Hellfest 2026: 5 bands you can't miss on the Temple stage

Attention metalheads! Hellfest is returning to the Loire Valley’s wine country, in Clisson, for its 19th edition to be lived from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026. What’s on the menu? A lineup of big-name acts to discover, especially on the Main Stages. But if you’re into black metal or folk metal, head to the Temple stage, where a slew of artists are lined up. Rotting Christ, Gaerea, The Gathering… Here are five bands not to miss this summer on the Temple stage at Hellfest!

It's been 19 years already that Hellfest has been thrilling fans of extreme music! This year the metal festival aims to carry on the adventure with a fresh edition packed with musical gems. To be lived from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026, this 19th edition of will surely blow your mind and ears! It’s no secret that a slew of big names are expected this summer in Clisson, including Iron Maiden, Limp Bizkit, Alice Cooper, Megadeth, and Behemoth. These bands will be there for you to see and hear by making your way to the iconic Mainstages (1 & 2). But the Hellfest also features four other stages, including the Temple dedicated to black metal, and also to folk metal!

If you're a fan of these musical styles, then head for the Temple, nestled right next to its sister venue, theAltar. So, we've selected 5 bands and artists for you to see this summer at the Temple for the new edition of Hellfest.

To be read
Hellfest 2026: the full lineup and concert schedules
Hellfest 2026: 5 acts you can't miss on the Valley stage
Hellfest 2026: 5 acts not to miss on Sunday, June 21

Hellfest 2026: 5 acts you won't want to miss on the Temple stage

Killus – Friday, June 19, 2026 from 12:15 PM to 12:45 PM
Industrial metal – Spain

They play industrial metal, but they don’t hail from Germany. For 25 years, the four Spaniards of Killus have been sharing their passion for this genre as they tour the European circuit. On June 19, they roll into Clisson and are determined to win over the metalheads with a powerful, offbeat show that should take the form of a shock‑rock cabaret.

Rotting Christ - Friday, June 19, 2026, from 8:35 PM to 9:35 PM
Melodic black metal - Greece

Every summer, Hellfest invites festival-goers to cut loose, not only with black metal but also to embark on a genuine world-spanning musical tour without leaving Clisson. 2026 is no exception. On Friday night, the spotlight turns to Greece with Rotting Christ. Still fronted by singer-guitarist Sakis Tolis and drummer Themis Tolis, Rotting Christ now boasts around fifteen studio albums. The Greek outfit recently rerecorded its 10th opus "Aealo", released in 2010. One can imagine the band using this Hellfest set to tease a few tracks from that record.

The Gathering - Friday, June 19, 2026, from 12:55 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Gothic Doom - Netherlands

Here's a set you won't want to miss Friday night at Hellfest. An unclassifiable outfit, but incredibly influential in the European metal scene, The Gathering return to the stage to celebrate in style their cult album "Mandylion" (1995). For the occasion, the talented singer Anneke van Giersbergen will be along for the ride. Goosebumps guaranteed!

Gaerea - Saturday, June 20, 2026, 4:55–5:40 PM
Post Black Metal — Portugal

If you’re into post-black metal, you’ve probably heard of Gaerea, a group known for concealing their faces behind balaclavas. Hailing from Portugal, the quartet has since grown into a five‑album outfit, with "Loss" leading the way as their most recent release in 2026. In recent years Gaerea has lit up European festivals—from Bloodstock Open Air to Summer Breeze and the Wolfzeit Festival. On June 20, they roll into Clisson, ready to win over a new wave of listeners at the 19th Hellfest edition.

Wolves In The Throne Room — Sunday, June 21, 2026, 6:40–7:40 PM
Ambient black metal – USA

Do you know Wolves In The Throne Room ? Blending atmospheric black metal, Wolves In The Throne Room formed in 2002 in Olympia, on the West Coast of the United States. At the heart of this outfit are Aaron and Nathan Weaver, two brothers who seek, through their music, to channel the energies of the Pacific Northwest landscape. Today the band has seven studio albums, two live albums, and two EPs. So come discover their cathartic universe on June 21, in a set that should tremble the Temple.

Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive, and many other bands and artists are slated to perform on the Temple from June 18 to 21, 2026 at Hellfest. And you—what have you planned to go see on the Temple this year in Clisson?

Hellfest 2026: Complete Lineup and Concert Times
The Hellfest organizers announce a return with four additional days devoted to extreme music. Mark your calendars: Hellfest runs Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026. What does this edition have in store? A parade of talented French- and international-speaking acts, including Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, Deep Purple, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Bad Omens, Mastodon, and Behemoth, among others. Here is the full daily lineup and stage-by-stage schedule for Hellfest 2026. [Read more]