A second massive delivery of bands for Brutal Assault 2026!

The fortress walls of Josefov are rumbling again as Brutal Assault unveils a powerful new wave of bands for its 2026 edition (August 5–8, Jaroměř, CZ).

It’s here – we’re bringing you a solid lineup of bands for Brutal Assault 2026! Headlining are the British gothic rock legends The Sisters of Mercy and the American metalcore powerhouse The Ghost Inside, but you’ll also find a carefully curated selection of the best in contemporary death metal, several black metal legends, and representatives of progressive and experimental currents.

Darkwave legends The Sisters of Mercy bring their iconic gothic atmosphere to the festival, a rare appearance sure to draw longtime fans. On the heavier end, brutal death and slam make their mark with 200 Stab Wounds, Sanguisugabogg, Signs of the Swarm, and veterans Internal Bleeding, while Cryptopsy remind everyone why they remain one of the most technical forces in extreme metal.

Black metal royalty arrives in the form of Sweden’s Marduk and the long-awaited return of Old Man’s Child, delivering pure Scandinavian darkness. For the progressive-minded, instrumental pioneers Animals As Leaders, Sweden’s rising stars Allt, and heavy psych masters Elder add texture and depth. Doom and gothic fans are not left behind either, with Draconian bringing their melancholic beauty.

Thrashers get their fix with Swiss cult heroes Coroner and Poland’s unrelenting Vader, while death metal futurists Fallujah continue to push boundaries. On the hardcore and metalcore front, The Ghost Inside return with their uplifting yet crushing live energy, joined by the raw aggression of Vended. And as if that wasn’t enough, cult icon Arthur Brown promises to inject some psychedelic fire into the lineup, making up for his cancellation this past summer, while provocatively named newcomers Crippling Alcoholism are sure to make an unforgettable mark.

With this second wave, Brutal Assault continues to prove why it’s one of the most eclectic and daring festivals in the world of heavy music, blending underground brutality, legendary comebacks, and genre-defying innovators under the shadow of Josefov Fortress.

In addition to full festival tickets – selling out at record speed this year – fans can also purchase a wide range of supplementary services, including hotels, parking, locker boxes with USB chargers, and even a children’s camp for the youngest visitors. Following last year’s successful pilot edition, the camp is expected to see enormous demand and sell out quickly. Tickets and additional services are available on the festival’s official website here.