Catton Park is about to get louder than a dragon snoring through a Motörhead gig – Bloodstock Open Air has dropped its first bombshell for 2026, and it’s a proper job! For the festival’s 25th anniversary, they’ve gone full-throttle, announcing a jaw-dropping 25 bands in one go… and leading the charge? None other than the Metal Gods themselves, Judas Priest.
🏴☠️ The Headliners – A Trifecta of Chaos
Friday night kicks off with groove metal royalty Lamb of God, who’ll be delivering breakdowns so heavy your tent pegs might uproot themselves.
Saturday sees Slaughter to Prevail stepping up for their first ever Bloodstock headline slot – expect masks, guttural growls, and the sort of pit carnage your nan warned you about.
Sunday night belongs to Judas bloody Priest. With over 50 years of metal anthems, Rob Halford and the lads will close the weekend with a full-scale, leather-clad sermon. If you’re not screaming Breaking the Law by the end, check your pulse.
🎤 The 25 Bands of Bloodstock
To celebrate 25 years, the organisers have decided to spoil us rotten. Alongside the big three, the first wave includes:
- Sepultura – Bringing their farewell tour to Catton Park. Yes, this might be your last chance to scream Roots Bloody Roots with them.
- Bleed From Within – Scotland’s finest metal export since… well, whisky.
- Orbit Culture – Melodic death metal so sharp it could slice through your wristband.
- Municipal Waste – Thrash party kings. Expect beer showers and crowd surfing on inflatable pizza slices.
- Biohazard – Hardcore legends that’ll make you want to throw elbows (safely, mind).
- Death Angel – Thrash titans here to melt your face and your trainers.
- Vended – The next generation of chaos, carrying Slipknot’s DNA and their own savage twist.
- Life of Agony – Alternative metal icons with riffs that’ll stick to your ribs.
And loads more still to be announced – you know Bloodstock’s holding back a few monsters for later.
🏕 The 25th Anniversary – What’s the Crack?
From a one-day indoor event in Derby in 2001 to the UK’s biggest independent metal festival, Bloodstock has built a legacy that’s as loud as it is loyal. The 25th anniversary edition (August 6–9, 2026) promises bigger stages, nastier pits, and even more ridiculous festival fashion choices.
Rumour has it there’ll be special anniversary merch, surprise guest slots, and enough pyro to make the local fire brigade nervous.
🍺 The Riff Report’s Festival Tips for 2026
- Arrive Early – The campsite fills faster than a pint queue at happy hour.
- Train for the Pit – Three days of windmilling your arms requires stamina, butt.
- Hydrate (With Water, Occasionally) – Beer counts, but so does avoiding heatstroke.
- Don’t Forget Your Earplugs – Protect those lugs unless you want permanent Priest ringing.
- Prepare for the Weather – Could be blazing sun, could be swamp. Could be both in an hour.
🎟 Tickets & Damage to Your Wallet
Early bird tickets are already on sale, and they’ll likely vanish faster than your dignity during a Municipal Waste set. Standard weekend camping tickets are currently £185 + fees, with VIP upgrades for those who want showers that aren’t just a rainstorm.
Bloodstock 2026 is shaping up to be a monster – 25 years, 25 bands (and counting), and the Metal Gods themselves preaching to the faithful. If you miss this one, you’ll be kicking yourself harder than a failed circle pit attempt.
🏴☠️ See you down the front, mun! 🏴☠️
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
Comments