A must-attend festival for many metalheads in France and abroad, Hellfest returns to Clisson, once again showcasing hard rock, thrash metal, black metal, heavy metal, doom, death metal and alternative metal over four festive and explosive days and evenings.
The 2026 edition of Hellfest, not to be missed on Thursday 18, Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June, again promises festival-goers memorable musical moments, with headliners including Limp Bizkit, Volbeat, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Anthrax, A Perfect Circle, The Offspring and Sabaton. A crowd of bands to see and hear on the Mainstages (1 & 2). But Hellfest also features four other stages, including the Altar. Located right beside its sister, the Temple, the Altar stage is mainly devoted to death metal, but also to progressive metal.
If you're a fan of these different musical styles, then you're likely to spend some time under the tent in front of theAltar. That's why we've selected 5 bands and artists not to be missed this summer on the Altar stage at this year's Hellfest.
It's a band In Flames fans will certainly know. And for good reason, The Halo Effect brings together five former In Flames members. Today, the Swedish melodic metal outfit has two albums, Days of the Lost (2022) and March of the Unheard (2025). With The Halo Effect live, gear up for a hot night on June 18 under the Altar Stage tent!
Igorrr returns to Clisson, four years after his Hellfest set. Since his 2022 performance, the project launched by French musician Gautier Serre has released a new album, Amen, and played shows across France and the rest of Europe. Igorrr has also announced the arrival of singer Marie Gerhardine Iguchi, replacing Marthe Alexandre. To discover or revisit his limitless world, fusing electro, metal, baroque, and world music, join us on June 18 from 11:15 p.m.!
Are you familiar with Sinsaenum? If not yet, now’s the time to catch up. Comprised of Fred Leclercq (Kreator), Stef Buriez (Loudblast), Attila Csihar (Mayhem), Heimoth (Seth), Sean Zatorsky (Dååth) and André Joyzi, this dream lineup and true "supergroupe" should shake the Altar stage on Friday afternoon as it blasts through its commanding blackened death and groove metal tracks!
Carcass, who recently rocked Paris’s Zenith alongside Kreator and Exodus, returns to Hellfest this summer! A chance to dive back into the band’s discography, formed in 1985 in Liverpool, England. Offering a savvy blend of melodic death metal and relentless thrash, the outfit continues to captivate metalheads, led by founding guitarist Bill Steer and vocalist/bassist Jeff Walker.
Craving a heavy dose of grindcore unleashed with force and fury by Napalm Death? The British outfit is back at Clisson this summer and plans to electrify the Altar stage on Hellfest’s final day. Nearly 45 years after their debut, Napalm Death remains a benchmark for many and a band you should see at least once in your lifetime!
As you might expect, this list is not exhaustive, and many other groups and artists are scheduled to perform on the Altar stage from June 18 to 21, 2026 at
Hellfest 2026: Full lineup and concert times
Hellfest announces its return with four new days of extreme-music concerts. Mark your calendars: Hellfest welcomes metalheads from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026. For this edition, expect a cornucopia of talented French- and international acts, including Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, Deep Purple, Volbeat, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Bad Omens, Mastodon and Behemoth... Here is the complete day-by-day, stage-by-stage lineup for Hellfest 2026, along 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
hellfest.fr
Hellfest 2026: Full lineup and concert times
