A not-to-be-missed festival for all lovers of extreme music, Hellfest will once again celebrate hard rock, thrash metal, black metal, heavy metal, doom, dark folk, classic rock and alternative rock over four days and evenings that promise to be as explosive as they are thunderous.
The 2026 edition, to be lived on Thursday 18, Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June, promises festival-goers some tasty musical moments thanks in particular to a lineup featuring Iron Maiden, Megadeth, the Cavalera brothers, Anthrax, Alice Cooper, Volbeat, Deep Purple, Papa Roach and Limp Bizkit! A wealth of bands to see and hear on the Mainstages (1 & 2). But the Hellfest is also four other stages, including the Valley devoted to doom, stoner, sludge and experimental metal!
If you're a fan of these different musical styles, then you're likely to spend a good part of Hellfest in front of the Valley. That's why we've selected 5 bands and artists for you to see this summer in the Valley for the new edition of Hellfest.
It's worth remembering that the Valley has had a new location on the site since 2023. Gone is the marquee nestled near the Altar - Temple duo, and the Valley stage is now set up not far from the Warzone.
A heads-up to sludge and stoner fans: Mastodon will be outside The Valley on Friday from 11:50 p.m. for a heavy dose of loud songs blending melodic lines, catchy riffs and commanding beats. This new set from the Atlanta-born American band is a chance to dive back into their rich discography. And we’ll naturally spare a thought for Brent Hinds, the singer and musician, who passed away in August 2025 after leaving the group a few months earlier, in March.
If you haven’t yet discovered this Belgian outfit, now’s the time to catch up. Psychonaut has already released three standout records, "Unfold the God Man" (2018), "Violate Consensus Reality" (2022) and "World Maker" (2025). This summer, the post-metal trio, made up of Stefan De Graef, Thomas Michiels and Harm Peters, rolls into the Valley stage at Hellfest, delivering a set that’s both spellbinding and explosive.
They too come from Belgium and are dead set on turning the Valley upside down this summer! Three years after their Hellfest show, Amenra return to Clisson, ready to again flood our ears with their labyrinthine yet devastating riffs and the anguished, furious voice of Colin H. van Eeckhout.
As a regular at Hellfest, the Swedish band Cult of Luna is returning to Clisson this year. Hailing from Umeå and formed in 1998 around Klas Rydberg on vocals and Johannes Persson on guitar, the group has since gone through lineup changes. Yet Cult of Luna still manages to delight our ears with its powerful blend of progressive metal, sludge, post-metal and doom.
Fans of Acid Bath are all smiles! The American sludge metal band formed in the early 1990s in Louisiana is reuniting and hitting the stage again this year. They’re set to open for several dates on System of a Down’s European tour. And that’s not all—the band will also be featuring at Hellfest this summer. A chance to rediscover this legendary outfit, whose career paused in 1997 after bassist Audie Pitre died in a road accident.
You probably guessed as much, but this list isn’t exhaustive, because many other bands and artists are scheduled on the Valley from June 18 to 21, 2026 at the Hellfest. And you, what have you planned to go see on the Valley this year in Clisson?
Hellfest 2026: full lineup and concert times
The Hellfest festival is back with four new days dedicated to extreme music. Mark your calendars: Hellfest runs from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026. What’s in store for this edition? A packed lineup of talented French- and international-language acts, including Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, Deep Purple, Volbeat, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Bad Omens, Mastodon, and Behemoth, among others... Here is the complete day-by-day, stage-by-stage schedule for Hellfest 2026, with every concert time. [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
hellfest.fr
Hellfest 2026: full lineup and concert times
