Norway’s biggest festival took place, with Tons Of Rock running from 24th to 27th June.
A festival that spanned the entire rock spectrum, from melodic hard rock to the most extreme metal. Neighbouring Oslo, the town of Ekeberg played host to a blend of true legends and giants, such as Alice Cooper, Anthrax, Limp Bizkit and Sepultura, and the legion of “fresh blood” such as Yungblud, President and The Funeral Portrait.
For more on Tons Of Rock, see RAMzine’s coverage.
Across the way, around the same time in Poland, Hells Bells Fest debuted on the weekend of 26th to 27th June as international and domestic acts descended upon Plac Gryfitów on Szczecin’s historic Łasztownia island.
Hells Bells Fest boasted a line-up that covered heavy metal, punk, rock and extreme metal. Across three stages, the festival delivered everything from the traditional heavy metal of Dirkschneider and Grave Digger to the extreme tones of Possessed, Vader, NunSlaughter, and Dead Congregation. The thrash metal contingent was bolstered by the technical assault of Gama Bomb and the legendary Frank Blackfire, while the fuzz-drenched riffage of Belzebong provided a stoner-doom counterpoint.
The punk and hardcore legacy of Discharge, UK Subs, Cockney Rejects, The Last Resort, and local icons The Analogs and Dezerter stood alongside the horrorcore energy of Słoń and the avant-garde darkness of Furia and Dola. The festival also proved to be a vital platform for the next generation, showcasing many new bands. As part of this, Hit The Bell took place before the festival, a contest for emerging bands from all over the world to compete for a spot at the festival.
For more on Hells Bells Fest, see RAMzine’s coverage.
Back on home turf, Offal Fest, dedicated to the most extreme facets of gore, grind, slam and brutal death metal, solidified its status as a vital fixture in the international metal calendar following its sold-out 2025 edition. Due to ticket demand, the 2026 festival took place over the weekend of 24th to 26th July and moved to its new expanded Manchester home, Boundary.
The transition to Boundary resulted in an enhanced environment, a state-of-the-art sound system and a substantial increase in ticket capacity.
Devourment, Regurgitation, Butcher ABC, and Fecundation were among the many international acts appearing, many for the first time in the UK.
Lividity had to cancel their appearance at the 2026 festival due to unavoidable personal reasons, but Italian horror-infused death metal act Fulci were added to the line-up as Sunday co-headliners, with death metal group Gorge also putting in a last-minute announced appearance.
While Lividity expressed deep regret over missing the July gathering, they intend to make it up to their British fanbase with a future UK visit. An adjustment to Sunday’s Battle of the Slams schedule also became necessary following an external venue double booking. Moving Heat 2 back by one day resulted in a revised performance roster for the showcase.
For more on Offal Fest, see RAMzine’s coverage.
Not long after, Wacken Open Air Festival marked its 35th anniversary over 29th July through to the 1st August this year in Germany.
85,000 metalheads from all over the world celebrated international bands such as Def Leppard, Judas Priest, Savatage, Hämatom, In Flames, Powerwolf and Sabaton. Running Wild played their very final show ever. And for Sepultura, it was to be their last ever concert in Germany. In total, more than 200 acts provided the best metal vibes on the twin stages Harder and Faster, as well as on the other seven stages. The fact that the weather also played along, offering nothing but sunshine apart from a few showers, was an additional birthday present for Wacken Open Air.
At the biggest Metal Battle of all time, 31 bands from around the world were able to take the stage for the first time. More than 10,000 bands from 102 countries had applied to take part this year. In the end, Force from Chile won in both the jury vote and the vote of the metalheads on site. For the first time this year, fans around the world were also able to vote online, giving Sentient Void from the Philippines the win in this category. W:O:A founder and promoter Thomas Jensen declared that he was not worried about the next generation of metal.
The Wackinger Village hosted sword-fighting demonstrations, the popular Bruchen ball tournament, and medieval dance workshops. It was also home to the Wacky Island Kids Safe Zone, alongside many other activities offered over the weekend.
Apparently there were no major disruptions to arrivals. This was partly due to a revised and proven arrival concept introduced, that allowed fans to pitch their tents on the campsites as early as the Sunday before the festival.
