Belgium’s premier metal and hard rock open-air festival returns to Kortrijk for four days of sonic devastation, 6–9 August 2026.

Alcatraz Open Air has cemented itself as one of the most important heavy music festivals in Europe, and the 2026 edition looks set to be the biggest yet. Taking place at the Groeningekouter site in Kortrijk, Belgium, the festival spans four days and four nights, stacking an extraordinary roster of headliners, cult legends, Belgian acts, and exciting first-timers across multiple stages. Whether you’re a seasoned Alcatraz veteran or discovering the festival for the first time, here is everything you need to know.

Practical Info

Day tickets are valid only on the day of the show, from opening time. All listed prices include service and payment fees in line with Belgian consumer legislation. Hotel + travel packages are available via FCM Travel (minimum two nights, limited availability). Gift cards are also available for the merch-minded metal fan in your life.

The 2026 Line-Up: Day by Day

Thursday 6 August

The festival kicks off on Thursday with a strong selection of heavy metal, thrash, folk metal, and Belgian classics. Notable highlights include the legendary Channel Zero (BE), fan favourites Soulfly (US), pirate metallers Alestorm (UK), Swedish atmospheric black metallers Der Weg einer Freiheit (DE), and Belgian doom merchants Aeveris. First-timers on this day include Heidevolk (NL), Imminence (SE), the special one-off project Mikkey Dee with Friends, Belgian death act Enthroned, Left to Die (US), and Wings of Steel (BE). Belgian acts Funeral Dress and Cyclone round out the Thursday card with a nod to domestic punk/metal heritage.

Thursday highlights:

• Alestorm (UK)
• Channel Zero (BE)
• Soulfly (US)
• Sacred Reich (US)
• Heidevolk (NL) — first time
• Imminence (SE) — first time
• Mikkey Dee with Friends — first time
• Enthroned (BE) — first time
• Der Weg einer Freiheit (DE)
• Funeral Dress (BE)
• Cyclone (BE)
• Left to Die (US) — first time
• Wings of Steel (BE) — first time
• Aeveris (BE)

Friday 7 August

Friday brings one of the most eclectic and powerful day programmes in the festival’s history. Slaughter to Prevail (RU) make their long-awaited Alcatraz debut as one of the day’s top draws, joined by the historic first-ever Belgian appearance of Savatage (US) — a genuine coup for power metal fans. Body Count (US), the crossover act led by Ice-T, are also confirmed for their first time at Alcatraz. Belgian post-metal monoliths Amenra bring their crushing ritualism to the evening, while French weirdos Igorrr offer avant-garde extremity. The day also features Thy Art is Murder (AU), Bleed from Within (UK), doom legends Monolord (SE), and Dirkschneider (DE) celebrating the legacy of Accept.

Notable Friday first-timers also include Combichrist (NO/US) — a welcome crossover booking touching on the industrial/EBM spectrum — Crowbar (US), Health (US), Coven (US), Soen (SE), Armored Saint (US), Crimson Glory (US), Alien Ant Farm (US), Chelsea Grin (US), Revocation (US), 200 Stab Wounds (US), and Belgian newcomers Modder, Sons of Lioth, A Thousand Sufferings, Hope Erodes, Dead Serious, Witch Club Satan, and Graceless.

Friday highlights:

• Slaughter to Prevail (RU) — first time
• Savatage (US) — first time
• Body Count (US) — first time
• Amenra (BE)
• Igorrr (FR)
• Thy Art is Murder (AU)
• Bleed from Within (UK)
• Dirkschneider (DE)
• Monolord (SE)
• Combichrist (NO/US) — first time
• Crowbar (US) — first time
• Armored Saint (US)
• Crimson Glory (US)
• Soen (SE) — first time
• Alien Ant Farm (US) — first time
• Vended (US)
• Ill Niño (US)
• Cowboys & Aliens (BE)
• Merauder (US) — first time
• Chelsea Grin (US) — first time
• Health (US) — first time
• Revocation (US) — first time
• Warrior Soul (US) — first time
• Coven (US) — first time
• 200 Stab Wounds (US) — first time
• The Ruins of Beverast (DE) — first time
• Masterplan (DE) — first time
• Insanity Alert (AT) — first time
• Witch Club Satan — first time
• Modder (BE) — first time
• Hope Erodes (BE) — first time
• Dead Serious — first time
• A Thousand Sufferings — first time
• Sons of Lioth — first time
• Graceless — first time

Saturday 8 August

Saturday is perhaps the most varied and star-studded day of the weekend. Arch Enemy (SE) return as one of the day’s major headliners, while Testament (US) bring their Bay Area thrash brutality. Quirky American legends Primus make their Alcatraz debut, as do atmospheric black metallers Alcest (FR), Belgian sludge heroes Psychonaut, and old-school death metal greats Immolation (US) and Coroner (CH). Canadian cult act Kittie play their first ever Alcatraz show, alongside groove metal staples Hatebreed (US) and classic crossover outfit Biohazard (US).

Other Saturday first-timers include Orbit Culture (SE), Carach Angren (NL), Mushroomhead (US), Aura Noir (NO), Ratos de Porão (BR), Castle Rat (US), Jungle Rot (US), Hate (PL), Tailgunner (UK), The Troops of Doom (BR), Vacuous (UK), Graphic Nature (UK), Miracle of Sound (IE), and Belgian acts Ronker, Poseydon, and Divided.

