List of heavy metal festivals

List of heavy metal festivals
Brutal Assault 2012
General Information
Related genresHeavy metal, punk rock, rock
LocationEurope and United States (origin)
Worldwide (current)
Related eventsPunk rock festival, rock festival

This is an incomplete list of heavy metal festivals. The genre of heavy metal (or simply metal) is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United States and the United Kingdom.[1][2][3] With roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, the first heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple attracted large audiences, and during the late 1960s and mid-1970s these bands and others in their genre were featured at a number of historic rock festivals.[4] Judas Priest helped spur the genre's evolution by discarding much of its blues influence.[5][6]

After the genre fused with other related genres such as punk rock in the late 1970s, bands in the new wave of British heavy metal such as Iron Maiden and Saxon followed in a similar vein. Before the end of the decade, heavy metal fans became known as "metalheads" or "headbangers", and there were festivals worldwide, both touring and stationary, dedicated to heavy metal subgenres and heavy metal itself. During the 1980s, glam metal became a commercial force, while Underground scenes and extreme subgenres of metal such as death metal and black metal remained subcultural phenomena, though they have their own dedicated festivals as well. Since the mid-1990s, popular styles have further expanded the definition of the genre.

Historical heavy metal festivals

Historically notable heavy metal festivals held since the 1980s
Festival name Location Years Details
Monsters of Rock England England 1980-1996 music festival held in Castle Donington (later it branched into other locations)
Dynamo Open Air Netherlands Netherlands 1986–present biggest annual metal festival during the 1990s, with 118,000 visitors in 1995
Moscow Music Peace Festival Russia Russia 1989 part of an era of momentous change in the Soviet Union
Wacken Open Air Germany Germany 1990–present larger heavy metal festival
Sweden Rock Festival Sweden Sweden 1992–present classic rock, hard rock and metal
Graspop Metal Meeting Belgium Belgium 1996–present larger heavy metal festival
Mangualde Hard Metal Fest Portugal Portugal 1997–present Oldest heavy metal festival in the Iberian Peninsula. It's also in the top 10 of the oldest heavy metal festivals in the world. Heavy metal, hard rock and punk.[7][8]
Download Festival England England 2003–present Hard rock, heavy metal, punk
Bloodstock Open Air England England 2001–present Heavy Metal festival
Hellfest Summer Open Air France France 2006–present larger heavy metal festival
Welcome to Rockville United States United States 2011–present The hard rock and heavy metal music festival is the largest rock festival in North America.[9][10]

Current heavy metal festivals

Africa

Botswana

Festival name Location Active Approximate time of year Notes
Overthrust Winter Metal Mania Festival[11] Ghanzi 2010–present May featuring local and African metal bands

Asia

India

Festival name Location Active Approx. time of year Notes
Bangalore Open AirKarnataka 2012–present July
Thunderstrock Festival Ranchi, Jharkhand 2008–present September

Indonesia

Festival name Location Active Approx. time of year Notes
Hammersonic Festival Jakarta 2012–present March–April all heavy music
Hellprint Bandung 2011–present November–March all heavy music
Rock In Celebes Makassar 2010–present November rock genres
Rock in Solo Surakarta 2004–present October–November heritage metal

Japan

Festival name Location Active Approx. time of year Notes
Loud Park Festival Saitama City or Chiba City 2023-present October

Europe

Austria

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Kaltenbach Open Air[12] Spital am Semmering 2003–present August open-air, 3 days extreme metal
Nova Rock Nickelsdorf 2005–present June up to 225,000[13] open-air, 4 days various rock and metal subgenres

