Alcatraz announced the first confirmed names for 2026

As this year’s edition of Alcatraz Festival was still going strong, as has become a common sight by now, they put banners up announcing a chunk of confirmed names for next year, getting us all excited already about getting ready for 2026! The gates of the Alcatraz Festival grounds in Kortrijk will swing open again August 6-9, 2026 to incarcerate us for the weekend.

At the helm, the return of Germany’s Powerwolf promise their trademark bombastic power metal sermons, a full-scale spectacle of fire, fangs and sing-along choruses. From the other side of the extreme, Slaughter To Prevail bring their crushing deathcore brutality, where you can expect bone-rattling breakdowns and Alex Terrible’s monstrous roar shaking the prison walls.

Legends Savatage rise again, bringing their theatrical, progressive metal storytelling back to the stage for a rare and unmissable appearance. Thrash royalty Testament will show why they’re still a live force to be reckoned with, delivering decades of speed, groove and ferocity. For those craving newer extremity, Paleface Swiss channel their slam-infused hardcore with an infectious energy that’s been winning over crowds worldwide.

New York hardcore icons Biohazard are back as well, and those of you who were there for last year’s show, you know they are set to ignite a pit frenzy with their street-level aggression and hip-hop-tinged riffs (and with new music by then!), while Norwegian black metal titans Satyricon will weave an icy, atmospheric darkness over the festival grounds in most likely the Swamp tent. Dreamlike blackgaze pioneers Alcest will drop by with their ethereal blend of shoegaze and black metal, promising a moment of transcendence amid the chaos. Finland’s metal icons Amorphis will deliver their melodic death/folk hybrid, rich with storytelling drawn from the Kalevala.

Heavy metal veteran Dirkschneider will pay tribute to the Accept era with a setlist packed with classic anthems, and Orbit Culture’s rising Swedish groove-death sound will keep fists pumping. Bay Area thrash staples Death Angel bring relentless energy, while Florida’s Deicide remain uncompromising in their blasphemous death metal assault.

Progressive metallers Soen will provide a more contemplative yet powerful interlude, contrasting with the crushing intensity of Fit For An Autopsy, whose modern deathcore blends atmosphere with apocalyptic heaviness. Metalcore giants Of Mice & Men will stir up anthemic choruses and mosh-ready hooks.

Cult Canadian outfit Voivod promise a mind-bending mix of sci-fi prog and thrash, while masked industrial shock-rockers Mushroomhead bring theatrical chaos and pounding grooves. Extreme chaos merchants Anaal Nathrakh will unleash a sonic apocalypse of grind, black, and industrial metal, while cult U.S. heavy metal act Crimson Glory will be a rare treat for fans of soaring, dramatic vocals and twin-guitar glory.

Finally, the new generation is represented by Vended, carrying forward a legacy of aggression while carving their own identity with youthful ferocity.

With this first wave of 21 acts covering everything from symphonic power to the most savage extremes, Alcatraz 2026 is already shaping up to be a bucketlist event and we haven’t even seen the rest of the lineup yet.