The Hellfest festival has reopened its doors to the delight of metalheads! Hellfest is back in Clisson with four days of extreme music, ferocity and good vibes! New features and early favorites from this 19th edition of Hellfest... A photo-led look back at the day of Thursday, June 18, 2026 marked by the shows of Mikkey Dee alongside his friends, Rivers of Nihil, and the Norwegians of Borknagar, as well as a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.
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This year’s first big highlight: a towering sculpture honoring the late Prince of Darkness, who died on July 22, 2025, at 76. Hellfest wanted to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in its own unmistakable fashion. On display since June 17, the 7-meter-tall statue was created by French artist Philippe Pasqua, the same designer behind the famed silver skull that already graced the site.
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Mikkey Dee showed up at Hellfest on Thursday, June 18, not alongside Scorpions—whom he joined in 2016—but to pay tribute to Motörhead’s legacy, the band he drummed for more than 22 years. Surrounded by friends, the Swedish drummer kept Lemmy Kilmister’s memory alive by ripping through a clutch of Motörhead staples. The crowd ate it up, smashing into pogo and slam as the set rolled on.
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Temple attendees were treated to an appearance by the Austrian duo Perchta, led by the powerhouse voice of singer and musician Frau Percht, weaving folk into black metal. Delivering an unpredictable, deeply mystical set, the group swung between ceremonial moments—encircled by traditional folk instruments—and a thunderous sonic onslaught.
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As every year, a crowd once again crushes toward The Sanctuary, home to Hellfest’s official merchandise. This Thursday afternoon, the line stretches almost all the way to the Altar stage. Despite the bustle, many show remarkable patience to snag one of the tees, hoodies, or accessories bearing the festival’s 19th edition, such as the Ozzzy plush. And some don’t hesitate to burst with joy as they emerge from The Sanctuary with their bags brimming!
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There are many ways to beat the very intense heat felt on site this Thursday. Some people are chugging water, filling the hydration stations with long queues. Others don’t hesitate to step under the cooling water curtains, emerging drenched—but refreshed.
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Back on the Mainstage to catch The Pretty Reckless' set, led by the charismatic frontwoman Taylor Momsen. The American quartet, which has opened for AC/DC several times on its recent tours, is now a staple of the big stages. Playing in front of tens of thousands of festivalgoers no longer scares them. The band looked very at ease on stage, delivering a solidly rock performance, just the way we like it!
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At Hellfest, you’ve got the fans who simply soak in the performances—standing, sitting, or even sprawling as the day winds down. And then there are the others who go full throttle, pogoing, rocking the circle pit, the wall of death, or slam dancing, like this festival-goer dressed for the occasion as Jesus Christ!
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Different vibe, a different stage with Rivers of Nihil. On the Altar stage, the Pennsylvania progressive death metal outfit didn’t take long to get the crowd sweating, thanks to their peerless technique and unusually intense tracks. We loved their energy and originality, even throwing in a few saxophone notes in their powerful numbers! First real favorite of this opening day!
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What a remarkable Scandinavian journey we were treated to by Borknagar, the Norwegian outfit mixing black metal with Viking folk flavors. That Thursday evening on the Temple stage, the Nordics drew on ancient Norwegian traditions to deliver a vibrant, inspiring set amid the jagged forest backdrop. Easily a second highlight of June 18!
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To inaugurate the sculpture created in homage to the Prince of Darkness, Hellfest had announced a special moment right after Alice Cooper's set. At precisely 11:30 PM, the Main Stage screens projected images of Ozzy, both recent and archival. The emotion surged when the track “Mama, I’m Coming Home” rang out; a tune performed by the British icon during his farewell show in Birmingham in the summer of 2025. In the crowd, some fans chanted Ozzy’s name while singing along to the chorus of “Mama I’m Coming Home.” Initially announced, Sharon Osbourne ultimately wasn’t in Clisson due to a hospitalization at the start of the week. The tribute to Ozzy Osbourne concluded with a sublime fireworks display that no one saw coming.
We won’t forget the shock-rock spectacle from Alice Cooper, the ultra-successful show by the Swedish supergroup The Halo Effect, and the thunderous set from the French act Igorrr. Fans of the French combo were packed in at the Altar stage, to the point where there was barely room to move.
The schedule continues this Friday, June 19, with standout performances from Iron Maiden, Sepultura, Mastodon and The Gathering.
Hellfest 2026: Five bands you can't miss this Friday, June 19
Hellfest is back in Clisson from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026, for another edition—the 19th. As always, the extreme-music festival has pulled out all the stops with a lineup of talented artists that will have festival-goers pogoing and slam-dancing. So, which acts are must-sees on stage this Friday? Iron Maiden, Mastodon, Sinsaenum... Here are five bands not to miss on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Clisson for this new Hellfest edition. [Read more]
Hellfest makes its comeback with four new days of extreme-music concerts. This time, the festival welcomes metalheads from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026. What’s on the menu for this edition? A slate of talented francophone and international acts, including Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, Deep Purple, Anthrax, Cavalera, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Bad Omens, Mastodon, Napalm Death and Behemoth... Here is the full day-by-day, stage-by-stage lineup for Hellfest 2026. Also check out the concert times. [Read more]
Location
Hellfest website
Rue du Champ Louet
44190 Clisson
Official website
hellfest.fr
Hellfest 2026: Five bands you can't miss this Friday, June 19
Hellfest 2026: the full lineup and concert schedules
