Bloodstock have thrown down the gauntlet for its 25th anniversary in 2026, announcing an explosive first wave of 25 bands that will set Catton Park ablaze from 6th–9th August. 2026 at Britain’s premier Heavy Metal festival promises to be a milestone celebration.
Bloodstock 2026 – Main Stage Carnage
Friday’s Ronnie James Dio Stage will be dominated by groove Metal giants Lamb of God, with frontman D. Randall Blythe promising both devastation and good behaviour (pass in hand).
“We are thrilled to return to headline Bloodstock in 2026,” he said. “The UK is one of our favourite countries in the world to play, and Bloodstock is one of our favourite festivals. And to Bloodstock security, I will make sure I have my pass on me at all times. See you next August!”
Saturday hands the headline crown to Slaughter To Prevail, fresh from their bear-clad new album Grizzly. Sunday will see true Metal royalty, Judas Priest, deliver a setlist that could draw from over five decades of Heavy Metal mastery.
They will be joined by legends on their farewell lap, including Sepultura, Thrash titans Death Angel, pit-igniters Municipal Waste, Metalcore heavyweights Northlane and Bleed From Within, and nu-Metal upstarts Vended.
Other highlights include Orbit Culture, The Scratch, symphonic warriors Imperial Age, comeback heroes Life Of Agony, and crowd-shakers Of Mice & Men and Biohazard.
Sophie Lancaster Stage Aftershocks
Thursday kicks off with tech-death veterans Cryptopsy performing their None So Vile 30th anniversary set. Friday turns gothic with Wednesday 13, Saturday closes with progressive maestros Leprous, and Sunday sees synthwave sorcerer Carpenter Brut close the weekend.
Expect added chaos from Heavysaurus, 200 Stab Wounds, The Hell, Black Spiders, Norway’s genre-benders Shining, and the much-anticipated return of Nevermore.
Pedal To The Metal
In a historic shift, the Heavy Metal Truants will swap Download for Bloodstock in 2026, cycling 175 miles from London to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff & Robbins, Childline, and Save the Children.
Founded by Alexander Milas and Iron Maiden’s Rod Smallwood, the ride has raised over £1.5 million since 2013, and the festival’s backing ensures the tradition rolls on in full force.
Bloodstock 2025 will be held over the long weekend of 7-10 August 2025. MetalTalk’s Lucy Dunnet, Adrian Stonley, Matt Pratt and Rhys Tagg will be reporting from Catton Park.
Take Part: Are you at Bloodstock this year? Who are you looking forward to seeing? Want to get in touch and tell us how it’s going? Email MetalTalk Editor Steve Ritchie to tell us how it’s going for you. Bloodstock@MetalTalk.net
#boa25. For more information, visit bloodstock.uk.com. You can view a map of Bloodstock at bloodstock.uk.com/bloodstock_map.jpg
You can read all our 2025 reports at https://www.metaltalk.net/bloodstock.
MetalTalk Bloodstock 2024 coverage is at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/bloodstock-2024.
You can read all the MetalTalk Bloodstock 2023 coverage at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/bloodstock-2023.
You can read all the MetalTalk Bloodstock 2022 coverage at metaltalk.net/tag/bloodstock-2022.
Bloodstock 2026 – Tickets
Early bird tickets for the 25th Edition of Bloodstock in 2026 are available now at the box office on site, and are the cheapest way to purchase, with no booking fee. Weekend early bird tickets (Thu-Sun) for BLOODSTOCK 2026 are available to purchase at the box office on site for £185.
Child (age 4-11) weekend early birds are £50. Children under 4 attend for free.
Wednesday early access is also available for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience – an early bird adult Wed-Sun ticket costs £215. There is no additional cost for children under 4, or aged 4-11, to arrive with a parent on Wednesday.
Bloodstock 2026 tickets can be purchased online from the official Bloodstock website.
