The Bands

One thing Alcatraz has consistently done well over the years is building a lineup that doesn’t just revolve around its headliners. Of course, names like Powerwolf, Slaughter to Prevail, Arch Enemy and Alestorm are guaranteed to draw massive crowds, but it’s often the variety throughout the rest of the bill that makes each day feel complete.

Thursday serves as an excellent warm-up for the weekend. Belgian metal legends Channel Zero return to one of their home festivals, Soulfly bring decades of groove and aggression, while Mikkey Dee & Friends pay tribute to Motörhead with a set full of classics. Elsewhere, Imminence, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Sacred Reich and Enthroned already ensure there’s plenty to discover from the very first day.

Friday may well be the festival’s most diverse day. The Prison Stage alone jumps from the long-awaited return of Savatage to hardcore rap metal pioneers Body Count, industrial outfit Combichrist, classic heavy metal from Armored Saint, and one of the biggest modern extreme metal acts around in Slaughter to Prevail. Across the other stages you’ll find everything from the atmospheric heaviness of Amenra and the genre-defying creativity of Igorrr to deathcore favourites Thy Art Is Murder, groove veterans Ill Niño, cult doom band Coven, and a healthy dose of underground discoveries.

Saturday keeps the momentum going with another balanced mix of old and new. Arch Enemy headline the day, supported by thrash legends Testament, hardcore powerhouse Hatebreed, crossover pioneers Biohazard, and returning favourites Kittie. Fans looking beyond the main stage can dive into performances by Amorphis, Orbit Culture, Alcest, Coroner, Primus, Municipal Waste, Terror and plenty more spread across the remaining stages.

Sunday wraps up the weekend in equally impressive fashion. Powerwolf close the festival after a day that also features Lamb of God, Saxon, the much-anticipated return of Nevermore, and Australian rock veterans Rose Tattoo. Meanwhile, The Swamp and La Morgue lean heavily into the extreme end of the spectrum with names like Satyricon, Deicide, Anaal Nathrakh, Blackbraid, Voivod, Internal Bleeding and Kylesa, while Helldorado offers a modern counterbalance with Paleface Swiss, The Ghost Inside, Rise of the Northstar, Northlane, Animals As Leaders and Fit For An Autopsy.

As always, one of the joys of Alcatraz lies in wandering between stages. Alongside the internationally renowned names, the festival continues to give Belgian acts and emerging artists plenty of room to shine, making it well worth arriving early and taking the occasional chance on a band you may not know yet.

The Timing

The gates to Alcatraz open once again from Thursday 6 August until Sunday 9 August 2026, while campers can stay on-site until Monday noon, allowing everyone to pack up at a more relaxed pace after four busy festival days.

The detailed performance timetable is available on both the site and app, and for the old school fans under us, you can still download a pdf file of the schedule here for you to print out and start mapping out your plans. As in previous years, the Prison Stage hosts the biggest names on the bill, while The Swamp, Helldorado and La Morgue each cater to different corners of the heavy music spectrum. Expect plenty of overlap, making a bit of planning worthwhile.

If you’re camping, arriving early Thursday is recommended, they’ll open those gates already at 9:00 AM. It gives you time to settle in, explore the festival grounds and avoid the busiest arrival rush before the music kicks off.

The Grounds

Alcatraz takes place on the Lange Munte event grounds in Kortrijk, Belgium, a location that has proven itself over the years as an excellent home for the festival. While the event has grown considerably in size, the site remains surprisingly easy to navigate, with the four stages all within comfortable walking distance of one another.

The Prison Stage is where you’ll find the festival’s biggest productions and headliners, while The Swamp, Helldorado and La Morgue each have their own identity, making it easy to find your favourite corner of the festival or simply wander around and discover something new. And if you want to simply go party your heart out, there is always El Presidio…

Away from the stages, visitors can expect a wide range of food and drink stands, the traditional Metal Market for merchandise and memorabilia, plenty of seating areas, sanitary facilities, lockers and other amenities that make spending an entire day on-site comfortable. The camping area is located within walking distance of the festival entrance, allowing campers to move between campsite and festival grounds without hassle.

This is the way

Reaching Alcatraz is straightforward whether you’re traveling by car or public transport.

For those driving to Kortrijk, the festival provides official parking facilities relatively close to the venue. Parking tickets can be purchased in advance and are highly recommended, as they guarantee a spot and help reduce waiting times on arrival. There should be regular shuttle busses between the parking area and festival, but even walking should be doable taking about half an hour.

Visitors traveling by train can head to Kortrijk railway station, from where shuttle buses operate between the station and the festival grounds throughout the weekend. This makes Alcatraz a viable option even if you don’t have your own transport.

If you’re flying into Belgium, Brussels Airport offers the most convenient international connections, with regular train services continuing to Kortrijk.

As always, carpooling is encouraged for those traveling with friends, helping reduce both costs and environmental impact.

The Stay

Camping has become an essential part of the Alcatraz experience, and several accommodation options are available depending on how you like to festival.

The regular campsite offers space for tents, while dedicated areas are available for campervans and motorhomes. Those looking for a little extra comfort can also choose one of the pre-pitched accommodation options, allowing you to arrive with much less gear to carry.

New for 2026 is an on-site camping supermarket, making it much easier to pick up forgotten essentials, snacks or drinks without leaving the festival grounds. Combined with breakfast facilities and improved campsite services, it should make life on-site even more comfortable throughout the weekend.

If camping isn’t your thing, Kortrijk and the surrounding area offer a range of hotels, B&Bs and holiday accommodation, although booking well in advance is highly recommended due to the popularity of the festival weekend.

Grub and Booze

Whether you’re after a proper meal between bands or simply looking for something quick to keep you going, Alcatraz traditionally offers a broad selection of food and drink throughout the festival grounds. Although the full list of food vendors had not yet been announced at the time of writing, visitors can once again expect a variety of cuisines, including vegetarian and vegan options alongside the more traditional festival favourites.

The bars throughout the site provide soft drinks, beers and other beverages, while campers can also make use of the new campsite supermarket for additional supplies. Breakfast options are once again available on the campsite, making it easy to start the day before heading back into the festival.

We’ll update this section once the complete vendor list becomes available.

Damage and Tickets

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Good To Know

One of the biggest changes for 2026 is the introduction of a cashless payment system across the festival grounds. Visitors will use a festival wristband for purchases, allowing for quicker transactions at bars, food stands and other vendors. Make sure to familiarise yourself with the system before arriving to avoid unnecessary queues during the festival.

As with previous editions, lockers are available for storing valuables, clean sanitary facilities are spread across both the festival grounds and campsite, and a range of accessibility services are provided. Be sure to check the official FAQ before travelling for the latest information regarding prohibited items, permitted bags, medication, and other practical matters.

Since practical information can still be updated in the weeks leading up to the festival, it’s worth checking the official website (or possibly even our channels) shortly before departure to make sure you’re up to date with the latest announcements.