Hellfest Open Air 2026 in Clisson, France (June 18-21) has confirmed its massive full lineup featuring 183 artists across four days, cementing the festival's reputation as one of the most diverse and ambitious heavy music events in Europe. The nineteenth edition of the festival delivers a bill that spans the full spectrum of heavy music, from classic metal legends to cutting-edge extreme acts.
Mainstage headliners include BRING ME THE HORIZON, IRON MAIDEN, LIMP BIZKIT, and THE OFFSPRING, representing a deliberate cross-generational approach that brings together arena rock heavyweights and modern alternative metal forces. IRON MAIDEN's headlining slot is particularly significant as the band celebrates fifty years of existence, with the "Run for Your Lives" tour marking what many expect to be their final major touring cycle. Bruce Dickinson and company will bring the full production to Clisson, including the band's legendary Eddie stage props and pyrotechnic displays.
The second stage headliners — DEEP PURPLE, SABATON, VOLBEAT, and BAD OMENS — represent equally impressive drawing power, with DEEP PURPLE bringing over fifty years of hard rock royalty and SABATON commanding their legions of power metal warriors. BAD OMENS' inclusion reflects the festival's willingness to embrace the modern metalcore and post-metal wave that has captured younger audiences worldwide.
With 85 of the 183 acts performing at Hellfest for the very first time, the festival continues to balance legacy acts with emerging talent, ensuring that the lineup feels vital rather than purely nostalgic. The undercard features dozens of extreme metal, punk, stoner, and doom acts across the festival's multiple stages, each curated to represent the cutting edge of their respective subgenres.
Four-day passes have been selling briskly since the full lineup announcement in November 2025, with the festival expected to draw over 180,000 attendees across the four-day event. Hellfest has invested heavily in infrastructure improvements including expanded camping areas and enhanced food and beverage facilities for the 2026 edition.