This year, the Hellfest invites more than 180 bands to light up the Clisson site for four consecutive days, from June 18 to 21, 2026. Heavy metal, punk, hardcore, black metal, folk metal, and thrash metal hail from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Brazil, Sweden, Spain, and even Jordan… once again, Hellfest goes all out to satisfy every taste and preference.
If the offers no less than six different stages, some festival-goers feel an unstoppable urge to camp out in front of the two Mainstages all day, to catch performances from the scene’s flagship artists. So, for those attending these two marquee stages, here are 10 bands to watch and not miss on the Mainstages from June 18 to 21, 2026.
One of Motörhead’s essential players for over 22 years, who joined Scorpions in 2016, Mikkey Dee lays down his sticks and drums skins this summer in Clisson. For this Mainstage 2 set, the Swedish drummer has a brilliant idea: to take the stage flanked by his friends to celebrate the legacy of Lemmy Kilmister’s band, performing a string of classics that should have the festival crowd headbanging!
Is it truly necessary to introduce Alice Cooper, the pioneer of shock rock? Born Vincent Furnier, the tireless frontman continues to dominate stages worldwide more than 55 years after his first shows. On June 18, for the Hellfest opening night, Alice Cooper plans a thunderous set, fueled by relentless energy, iconic hits, and a meticulously crafted stage show mixing sinister creatures with a guillotine.
Five decades of driving metal, that’s worth celebrating! That’s precisely what Iron Maiden is doing with the extension of their Run For Your Lives Tour. Just before their show at Paris La Défense Arena, the British outfit will bring instruments to Clisson for a 2-hour-10-minute set that should transport us back to the classics, including The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, The Trooper, and Fear of the Dark.
Hailing from Nantes, they were set to electrify Hellfest’s last edition. Forced to skip last year, Ultra Vomit returns stronger than ever! The band, famed for its parody heavy metal, storms the Mainstage 1 for Hellfest’s second day in 2026. True to form, they’ll likely have festival-goers grinning and moshing with their offbeat tracks. Expect a nod to their latest studio album, Ultra Vomit et le Pouvoir de la Puissance.
Thrash metal lovers, here’s a must-see on Mainstage 2. On June 20, Hellfest welcomes the Cavalera brothers, former members of the legendary Brazilian band Sepultura. This year, Max and Igor return to the forefront to perform their powerful tracks from the iconic Chaos A.D. album. Ready to take a trip back to 1993?
Another must-see on June 20 on Mainstage 2: Megadeth. Dave Mustaine has already announced that their 17th studio album, released in January, may well be the band’s last, and that this tour could be their final one. Hellfest-goers can rejoice, as Megadeth will indeed be in Clisson this summer, bidding farewell to a huge French fanbase.
Get ready for a blazing, explosive show! Three years after their memorable Hellfest performance, the Polish outfit Behemoth, led by the charismatic Nergal, returns to Clisson. Expect a cathartic, powerful set with several blazingly aggressive tracks from their blackened death metal catalog, likely including material from their 2025 release, The Shit ov God. Initially slated for the Temple that night, Behemoth moves to Mainstage 2 after Volbeat’s cancellation.
If you’re into No Fun At All, Bad Religion, or Black Flag from your teens, you’ve probably heard of Pennywise! The California quartet, together since 1988, storms Hellfest’s Mainstage 1 on June 21 for our pleasure. Jim Lindberg and the crew will remind us who rules the punk rock stage.
For a proper plunge back into our adolescent years, head to Mainstage 1. This year, The Offspring have been chosen to close out Hellfest 2026 with a bang and a grin. Get ready to belt out timeless anthems like Self Esteem, Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), Come Out and Play, Original Prankster, and The Kids Aren’t Alright. Are you ready to revisit the past?
Note that this list is not exhaustive. Countless other bands on the Main Stages at Hellfest this summer are well worth checking out. And you, what are you planning to see and hear in Clisson on June 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2026?
Hellfest 2026: Full lineup and concert times
The Hellfest returns with four new days of extreme music. Save the dates—the metalheads are invited from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026. Expect a feast of talented francophone and international acts, including Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, Deep Purple, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Bad Omens, Mastodon, and Behemoth. Here is the full day-by-day, stage-by-stage schedule for Hellfest 2026, with concert times. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From June 18, 2026 to June 21, 2026
Location
Hellfest website
Rue du Champ Louet
44190 Clisson
Official website
www.hellfest.fr
Hellfest 2026: Full lineup and concert times