With ground panels and coverings laid across over 100,000 square metres, optimised walkways were ensured. The centrepiece of the innovations: an 850-metre-long reinforced emergency route that, thanks to the close cooperation between authorities, landowners and organisers, will now become a permanent part of Wacken.
André Jürgens, managing director of WOA Festival GmbH, said: “The atmosphere across the festival grounds over the past few days was consistently positive. The fans really enjoyed celebrating with us! The improvements to the site were also praised throughout, which made us very happy!”
The emergency services were able to report that, despite midsummer temperatures, the situation remained calm. Reports state that the number of patient transports to Itzehoe Hospital, at around 200, was at a similar level to the average in previous years. The fire brigade was also thoroughly satisfied considering such a calm and sunny festival. The number of callouts remained comparatively low. This left enough time to rescue a roe deer that had become lost in the woods.
Thomas Jensen also noted: “Every year, it’s something truly special to welcome so many artists, crews and members of the community to Wacken from every corner of the planet.”
Fellow W:O:A founder and promoter Holger Hübner added: “Every year we’re humbled and deeply grateful that we get to do what we love, organising a great celebration for metalheads from around the world, and we’ve been doing it for more than 35 years now.”
For more on Wacken Open Air Festival, see RAMzine’s coverage.
Tynebound debuted over the weekend of 5th to 6th September, organised by Reaper Agency UK, the organisers behind Fortress Festival.
The event took place at Anarchy Brew Co. in Newcastle in the UK, where they served a curated range of their core beers and limited and exclusive brews, including the new Fortress IPA beer created specifically for Fortress Festival, and styles designed to complement the night: dark, bitter, strong and unapologetic.
Headlining the two-day gathering were Moonlight Sorcery and Inferno, performing special 2026 UK exclusive sets. Czech avant-black metal voyagers Inferno unveiled the worldwide live premiere of their new stage show, designed in support of their upcoming studio release, The Anthropic Sophisms.
Adjustments to the original 2026 schedule allowed the festival to secure a rare performance from Quebec’s Conifère, who were flown into the UK specifically for Tynebound. They were joined by black metal project Vespéral, giving attendees a second opportunity to catch the band following their acclaimed set at Fortress Festival earlier in the year.
For more on Tynebound, see RAMzine’s coverage.
As noted, next year’s season of live events is already beginning to take hold, and Soundedit, the only festival in the world that celebrates music producers, sound designers, and sound engineers, will be taking place in Łódź, Poland on 23rd to 27th October.
Among the confirmed acts to perform at what will be the 18th event for Soundedit are producer Howie B, famous for his pioneering work with U2, Björk, and Massive Attack, who returns to Soundedit to showcase his new original material. Gracing the festival’s stage will also be Hugh Cornwell, the original voice and guitarist of UK punk pioneers The Stranglers, who brings his full band to perform definitive anthems including ‘Golden Brown’ and ‘No More Heroes’.
Taking the stage also are electronic music pioneer Wolfgang Flür, former longtime drummer of Kraftwerk; and pop icon Marc Almond, best known for his work as lead vocalist of the synth-pop duo Soft Cell and such hits as ‘Tainted Love’.
Post-punk outfit The Wolfgang Press also join the bill, as are Maszynowa, Kasia Lins with her project Obywatelka K.L. based on the music of new wave band Republika and Grzegorz Ciechowski (aka Obywatel G.C), Polish punk icons Dezerter, who will mark 45 years as a band, and composer Lech Janerka appearing as part of his farewell tour.
The 18th such festival, it will also celebrate 50 years of punk rock and will feature a special photo exhibition at the Łódź Photographic Society Gallery. More events and information commemorating this important subculture will be announced, including special meetings, workshops and awards.
The festival weekend culminates in the annual presentation of the Man With The Golden Ear award, honouring exceptional artistic integrity and contributions to recorded sound.
In addition to the live concert line-up, Soundedit is the biggest pro-audio educational programme in Europe. Following the weekend of live music, over 1,000 delegates will attend the event each day, where over a hundred clinics, workshops and lectures take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel and Klub Wytwórnia. These clinics and lectures will be conducted by internationally renowned producers as well as academic staff from universities, giving visitors firsthand knowledge about live sound mixing and room acoustics measurements, among many other topics.
For more on Soundedit, see RAMzine’s coverage.
Long live rock… Long live live music!
