Hellsinki Metal Festival completes its 2026 line-up

Taking place on August 7–8 at the Helsinki Ice Hall festival area, the Hellsinki Metal Festival unveiled the second wave of artists for this year’s event. Among the new additions are the British band Paradise Lost, who released their acclaimed Ascension album last year, and the truly legendary Carcass. Rarer visitors to Finland at the upcoming festival include Cryptopsy, Canada’s nearly 40-year force in technical death metal, and Sweden’s Unleashed, widely regarded as one of the most essential Scandinavian death metal bands of all time.

The fourth edition of Hellsinki Metal Festival will also feature the event’s most geographically distant booking to date: Mawiza, founded in Wallmapu, South America. The band performs in the endangered Mapuzungun language and released their Ül album last July. U.S. death metal powerhouse Sanguisugabogg also put out a new album, Hideous Aftermath, last year.

Representing Finland, Omnium Gatherum will celebrate their 30th anniversary alongside their new album May The Bridges Burn Light The Way, while Kalmah—known for making only select live appearances outside their hometown of Pudasjärvi—will also take the stage. Other new additions announced today include Assemble the Chariots, Cyan Kicks, Tungsten, Sepulchral Curse, Orly, Horizon Ignited, Misþyrming, and VREID.

Previously announced performers at Hellsinki Metal Festival include Black Label Society, Accept, Opeth, Misþyrming & Nergal performing Behemoth’s Sventevith, and Carpenter Brut.

Last year, festivalgoers experienced an upgraded festival area, and development continues this year. In response to audience requests, HMF will place special emphasis on expanding its craft brewery selection. The festival drew 16,000 attendees over two days last year, and VIP (RIP) tickets sold out in advance of the event.

“The amount of blood, sweat, and tears that our amazing team has poured into this summer’s Hellsinki Metal Festival is once again mind-blowing. This final major announcement is a testament to that teamwork. The lineup features extremely carefully selected bands to ensure that every festivalgoer finds something for themselves,” says Toni Törrönen, promoter of Hellsinki Metal Festival.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, Tiketti and Lippu.fi