Brutal Assault 2026 unveils first wave of confirmed bands

From August 5–8, the mighty Josefov Fortress in Czechia will once again echo with metal’s most thrilling extremes as Brutal Assault dropped its first names for 2026.

Dreamlike blackgaze visionaries Alcest and the soul-crushing post-metal of Amenra promise moments of transcendence, while Finnish legends Amorphis bring their epic, folk-infused melodic death metal. Deafheaven’s shoegaze-meets-black-metal intensity meets the unrelenting thrash of Death Angel and the blasphemous ferocity of death metal veterans Deicide. Innovators Master Boot Record will inject glitchy, retro-futuristic metal into the mix, contrasting with the beer-fuelled crossover chaos of Municipal Waste and the groove-driven metalcore of Rise of the Northstar.

Atmospheric black metallers Saor offer Celtic grandeur, while Septicflesh’s symphonic death metal will turn the fortress into an orchestral battlefield. Hardcore outfit Slope keep the energy raw, and Triptykon, led by Tom G. Warrior, will drench the grounds in doom-laden darkness. Rounding out the announcement, Wyatt E. adds an enigmatic, experimental edge. With such a diverse and powerful first wave, Brutal Assault 2026 is already shaping up to be an unmissable pilgrimage for metal fans worldwide yet again.