As we do every year, Rock Sins brings you our annual festival guide for as many alternative, rock and metal festivals as we can across the UK. We are getting an early start with the 2026 guide (start as you mean to go on and all that).
April
Takedown Festival
Where: Portsmouth Guildhall
When: 3rd and 4th of April 2026
Tickets: https://takedownfestival.com/tickets
Takedown Festival 2026 will be headlined by the mysterious President on the Saturday of the event. Friday night will see Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons performing a full Motorhead set. Many more bands across both days to be confirmed.
May
Teddy Rocks Festival
Where: Charisworth Farm, Blandford, Dorset
When: 1st to 3rd of May 2026
Tickets: https://teddyrocks.co.uk/tickets
While not strictly just a rock and metal festival, Teddy Rocks is an annual charity festival in Dorset that raises thousands of pounds for good causes every year. It is worth our time to write about, and it is worth your time and money to go and support it – particularly if you like a mix of 90s and 00s pop, up and coming bands of all persuasions, and some of the UK’s best cover bands!
Slam Dunk Festival
Where: Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire and Leeds Temple Newsam, Leeds, West Yorkshire
When: 23rd of May 2026 (Hatfield), 24th of May 2026 (Leeds)
Tickets: https://slamdunkfestival.seetickets.com/content/ticket-options
With a BIG first announcement including headliners Good Charlotte, Sublime, Taking Back Sunday, Bury Tomorrow, Tonight Alive, The Menzingers, Suicide Machines, Cancer Bats and the Slam Dunk house band Zebrahead (just to name a few), Slam Dunk Festival 2026 have come out swinging. There’s plenty more to come too!
June
Download Festival
Where: Donington Park, Leicestershire
When: 10th – 14th of June 2026 (campsite 10th – 15th June)
Tickets: https://ticketmaster-uk.tm7559.net/7aNGv5
The Download powers that be are yet to reveal the 2026 line up first installment, but if their social posts are anything to go by, the first announcement is likely to be dropping soon. Speculated headliners include Ghost, Linkin Park, Muse, Bring Me The Horizon, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure and Iron Maiden – until Maiden dropped their own Knebworth sized bombshell recently.
August
Bloodstock Open Air Festival
Where: Catton Hall, Derbyshire
When: 6th – 9th of August 2026
TIckets: https://www.bloodstock.uk.com/
Bloodstock are following the high bar they’ve set for themselves in 2025 by having almost sold out their weekend tickets for 2026 already. With it being the 25th anniversary, for the first time ever they’ve extended the festival to have four full headliners, with NWOBHM legends Saxon becoming Bloodstock’s first ever Thursday Ronnie James Dio stage headliners, alongside fellow line up toppers Lamb Of God, Slaughter To Prevail and Judas Priest. They top off a line up currently including the likes of Bleed From Within, Sepultura, Northlane, Orbit Culture, Kittie, Evil Scarecrow, Biohazard, URNE, Heavysaurus, Leprous, Carpenter Brut and Mushroomhead with dozens more to come. The full second Bloodstock Open Air 2026 line up announcement can be read here.
Stonedead Festival
Where: Newmark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire
When: 29th of August 2026
Tickets: https://www.stonedeadfestival.co.uk/tickets/
Stonedead as a one day, classic rock festival seems to go from strength to strength. Fans in attendance for the 2026 installment will be treated to The Final Countdown as Stonedead have Europe as headliners for the festival, along with Magnum as special guests. The Damn Truth, Asomvel and Crobot are also on the early line up. More bands will soon follow!
Of course, the likes of 2000 Trees, Reading and Leeds, ArcTanGent, Maid Of Stone and many more are yet to reveal the start of their 2026 festival line up’s. This guide will be regularly updated, so please check back regularly for festival line up news, ticket links and more.
Header photo – KoRn at Download Festival 2025 by Carolina Faruolo courtesy of the Download Festival Press Team.