Saturday highlights:

• Arch Enemy (SE)
• Testament (US)
• Primus (US) — first time
• Hatebreed (US)
• Biohazard (US)
• Alcest (FR)
• Immolation (US)
• Coroner (CH) — first time
• Municipal Waste (US)
• Amorphis (FI)
• Psychonaut (BE)
• Metal Church (US)
• Kittie (CA) — first time
• Orbit Culture (SE) — first time
• Carach Angren (NL) — first time
• Mushroomhead (US) — first time
• Terror (US)
• Firewind (GR)
• Midnight (US)
• Aura Noir (NO) — first time
• Ratos de Porão (BR) — first time
• Castle Rat (US) — first time
• Jungle Rot (US) — first time
• Hate (PL) — first time
• Tailgunner (UK) — first time
• The Troops of Doom (BR) — first time
• Vacuous (UK) — first time
• Graphic Nature (UK) — first time
• Miracle of Sound (IE) — first time
• Brutal Sphincter (BE)
• Your Highness (BE)
• Mantah (BE)
• Ronker (BE) — first time
• Poseydon (BE) — first time
• Divided (BE) — first time
• Mortal Scepter — first time

Sunday 9 August

Sunday closes the festival with a headliner that needs no introduction: Powerwolf (DE), the theatrical German heavy metal monsters, top the bill in what promises to be a spectacular closing night. Joining them are Lamb of God (US) in their Alcatraz debut, thrash veterans Saxon (UK), and a remarkable reunion booking in Nevermore (US). Satyricon (NO) bring Norwegian black metal prestige, while The Ghost Inside (US), Animals as Leaders (US), Death Angel (US), Deicide (US), Voivod (CA), and Rose Tattoo (AU) fill out a day of enormous breadth.

Sunday first-timers also include Anaal Nathrakh (UK), Northlane (AU), Paleface Swiss (CH), Fit for an Autopsy (US), Kylesa (US), Blackbraid (US), Sanguisugabogg (US), Firespawn (SE), MISþYRMING & Nergal (IS/PL), Warkings (DE), Mortal Sin (AU), Rise of the Northstar (FR), Of Mice & Men (US), Internal Bleeding (US), Deceased (US), Gutalax (CZ), Luna Kills (HU), Bloodbound (SE), and Belgian acts Hemelbestormer, Izegrim, Steengruis, Encounters, Turpentine Valley, Nefarious, and Breakout.

Sunday highlights:

• Powerwolf (DE)
• Lamb of God (US) — first time
• Saxon (UK)
• Nevermore (US) — first time
• Satyricon (NO)
• The Ghost Inside (US) — first time
• Animals as Leaders (US) — first time
• Deicide (US)
• Rose Tattoo (AU)
• Death Angel (US)
• Voivod (CA)
• Anaal Nathrakh (UK) — first time
• Northlane (AU) — first time
• Paleface Swiss (CH) — first time
• Fit for an Autopsy (US) — first time
• Kylesa (US) — first time
• Blackbraid (US) — first time
• Sanguisugabogg (US) — first time
• Firespawn (SE) — first time
• MISþYRMING & Nergal (IS/PL) — first time
• Warkings (DE)
• Of Mice & Men (US)
• Rise of the Northstar (FR)
• Mortal Sin (AU)
• Gutalax (CZ)
• Luna Kills (HU) — first time
• Bloodbound (SE) — first time
• Internal Bleeding (US) — first time
• Deceased (US) — first time
• Hemelbestormer (BE)
• Izegrim (BE)
• Steengruis (BE) — first time
• Nefarious (BE) — first time
• Encounters (BE) — first time
• Turpentine Valley (BE) — first time
• Breakout (BE) — first time

Why Alcatraz 2026 Is a Must

With well over 100 bands confirmed, Alcatraz 2026 is a masterclass in curation. A few things make this edition stand out:

Historic reunions and rare appearances. Savatage making their Belgian debut, Nevermore returning from the grave, Coroner performing again — these are not just festival bookings, they are events in themselves.

Belgian representation. As always, Alcatraz gives serious platform to homegrown acts. Amenra, Psychonaut, Channel Zero, Hemelbestormer, Enthroned, Cowboys & Aliens, Funeral Dress, Cyclone, Izegrim, and a wave of newer Belgian bands make this a festival that genuinely supports local metal culture.

Genre depth. From Powerwolf’s theatrical heavy metal to the post-black grandeur of Alcest, from Body Count’s crossover fury to Igorrr’s baroque noise chaos, from Primus’s art-funk weirdness to the brutal death of Sanguisugabogg — there is something here for every shade of heavy.

First-time bookings. With dozens of acts appearing at Alcatraz for the very first time, the 2026 edition feels fresh even to long-time attendees.

Tickets & Access

Tickets are available via the official website at alcatraz.be/en/tickets. Day tickets cover one day from opening time and are not transferable between days. Combi and multi-day passes are also available. All prices include applicable service and booking fees. A camping option is available on site, and VIP packages are offered for those seeking an elevated experience.

Hotel and travel packages can be booked through FCM Travel (minimum two-night stay, limited availability). Gift cards for the festival are also available.

Getting There

Alcatraz takes place at the Groeningekouter, Kortrijk, easily accessible by train from Brussels (approx. 1 hour), Ghent, and Bruges. By car, Kortrijk is well connected via the E17 motorway. Festival Park info, including parking and public transport details, is available at alcatraz.be/en/info/festival-park.

Alcatraz Open Air 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the defining heavy music events of the year in Europe. Four days, four stages, over a hundred bands — and Kortrijk at the centre of it all. Mark your calendars: 6–9 August 2026. Be there.

Source: alcatraz.be | Tickets: alcatraz.be/en/tickets