The Bands

This year’s lineup is looking exciting yet again with its unique, multi-genre line-up of more than 140 artists. Expect legendary headliners like Ministry, Mastodon, and Kerry King’s solo act to bring in the crowds, but the real draw is the diversity lurking lower on the bill. From Japanese avant-garde black metal (Sigh) to Icelandic folk warriors (Skálmöld), swampy sludge (Inter Arma), and classic reunions like 3 Inches of Blood, the organisation keep it eclectic and consistently interesting. Whether you’re here for brutal death (Dying Fetus, Blood Red Throne), blackened psychedelia (Oranssi Pazuzu), industrial punishment (Static-X), or folk-infused epics, there’s a corner of the fortress just for you.

The Timing

Mark your calendar for August 6–9. That’s Wednesday to Saturday, and trust us: you’ll need the Sunday to recover. Brutal Assault isn’t just a festival, it’s a metal city-state, with countless stages, art installations, and an atmosphere that feels at once medieval and anarchic. Some of the opening hours:

The Grounds

Brutal Assault’s setting is truly one of a kind. The festival takes place in the historic Josefov Fortress, an 18th-century military complex with massive brick walls, underground tunnels, and moats that give the whole event a dark, almost post-apocalyptic atmosphere. It’s not just a backdrop, it shapes the experience.

Inside those walls you’ll find multiple stages tucked between bastions and courtyards, art installations that make use of crumbling architecture, and food and merch areas spread through labyrinthine corridors. At night, it feels like a metalhead’s fever dream, with lights and smoke swirling through ancient arches while black metal screams echo off centuries-old stone.

It’s sprawling but easy to navigate once you get your bearings, with hidden nooks perfect for escaping the crowds or discovering a surprise performance. If you’re bored here, you’re doing it wrong.

This is the way

The Stay

Brutal Assault offers a few different ways to crash after a day of sonic annihilation—just don’t expect luxury unless you bring it yourself.

The default option is the standard campsite, which is free with your ticket. It’s massive, chaotic, and often packed to the edges, but also a key part of the BA experience. You’ll be living among fellow metalheads from all over the world, with 4 a.m. beers, impromptu jam sessions, and questionable tent construction all part of the charm.

If you prefer a bit more comfort, you can go for the VIP camping zones—these offer extras like security, showers, phone charging, and access to slightly less medieval toilets. There’s also a glamping option with pre-set tents and mattresses if you’re feeling fancy (or too old for sleeping on gravel).

Some people skip camping altogether and stay in hotels or guesthouses in Jaroměř or nearby towns like Hradec Králové, but these book up months in advance, so if you’re reading this late, your best bet may be a train ride and a prayer.

Whatever you choose, bring earplugs. You’re not escaping the noise.

Grub and Booze

One of the underrated highlights of Brutal Assault is that you won’t go hungry—or thirsty. Forget sad festival hot dogs: the fortress is packed with food stalls offering a huge range of options, from classic Czech sausages and goulash to Asian noodles, vegan wraps, burgers, and pizza. Even if you’re a picky eater (or vegan, or gluten-free), you’ll find something to soak up the beer.

Speaking of beer, it’s everywhere, it’s Czech, and it’s cheap. Local breweries supply fresh, foamy pints at prices that will make Western Europeans weep with joy. You’ll also find cider, soft drinks, and non-alcoholic beer for those pacing themselves. And yes, there’s even a dedicated absinthe bar tucked into one of the fortress nooks for when you want to make bad decisions in style.

There are plenty of shaded eating areas and places to crash with your friends while you recover between sets. And if you want to go full Czech experience, don’t skip the fried cheese sandwich at 2 a.m., it’s practically a rite of passage.

Whether you’re a culinary adventurer or just need calories to survive the mosh pit, Brutal Assault has you covered.

Damage and Tickets

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Good To Know

First time storming the fortress? Here are a few things to know so you don’t learn them the hard way.

• No glass or big alcohol containers in the camping area. Security will search your bags at the gate, and they’re not messing around. Buy your spirits in plastic or transfer them beforehand if you want to smuggle in a pre-game.

• Cashless payments have become the norm inside the festival. Your wristband will double as a wallet, and you can top it up at stations around the site. Bring a bank card, though there are ATMs in Jaroměř if you run out.

• It gets hot. Like, really hot. Czech August can hit 35 °C, and the fortress has big open courtyards that turn into ovens. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and stay hydrated, or risk missing bands while you lie in the medical tent.

• The nights can flip to chilly. Don’t be fooled by the daytime sun—after dark, especially if it rains, it gets cold fast. Pack layers so you’re not freezing at 2 a.m.

• Earplugs are essential. Brutal Assault is LOUD. Between the main stages, the tents, the afterparties, and the campsite jams, there’s no true silence. Save your hearing so you can actually enjoy the music.

• Plan your fortress time. The site is big and stages overlap, so check the schedule and be realistic about how much you can see. Especially if you want to catch cult bands on smaller stages that can get crowded.

• Try the local food and drink. Czech beer is world-class and cheap, and the food is excellent fuel for marathon moshing. Don’t stick to the same stall for four days.

• Respect the fortress. It’s historic, it’s beautiful, and it’s part of what makes this festival so unique. Don’t trash it.

Brutal Assault has been running for decades, and the crowd is famously chill and international. Help keep it that way—look after yourself, look after your friends, and prepare for four of the best days of your metal year.

The Preparties

As it has become almost ritual, Brutal Assault already starts the day before the official festival days with a warm up. Think of this as Brutal Assault’s opening salvo, an electric prelude to the main festival chaos. Starting in the afternoon on the Obscure stage, you’ll be able to catch bands like Marked As An Enemy, Faüst, See You In Hell, Cutterred Flesh, Funeral, Pan Lynx, Carnivore A.D. and Macabre as a good taster of the diversity you’ll get to pick from for the next 4 days.

The fortress gates crack open around 14:00, and yes—cashless wristbands are already mandatory, so top up early.

It’s laid-back enough to be approachable, but heavy enough to prove this isn’t your average festival boilerplate. Perfect time to settle in, warm up the pits, and meet the metal family before the fortress walls really start to shake.