Bloodstock Bolsters 2026 Line-Up with 27 More Acts for 25th Anniversary Blowout
With its 25th anniversary celebrations looming, Bloodstock Open Air has just unleashed another 27 names for the 2026 edition — and the line-up is shaping up to be nothing short of monumental. From British metal royalty to theatrical oddballs and crushing newcomers, the latest wave cements this year’s festival as a must for any fan of the heavy arts. And the excitement doesn’t stop there: Bloodstock has confirmed that the Ronnie James Dio (RJD) main stage will now be open from Thursday, giving fans an extra full day of metal mayhem.
Tickets are vanishing fast — early bird, campervan, and VIP passes are already sold out, and weekend tickets are over 90% gone.
Thursday Roars Open With Saxon and Surprises
Kicking off the expanded Thursday on the RJD main stage, heavy metal titans Saxon lead the charge with their signature blend of classic British steel. Known for their commanding live shows, this set promises to be a thunderous opening.
Also hitting the stage are BLOODSTOCK fan-favourites Evil Scarecrow, known for their chaotic theatrics, and family-friendly Finnish dino-rockers Heavysaurus, who’ve been upgraded from the Sophie Lancaster Stage to the main event. Expect big riffs and bigger costumes.
Across the Weekend: Industrial, Hardcore, Doom, and Dinosaurs
Friday brings a sonic punch with the eerie industrial vibes of Skynd, slam-party chaos from Scotland’s Party Cannon, and the mystical stage antics of Battlesnake. Meanwhile on the Sophie Lancaster Stage, expect high-speed grind from Excrementory Grindfuckers, the return of UK medieval metallers Sellsword, and energy-packed sets from Seething Akira and more.
Saturday’s RJD stage welcomes thrash rebels Inhuman Nature, while the Sophie stage serves up everything from the return of UK hardcore heavyweights Stampin’ Ground to doom-laden oddities Froglord.
Sunday finishes strong with Canadian alt-metal icons Kittie making their long-awaited BLOODSTOCK debut. They’ll be joined by doom troupe Castle Rat, genre-twisters Graphic Nature, and rowdy hometown heroes Bootyard Bandits. Over on the Sophie, masked industrial legends Mushroomhead and alt-rockers Dream State bring the weekend to a close.
Metal and Good Deeds: £13,818 Raised for Charity
Beyond the riffs, Bloodstock 2025 raised an impressive £13,818 for its charity partners — Metal For Good and The Sophie Lancaster Foundation — with each receiving £6,909 from guest/media donations and the T-shirt Amnesty. Bar staff tips, spin-to-win competitions, and generous individual contributions pushed the total even further, with The Sophie Lancaster Foundation receiving an additional £2,000.
“We have been blown away by the generous support of the Bloodstock team and their wonderful festival goers,” said Katy Baker, Co-Founder of Metal For Good.
Final Countdown: Tickets Nearly Gone
Weekend tickets for Bloodstock 2026 (6th–9th August, Catton Park, Derbyshire) are vanishing fast, with Wednesday early access available for diehards who want to make the most of the extended weekend. Day tickets will be released soon.
Already announced headliners include Lamb of God, Slaughter to Prevail, and Judas Priest on the RJD Stage, plus Cryptopsy, Wednesday 13, Leprous, and Carpenter Brut topping the Sophie Stage. Additional highlights include Sepultura, Municipal Waste, Of Mice & Men, Biohazard, Northlane, Life of Agony, and more.
And with 125 bands total expected, there’s still plenty more on the way.
For the most up to date festival information, visit the official website at bloodstock.uk.com
