Every year, there are many festivals in France. Festivals dedicated to French chanson, rap or electro... some musical events also give pride of place to metal and other extreme music, inviting local groups as well as international artists.
While some, like Hellfest and Motocultor, set the standard, others are also beginning to make a name for themselves on the French metal festival scene, such as Plane'R Fest, Festival 666 and Mennecy Metal Fest! Let's take a look at the 8 must-see metal festivals in France this year.
We Metal Fest 2025: Klone, Vestige, Ashen... the full program
Metal invites itself back to Le Plan in Ris-Orangis on Saturday April 5 and Sunday April 6, 2025 for the second edition of the 'We Metal Fest'. On the program? Two days of concerts dedicated to extreme music, featuring Klone, Vestige, Ashen, Akiavel, Pogo Car Crash Control, Hurakan and Psykup. [Read more]
Re-animator 2025 in Saint-Nolff: LocoMuerte, Mercyless... the rest of the program
Lovers of rock and extreme music can smile! The Re-animator is back in Brittany. Join us in Saint-Nolff from Thursday May 8 to Saturday May 10, 2025 for 3 days of open-air music! On the program? Burning Heads, Komodor, Didier Super, Nytt Land, Sorcerer and Les Ramoneurs de menhirs, LocoMuerte and Mercyless. [Read more]
Heavy Weekend 2025 at Nancy Open Air: 6 new names on the bill, the full line-up
After a very good vintage in 2024, the Heavy Weekend returns to Nancy Open Air, to offer heavy metal and hard rock fans a second edition as beautiful and enjoyable as the last. Join us on Friday June 6, Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8, 2025 in the Grand Est region of France for three explosive days of action. The Heavy Weekend line-up includes Slipknot, Powerwolf, Dream Theater, Saxon, Europe, Mass Hysteria, Battle Beast and Rise of the Northstar. [Read more]
Hellfest 2025: complete program and concert times
Hellfest returns with four new days of concerts dedicated to extreme music. Mark your calendars: Hellfest awaits metalheads from Thursday June 19 to Sunday June 22, 2025. On the program for this new edition? Americans Linkin Park, Brits Muse, Germans Scorpions, as well as Korn, Judas Priest, Till Lindemann, The Hu, Falling in Reverse, Dream Theater, Ultra Vomit, Within Temptation, Electric Callboy and Heilung... Click here for the full program by day and stage, plus concert times! [Read more]
Plane'R Fest 2025: While She Sleeps, Vestige... the rest of the program
Ultra Vomit, Perturbator, Gloryhammer, Loudblast, Beyond The Black, While She Sleeps and Vestige announce their participation in the 2025 edition of Plane'R Fest, aka the "Rock in Montcul" festival! Join us on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5, 2025 in Colombier-Saugnieu, near Lyon, for a feast of extreme music! [Read more]
Festival 666, 2025 edition: Mass Hysteria, Hatebreed, Fu Manchu... the line-up
Metal music returns to Charente-Maritime this summer with the sixth edition of the 666 festival. Join us in Cercoux on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August 2025 for live performances by Mass Hysteria, Hatebreed, Fu Manchu, Karras, Kublai Khan TX and Vestige. [Read more]
Motocultor Festival 2025: complete program and concert times
After thrilling many festival-goers last summer, the Motocultor festival announces its return in 2025 with a new, 16th edition not to be missed on Thursday August 14, Friday August 15, Saturday August 16 and Sunday August 17 in Carhaix, Brittany. On the program? Machine Head, Dimmu Borgir, Kerry King, Me and That Man, Eivør, Cult of Luna, Mogwai, Carpenter Brut, Lacuna Coil, Sólstafir, Cobra The Impaler and Klone... Discover the complete program by day and concert times! [Read more]
Mennecy Metal Fest 2025: Blind Guardian, Dagoba, Loudblast... the first names
Metal music is back in Essonne for the 13th edition of the Mennecy Metal Fest. Join us on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September 2025 at Parc de Villeroy to enjoy the powerful sounds of Blind Guardian, Dagoba, Loudblast, Dropdead Chaos, Waltari and Unbounded Terror. [Read more]
Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and that several other metal festivals take place in France every year. Stay tuned for more!