Belgium

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Graspop Metal MeetingDessel1996–presentJune up to 220,000[14]open-air, 4 daysone of the biggest metal festivals in Europe
Alcatraz Hard Rock & Metal Festival[15]Kortrijk2008–presentAugust open-air
Hell's Balls Kortrijk 2023–present November indoor organized by the organization of Alcatraz
Huginns Awakening FestOostende2009–presentApril/May heavy metal, speed metal, thrash metal
Headbanger's Balls FestIzegem2012–presentMay
Blast from the Past FestivalKuurne2013–presentDecember old school heavy metal
Durbuy Rock Bomal 1997–present May
Hell Open Air Diest 2023–present May open-air heavy metal and cover festival

Bulgaria

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Hills of RockPlovdiv2017–presentJulyrock, metal, crossover punk

Czech Republic

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Brutal AssaultJaroměř (Josefov Fortress)1996–presentAugust up to 20,000[16]open-air, 4 daysextreme metal, heavy metal, hardcore punk, experimental music
Monsters of RockVizovice2003–presentJuly open-air, 4 daysheavy metal, power metal, speed metal, hard rock
MetalfestPlzeň2007–presentJune heavy metal, power metal, death metal
Obscene ExtremeTrutnov1999–presentJuly open-airgrindcore, death metal, hardcore punk
Rock Castle Moravský Krumlov 2021–present August
Basin Fire Fest Spálené Poříčí 2003–present June

Denmark

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
CopenhellCopenhagen2010–presentJuneopen-air, 4 daysall genres of heavy rock and metal
Aalborg Metal FestivalAalborg2002–presentNovember
Royal Metal FestAarhus2008–presentApril
Viborg Metal FestivalViborg2014–presentMarch
Metal Magic FestivalFredericia2008–presentJuly

Estonia

Festival name Location Active Month Notes
Hard Rock LaagerVana-Vigala2002–presentJunebiggest metal festival in Estonia[17]
Howls of WinterTallinn2014–presentFebruaryblack metal

Finland

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Dark River FestivalKotka?August
Hellsinki Metal FestivalHelsinki2023-presentAugust
John Smith Rock Festival[18]Laukaa2016–presentJuly
NummirockKauhajoki1987–presentJune
SaarihelvettiTampereAugust
SteelfestHyvinkää2008–presentMayopen-airblack and death metal
Turku SaatanalleTurku2011–presentMarchblack metal
Tuska Open AirHelsinki1998–presentJulyopen-airall metal subgenres

France

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Hellfest Summer Open AirClisson2006–presentJune up to 420,000[19]

(60,000 a day)

 open-air, 4 days all metal subgenres
Motocultor FestivalBrittany 2007–presentAugust death, black, thrash metal
Plane'R FestColombier-Saugnieu2012–presentJuly
Sylak Open AirSaint-Maurice-de-GourdansAugust

Germany

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Chronical Moshers Open AirHeinsdorfergrund1982–presentJuneup to 1,000open-airextreme metal
Dark Troll FestivalBornstedt2009–presentMay1,200open-airfolk metal, extreme metal
Dong Open AirNeukirchen-Vluyn2001–presentJulyup to 5,000open-airall metal subgenres
ElbriotHamburg2013–presentAugustup to 12,000open-airall metal subgenres[20]
Euroblast FestivalCologne2008–presentOctoberup to 12,000progressive metal
Full ForceLöbnitz1994–presentJuly25,000open-airall metal subgenres
In Flammen Open AirTorgauJulyup to 6,000open-airextreme metal
Mammut FestivalKönigsbrunn2022–presentMarch500all metal subgenres
Metal Frenzy Open AirGardelegen2014–presentJuneup to 5,000open-airall metal subgenres
Party.San Metal Open AirSchlotheim1996-presentAugustup to 10,000open-airall metal subgenres
Ragnarök FestivalLichtenfels, Bavaria2004–presentAprilup to 4000indoorpagan metal, folk metal, extreme metal
Rock am Ring and Rock im ParkNürburgring1985–presentJuneup to 92,000open-airvarious rock and metal subgenres
RockXplosionLeonberg1984–presentJulyup to 2,000
Rock Hard FestivalGelsenkirchen2003–presentJune7,000open-airall metal subgenres
Rockharz Open AirBallenstedt1993/94-presentJulyup to 24,000open-airall metal subgenres
Rock um zu helfenFreiberg, SaxonyOctober
Reload FestivalSulingen2006-presentAugustup to 15,000
Summer Breeze Open AirDinkelsbühl1997–presentAugustup to 40,000open-airall metal subgenres
Under the Black SunFriesack1997–presentJune/Julyup to 1000black metal
Wacken Open AirWacken1990–presentJuly/Augustup to 85,000open-air, 4 daysbiggest metal festival in Germany; all metal subgenres

