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Fortress Festival, one of Europe’s biggest black metal festivals, has revealed thirteen new bands for the fourth edition of the event set to take place at Scarborough Spa on 30-31 May 2026.
Following the earlier announcement of Old Man's Child, the project of longtime ex-Dimmu Borgir guitarist Galder, as the Saturday headliner, the festival will be closed on Sunday by Gallowbraid, the US black/folk metal project of Jake Rogers, in what will be the project's worldwide live debut.
The Norwegian experimental black metal band Dødheimsgard will perform their latest album “Black Medium Current” in its entirety and exclusively at Fortress.
The American atmospheric black metal band Abigail Williams will return to the UK for the first time in eight years for a UK exclusive - and potentially final ever UK - set at Fortress Festival.
The German black metal band Groza is also set to make their British return for the first time in three years in a UK exclusive set.
The dungeon synth pioneer Mortiis will also visit the North Yorkshire shore for a performance at Fortress.
The festival will also include UK exclusive sets from Mesarthim, an atmospheric black metal project from Australia known for their cosmic themes; Midnight Odyssey, the Australian ambient black metal project; Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, the revered German black metal band.
Fortress Festival will also see the return of Misþyrming to its stages for a UK exclusive set.
The audience will also be able to witness debut performances from: Old Sorcery, with a worldwide live debut from the Finnish dungeon synth project; This Gift Is A Curse, with a UK debut and exclusive performance from the Swedish blackened sludge metal/hardcore band; and Antrisch, a UK debut and exclusive performance from the German atmospheric black metal act.
Slovak symphonic black metal act Aeon Winds will perform a worldwide exclusive set of the 2013 split “Aeon Odyssey”.
Gary Stephenson, founder of Fortress Festival, said: "We announced Old Man's Child at our 2025 event, and quickly sold nearly 50% of the festival's capacity within a few days. That's a lot of pressure to build an entire bill that everyone will be content with. So, it is my absolute pleasure to announce the first wave of bands that will perform in 2026; 12 exclusive bookings including Dødheimsgard performing their masterpiece album, 'Black Medium Current' in full, Abigail Williams finally return to the UK after 8 years following the recent release of their excellent record, 'A Void Within Existence', and the impossible has finally happened; Multi-instrumentalist Jake Rogers' Gallowbraid project will perform live for the very first time and close the Sunday Grand Hall main stage at Fortress Festival."
Stephenson also revealed plans for the festival's third stage, stating: "As with previous years, our third theatre stage is something we would like to continue to experiment with, so I am very excited to announce that next year one of the days will play host to a dungeon synth line-up featuring some of the leading acts within the genre."
He added: "Fortress 2025 welcomed people from all around the world - over 50 different countries in fact - so we can't wait to do this all again in Scarborough come next May. More announcements will follow in the coming months and we have a lot left up our sleeve for 2026."
Jake Rogers of Gallowbraid said: "I truly didn’t think this would ever happen, but here we are. Sixteen years after the release of the Ashen Eidolon EP, Gallowbraid will be making its very first live appearance of any kind at the esteemed Fortress Fest in Scarborough, North Yorkshire next year. This project was never intended to be presented in a live setting, but I’m already working with a group of incredible musicians to make this a reality. We’re looking forward to cracking open these old songs and experiencing them live for the first time ever with you!"
Groza said: "After 3 long years, we are finally bringing the storm back to the UK. After a triumphant debut in London in 2023, we will now be playing an exclusive show at Fortress 2026, Scarborough, England. This will be our only performance in the UK for the whole year, do not miss out on this. Onwards!"
Abigail Williams said: “This will be our first time back in the UK in eight years. There’s no clear plan beyond this, no guarantee we’ll return anytime soon-if ever. So we’re approaching Fortress as something final in a way. One night. Everything we’ve carried. Let the weight of it speak.”
Aeon Winds said: "A few years ago, we had the honour of sharing the stage with our friends from Midnight Odyssey. Given the vast distance between us, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That’s why it feels all the more special that Fortress Festival has managed to reunite what once seemed impossible. Together, we will once again revive the spirit of Aeon Odyssey."
Purchase tickets for Fortress Festival here: https://www.fortressfestival.co.uk/tickets
The news follows the sold-out third edition of the festival last month, which boasted a headline and European exclusive performance from American atmospheric black metal band Agalloch. The black metal weekend in Scarborough also included performances from 1349, RUÏM, Forteresse, Fen, The Great Old Ones and Ulcerate among many others.
30-31 May 2026
Scarborough Spa
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK
Old Man’s Child UK Exclusive
Gallowbraid Worldwide Live Debut
Abigail Williams UK Exclusive
Dødheimsgard UK exclusive 'Black Medium Current' album set
Mortiis
Groza UK Exclusive
Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult UK Exclusive
Misþyrming UK Exclusive
Old Sorcery Worldwide Live Debut
Antrisch UK Exclusive/Debut
Mesarthim UK Exclusive
Aeon Winds Worldwide Exclusive 'Aeon Odyssey' set
Midnight Odyssey UK Exclusive
This Gift Is A Curse UK Exclusive/Debut
Fortress Festival online:
Website: https://www.fortressfestival.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortressfestival
FB Forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/724096719323328
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1238203764599141
Reaper Agency UK online:
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