Bloodstock Unleashes 27 New Bands for Landmark 25th Anniversary Festival
Catton Park, Derbyshire - Bloodstock Open Air is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary in monumental style, today announcing a massive wave of 27 new bands for its 2026 line-up. The celebrated heavy metal festival, scheduled to take place from Thursday, August 6th to Sunday, August 9th, 2026, has significantly bolstered its bill, promising a truly special edition for the dedicated metal hordes.
In a landmark move, the Ronnie James Dio main stage will be open for the first time on the Thursday of the festival, with British heavy metal legends Saxon bestowed the honour of headlining the inaugural night. This historic addition to the programme marks a fitting start to the silver anniversary celebrations. Joining them on the main stage on Thursday will be the ever-entertaining Evil Scarecrow and the prehistoric power of Heavysaurus.
The main stage will continue to host a diverse and powerful line-up throughout the weekend. Friday will see the addition of industrial act Skynd, the brutal death metal of Party Cannon, and the heavy rock of Battlesnake. Saturday's main stage additions are currently slated to be the ferocious Inhuman Nature. Sunday's main stage billing is significantly strengthened with the inclusion of the influential Kittie, the theatrical Castle Rat, modern metallers Graphic Nature, and the energetic Bootyard Bandits.
The Sophie Lancaster Stage will also be bolstered with a plethora of new talent. Friday's line-up now includes Excrementory Grindfuckers, Hidden Intent, Sellsword, Neckbreakker, Seething Akira, and Hammer. Saturday will see the Sophie stage graced by Stampin' Ground, Urne, Celestial Sanctuary, Viking Skull, Bound In Fear, and Imperium. Finally, the new additions for Sunday on the Sophie Lancaster Stage are Froglord, Mushroomhead, the recently reformed Dream State, and Trivax.
These 27 bands join an already stellar line-up that includes previously announced headliners and a host of other exciting acts, solidifying Bloodstock's 25th anniversary as a must-attend event for any heavy metal enthusiast. The festival will once again take place at its long-standing home of Catton Park in Derbyshire. Tickets and further information are available from the official Bloodstock website.