Latvia

Festival name Location Active Month Notes
Zobens un LemessBauska2014–presentJunefolk and pagan metal
Munky Pride Vandāni 2021–present July grindcore, thrash metal, death metal, punk

Lithuania

Festival name Location Active Month Notes
Kilkim ŽaibuVarniai1999–presentJune (end)black metal, folk metal and Viking metal

Netherlands

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Dynamo Open AirEindhoven1986–presentJulyindoor and outdoorall metal subgenres
Into the GraveLeeuwarden2010–presentJune
MidsummerProgValkenburg2017–presentJune
ProgPower EuropeBaarlo1999–presentOctoberpower metal, progressive metal
Roadburn FestivalTilburg1999–presentAprilindoorvarious metal genres
South of HeavenMaastricht2025–presentJune

Norway

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Beyond the GatesBergen2012–presentAugustindoor, 4 daysextreme metal
Inferno Metal FestivalOslo2001–presentAprilindoor, 4 daysextreme metal
Tons of RockOslo2014–presentJune
Karmøygeddon Metal FestivalKopervik2004–presentMay
GarasjefestivalReinsvoll2017–presentJulyextreme metal

Portugal

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
HARDMETALFEST Mangualde 1997–present January
Laurus Nobilis Music Famalicão 2015–present August
SWR Barroselas Metalfest Barroselas 1998–present April
Vagos Metal FestCalvão2016–presentAugust
Evil Live Lisbon 2009–present June

Romania

Festival name Location Active Month Notes
Artmania FestivalSibiu2006–present Augustart festival featuring heavy metal
Metalhead MeetingBucharest2013–present June/Julydeath metal, black metal, heavy metal
Rockstadt Extreme FestivalRasnov2013–present Augustdeath metal, black metal, heavy metal
Metal Gates FestivalBucharest2017–present Novemberdeath metal, black metal, doom metal
Posada Rock FestCampulung Muscel1986–present

Russia

Festival name Location Active Month Notes
Metal Over RussiaMoscowJulyextreme metal, folk metal

Slovenia

Festival name Location Active Month Notes
TolminatorTolmin2023–presentJulyall styles of metal, attendance capped at 5000 visitors. Spiritual successor to Metaldays and MetalCamp

Spain

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Barcelona Rock FestBarcelona2014–presentJulyfeaturing hardcore, metalcore, thrash, death, black metal, punk
Leyendas del RockVillena2006–presentAugustmostly traditional, thrash, power and gothic metal
Resurrection FestViveiro2006–presentJulyopen-airmetalcore, thrash, death, black metal, punk
Rock Imperium Cartagena, Spain 2022–present June mostly traditional, glam, power metal
Z! Live Rock Fest Zamora, Spain 2016–present June mostly traditional, thrash and power metal

Sweden

Festival name Location Active Month Notes
House of MetalUmeå2007–presentFebruary/Marchopen-air; all metal subgenres
Sweden Rock FestivalSölvesborg1992–presentJuneopen-air; classic rock, hard rock and metal

