Best Metal Festivals in the World: A Headbanger's Guide

There's nothing quite like a field full of people in black shirts screaming along to the same chorus. Metal festivals are loud, muddy, sweaty and surprisingly wholesome. Strangers share sunscreen, lift each other out of the pit and spend all night arguing about the best riff ever written.

Here are the best metal festivals in the world, what each one feels like and who it's best for. Lineups and dates change every year, so always check each festival's official site and socials before you plan.

The big European giants

Europe is the center of the metal festival world, and summer is peak season.

Wacken Open Air (Germany)

The famous one. Wacken takes over a small village in northern Germany every summer, usually around the start of August. It's huge, with multiple stages, a massive campsite and a "holy ground" reputation among fans. Expect legends, power metal, thrash and plenty of mud.

Best for: Bucket-list energy and a little bit of everything.

Hellfest (France)

Held in Clisson in western France, usually in June. Hellfest is known for its striking stage designs and site decor, and its lineups cover everything from classic heavy metal to punk, hardcore, doom and black metal across several themed stages.

Best for: A huge, varied lineup and a site that looks like a metal theme park.

Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium)

In Dessel, Belgium, usually in June. Graspop has a reputation for being well run and easy to get around, with big headliners and a friendly crowd.

Best for: First-timers who want the big-festival experience without the chaos.

Download Festival (UK)

At Donington Park in the English Midlands, usually in June. Download mixes metal with hard rock, punk and alternative, so it's a great pick if your friends' tastes vary. British weather means you should pack for rain.

Best for: Mixed groups and big rock and metal headliners.

Summer Breeze (Germany)

In Dinkelsbühl in Bavaria, usually in August. A big festival with a younger, rowdier crowd and a lot of metalcore, deathcore and extreme metal alongside classic acts.

Best for: Heavier modern bands and big campsite parties.

Heavier and more underground

Brutal Assault (Czech Republic)

Held inside an old military fortress at Josefov, near Jaroměř, every August. The setting is incredible, with stages among brick walls and tunnels. The lineup leans toward extreme metal: black, death, grind, hardcore and experimental.

Best for: Extreme metal fans who want a unique setting.

Bloodstock Open Air (UK)

At Catton Park in Derbyshire, usually in August. Bloodstock is smaller than Download and proudly metal-only, with a loyal, close-knit crowd. It also gives a lot of stage time to newer and unsigned bands.

Best for: A pure metal weekend with a community feel.

Resurrection Fest (Spain)

In Viveiro, on the coast of Galicia, in early summer. It started with deep punk and hardcore roots and grew into a major metal festival, so the lineup is wide and the vibe is welcoming.

Best for: Mixing metal, hardcore and punk, near the sea.

Copenhell (Denmark)

In Copenhagen, usually in June, on an industrial harbor island. A good one if you'd like a city break and a festival in one trip.

Best for: Combining a metal weekend with exploring a city.

Tuska (Finland)

In Helsinki, in early summer. Finland has a lot of metal bands, so expect plenty of Nordic acts. It's a city festival, so you can sleep in a real bed.

Best for: Nordic metal and a festival you can do without camping.

Boutique and specialist festivals

Roadburn (Netherlands)

In Tilburg, every spring, indoors across several venues. Roadburn is famous for doom, sludge, post-metal, psych and experimental heavy music, plus special one-off performances. It's more about discovery than headliners.

Best for: Adventurous listeners who love the weird and the slow.

Inferno Metal Festival (Norway)

In Oslo, held around Easter. A long-running indoor festival with a strong focus on black and extreme metal, in the country that shaped the genre's second wave.

Best for: Black metal fans and a spring trip.

Maryland Deathfest (USA)

In Baltimore, usually around Memorial Day weekend in late May. One of the best-known extreme metal festivals in North America, covering death metal, grindcore, black metal, doom and crust.

Best for: Death metal and grind fans in the US.

US festivals

The US has several big rock and metal festivals, many run by the same promoters. Lineups lean toward modern hard rock, metalcore and nu metal, with some classic and heavier acts mixed in.

Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky, usually in September.
Aftershock in Sacramento, California, usually in fall.
Sonic Temple in Columbus, Ohio, usually in late spring.
Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida, usually in spring.

Best for: Big modern rock and metal headliners without flying to Europe.

At sea: 70000 Tons of Metal

A metal festival on a cruise ship, sailing from Florida into the Caribbean in the winter. Bands usually play twice, so you can catch everyone. It's a pricier trip, but many fans say it's the most social festival they've ever been to, because you're all on the same boat. Literally.

Best for: A once-in-a-lifetime trip and lots of sunburned headbanging.

Festival survival tips

Earplugs, always. Reusable musician earplugs keep the music clear and save your hearing for the next 40 years of shows.
Break in your boots before. New boots and four days of walking don't mix.
Drink water. Bring a refillable bottle and use the free water points.
Plan a meeting spot. Phone signal at big festivals can be bad. Pick a landmark for your group.
Pace yourself. You don't need to see every band. Pick a few must-sees and leave room to wander.
Know your pit rules. Read our mosh pit etiquette guide before you go in.

Going solo

Lots of people go to metal festivals alone, and it's one of the easiest places to make friends. Talk to your campsite neighbors, chat in the queue and join random sing-alongs. Our guide on how to make friends at concerts has more ideas.

Before you go, it can help to find people who are heading to the same festival. On Alt Chat you can chat with alt people near you or worldwide, so you might land with a few friendly faces already in your phone.

Pick your festival

Want the classic bucket-list trip? Go to Wacken or Hellfest. Want extreme metal in a fortress? Brutal Assault. Want discovery and weirdness? Roadburn. Not sure what you even like yet? Read our metal subgenres guide, then pick a big, varied festival and see what grabs you. And if you meet someone special in the crowd, our metalhead dating guide has some date ideas for after the ringing in your ears wears off.

FAQ

What is the biggest metal festival in the world?

Wacken Open Air in northern Germany and Hellfest in France are usually named as the biggest dedicated metal festivals. Both draw huge international crowds every summer.

When is metal festival season?

Most big outdoor metal festivals in Europe happen from late spring to late summer, roughly June to August. A few indoor and boutique festivals run in spring, and some US festivals run into early fall.

What should I bring to a metal festival?

Earplugs, comfy broken-in boots, a rain layer, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle and a portable phone charger. If you're camping, add a decent tent and something to sit on.

Are metal festivals good for going solo?

Yes. Metal crowds are famously friendly, and campsites and queues make it easy to chat. Many people go alone and leave with a group of new friends.