Saxon to Headline Explosive 2026 Maid of Stone Festival
Heavy metal legends Saxon are confirmed as the Saturday headliners for the 2026 edition of Maid of Stone Festival, set to ignite Mote Park in Maidstone from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th July. Celebrating its fourth year, the independent rock festival promises its most powerful lineup to date, bringing together classic metal royalty and a globe-spanning cast of rock and blues acts.
A Weekend Built for Rock Fans
Opening night (Friday 17 July) will see the return of recently reformed blues-rockers The Temperance Movement, leading a bill that includes southern-fried Americana from A Thousand Horses, UK melodic rock veterans FM, and the electrifying Canadian guitar hero Anthony Gomes.
Saturday brings the might of Saxon to centre stage, alongside the much-anticipated return of Danko Jones, back at Mote Park for the first time in nearly a decade.
The Wildhearts close out the festival on Sunday, ensuring the final night is as unpredictable and joyously chaotic as ever.
Also gracing the main stage across the weekend are international and emerging talents such as The New Roses (Germany), Cobra Spell (Spain), Aussie rocker Cassidy Paris, and UK favourites Tailgunner, Häxan, Morganway, Kit Trigg, and Silveroller. Two local acts, Queen Horizon and Battle Born, make their much-welcomed return after pulling out of the 2025 event.
Second Stage Highlights
The festival’s second stage remains a haven for raw talent and fan discovery. Crow Black Chicken take Friday’s top spot, The Virginmarys headline Saturday, and rising star Chez Kane wraps things up on Sunday.
Growing Fast, Staying Grounded
Festival booker Chris Wright commented:
“It’s been another challenging year with so many major acts touring the UK, but we’ve managed to pull together a line-up we’re incredibly proud of.”
Maid of Stone has carved out its place in the UK rock calendar as a fan-focused, family-friendly, and affordable three-day bash with a genuine community vibe. Powered by a partnership with Planet Rock, the festival continues to grow in scope and ambition—without losing its grassroots soul.
Early Bird tickets flew out in record time, and only a few campervan and caravan passes remain. With more acts still to be announced in November, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Maid of Stone.
Tickets are on sale now via maidofstonefestival.com
Direct tickets: Skiddle Event Page
Full Line-Up So Far
SAXON
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
THE WILDHEARTS
A THOUSAND HORSES
FM
DANKO JONES
THE NEW ROSES
TAILGUNNER
THE VIRGINMARYS
ANTHONY GOMES
COBRA SPELL
CROW BLACK CHICKEN
HÄXAN
CHEZ KANE
MORGANWAY
CASSIDY PARIS
KIT TRIGG
QUEEN HORIZON
SILVERROLLER
BATTLE BORN