United Kingdom

Festival name Location Active Month Audience Format Notes
Bloodstock Open AirWalton-on-Trent, England2005–presentAugust 20,000[21] open-air, 3 days various metal subgenres
Damnation FestivalManchester, England2005–presentNovember6,000[22] indoor, 2 days mainly extreme metal
Download FestivalDonington Park, England2003–presentJune80,000[23][24] open-air, 3 days largest rock and metal festival in the UK, featuring more mainstream rock, metalcore, heavy metal, and extreme metal
Hard Rock HellGreat Yarmouth, England2007–presentNovember indoor, 3 days hard rock and traditional metal festival held at Vauxhall Holiday Resort
Incineration Festival London, England 2014–present May indoor, 1 day extreme metal festival in Camden Town
Stonedead Festival Newark-on-Trent 2018–present August open-air, 1 day traditional metal festival[25]

North America

Canada

Festival name Location Active Approx. time of year Notes
Gaspesian Metal Fest Matane 2018-Present June Underground Metal Festival
Hyperspace Metal Festival Vancouver April Canada's premier melodic & power metal festival


Mexico

Festival name Location Active Approx. time of year Notes
Candelabrum Metal Fest León September
Hell & Heaven Metal Fest Mexico City (Toluca) 2010–present November - December 3 Day Open-Air Metal Festival, featuring death, thrash, black, doom, heavy, power metal & hard rock
México Metal Fest Monterrey 2016–present November 1 Day

United States

Festival name Location Active Approx. time of year Notes
98RockFestTampa, FL2007–presentAprilMetal, grunge and hard rock festival[26]
Aftershock FestivalSacramento, CA2012–presentOctoberHard rock and heavy metal festival[27]
AURA Fest[28]Savannah, GA2017–presentJuneAll Underground Rock All Day[29]
Hell's Heroes[30]Houston, TX2018–presentMarchThrash and epic metal festival[31]
INKcarceration[32]Mansfield, OH2018–presentJulyRock music and tattoo festival[33]
Legions of Metal Fest[34]Chicago, IL2017–presentJune
Louder Than LifeLouisville, KY2014–presentSeptemberHard rock/heavy metal festival[35]
Mad With Power Fest[36]Madison, WI2018–presentAugustPower Metal/Traditional Heavy Metal festival[37]
Maryland DeathfestBaltimore, MD2003–presentMayExtreme Music[38]
Mass Destruction Metal Fest[39]Atlanta, GA2017–presentNovemberExtreme Metal Festival[40]
Milwaukee Metal Fest[41]Milwaukee, WI1987–2004, 2023–presentMay
New England Metal and Hardcore FestivalWorcester, MA1999–2018, 2023–presentSeptember
ProgPower USAAtlanta, GA2001–presentSeptemberProgressive and Power Metal[42]
RocklahomaPryor, OK2007–presentSeptemberHard rock and metal festival[43]
Sick New WorldLas Vegas, NV2023–presentAprilNu-Metal Fest[44]
Sonic TempleColumbus, OH2019, 2023–presentMayHard rock and metal festival[45]
Welcome to RockvilleDaytona Beach, FL2011–presentApril/MayHard rock and heavy metal music festival[46]

Tours

The following is an incomplete list of traveling metal festivals, both active and defunct:

Heavy metal festivals that are no longer active

Europe

Slovenia

Festival name Location Active Approx. time of year Notes
MetalCampTolmin2004–2012Augustreplaced by Metaldays, featuring death, black, folk, thrash, doom metal
MetaldaysVelenje2013–2023Augustreplaced Metalcamp and previously held in Tolmin, featuring death, black, folk, thrash, doom metal

See also

References

  1. ↑ Du Noyer (2003), p. 96; Weinstein (2000), pp. 11–13.
  2. ↑ "The History of Heavy Metal". musicianwave.com. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ↑ Weinstein (2000), pp. 14, 118.
  4. ↑ Fast (2005), pp. 89–91; Weinstein (2000), pp. 7, 8, 23, 36, 103, 104.
  5. ↑ Walser (1993), p. 6.
  6. ↑ "As much as Sabbath started it, Priest were the ones who took it out of the blues and straight into metal." Bowe, Brian J. Judas Priest: Metal Gods. ISBN 0-7660-3621-9.
  7. ↑ "Portuguese Mangualde Hardmetalfest 28th Edition is Getting Ready to Rock". atmostfear-entertainment.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Hardmetalfest 2025". masqueticket.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Welcome to Rockville gives first look at 2022 lineup". clickorlando.com. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Welcome To Rockville 2025 Returns to Daytona International Speedway with North America's Largest Rock Festival and Its Biggest Lineup Ever". gratefulweb.com. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  11. ↑ "African Heavy Metal Bands Give Back to their Communities". BORGEN. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Kaltenbach Open Air". kaltenbach-openair.at. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "Warmes Duschwasser für Nova-Rock-Besucher". ENERENT GmbH (in German). Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "Graspop 2022: Ein Grand Cru". BRF Nachrichten (in German). 20 June 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  15. ↑ "History". alcatraz.be. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  16. ↑ "Brutal Assault heavy metal festival attracts 20,000 visitors". Radio Prague International. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  17. ↑ "Live Report: HARD ROCK LAAGER 2017 Festival: "A Hidden Treasure In Deep Forests Of Estonia"". metalshockfinland.com. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "John Smith Rock Festival 2023 in Laukaa (FI)". festivalsunited.com. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Metallica closes a gargantuan festival in style -". 7 July 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  20. ↑ "Elbriot Festival 2016". tilogo.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "Bloodstock review – this is the UK's best fest for true heavy metal madness". The Guardian. 11 August 2025.
  22. ↑ "Festival Preview: Damnation Festival 2023". Distorted Sound. 26 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Download Festival: Metal fans praise event with 'great' atmosphere". BBC News. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Guide: Your ticket to Download Festival". Ticketmaster Discover. 23 February 2026.
  25. ↑ "One Day, One Stage, One Monster Show". stonedeadfestival.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  26. ↑ "98ROCKFEST lineup". tampabay.com. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  27. ↑ "Aftershock Festival Featuring Guns N' Roses, Queens of the Stone Age, Megadeth, Tool, Incubus, Pantera, and More Taking Place This Fall". 955klos.com. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  28. ↑ "AURA Fest announces". savannahnow.com. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  29. ↑ "AURA Fest announces". savannahnow.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  30. ↑ "HELL'S HEROES Festival Reveals Full 2025 Band Lineup". knac.com. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  31. ↑ "Hells Heroes Festival 2025". musicfestivalwizard.com. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  32. ↑ "INKcarceration". mansfieldnewsjournal.com. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  33. ↑ "Inkcarceration announces lineup for 2022 rock festival at Ohio State Reformatory". richlandsource.com. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  34. ↑ "Legions of Metal Fest". reggieslive.com. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  35. ↑ "REVIEW: Here's What We Experienced At Louder Than Life 2022". leoweekly.com. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  36. ↑ "Mad With Power Fest". madwithpowerfest.com. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  37. ↑ "Mad With Power Fest". madwithpowerfest.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  38. ↑ "About Deathfests". deathfests.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  39. ↑ "Mass Destruction". massdestructionmetalfest.com. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  40. ↑ "MASS DESTRUCTION METAL FEST". earsplitcompound.com. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  41. ↑ "Milwaukee Metal Fest". milwaukeemetalfestival.com. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  42. ↑ EvilG. "Heart of Steel: Interviews Glenn Harveston Organizer of ProgPower USA". Metal-Rules. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  43. ↑ "Rocklahoma To Include MEGADETH, ROB ZOMBIE, DEVILDRIVER And More This Year!". metalinjection.net. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  44. ↑ "Sick New World Festival Announces 2024 Lineup". stereogum.com. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  45. ↑ "Sonic Temple 2023". consequence.net. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  46. ↑ "Welcome to Rockville gives first look at 2022 lineup". clickorlando.com. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  47. ↑ "Headbangers Boat". headbangersboat.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  48. ↑ "Monsters of Rock Cruise 2024". monstersofrockcruise.com. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
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