How about a whole host of excellent BLOODSTOCK news that doesn’t announce a single band?
BLOODSTOCKers, we know you’ve been asking, and HQ wants you to have pleeeenty of time to plan the most splendid FANCY DRESS outfits, so without further delay, here are the themes for 2026!
On Thursday, we know it’s been done before, but with HEAVYSAURUS on the bill and it being SO MUCH FUN, it has to be DINOSAURS again. That costume you bought a couple years back is now excellent value for money, huh?
On Friday, we embrace the dark, the macabre, and the creative… we want to see how you interpret TWISTED FAIRYTALES as a theme! Black widow bitten Miss Muffet? Malice in Wonderland? Goth fairies welcome!
Saturday rolls back the clock to the 1980’s! Bring out your best ‘80’s fashion (mullets encouraged, neon leg warmers optional), or be a character from your fave ‘80s movie, TV show, or band! There is no such thing as too much leopard print.
On Sunday, there’s a special treat in the RAM Gallery, as festival founder and renowned fantasy artist Paul Gregory will be exhibiting his original, oil on canvas, Lord Of The Rings-inspired painting ‘Morannon’! An impressive 1.8m x 3m in size, it was last exhibited over 20 years ago at the indoor BLOODSTOCK. In honour, Sunday’s fancy dress theme will be LORD OF THE RINGS / FANTASY! Come as a dragon, a wizard, an orc, or even as Gollum, my precious.
We’re looking forward to seeing your GRWM reels already. Be sure to tag Bloodstock on your socials and we might re-share our favourites.
Drumroll please, BLOODSTOCK can confirm the return of the unmissable BLACK ICE CREAM, with a new and improved recipe. If you want to get some, make sure you head to the ice cream truck located closest to the Ronnie James Dio main stage!
With such a wide range of food available, BLOODSTOCK recommends you eat more than just ice cream all festival. There’s everything from vegan fried chik’n/sushi and salad boxes, to pies, Bunnychow, paella, smoked meats, gyoza, wraps, Spudman, mac ‘n’ cheese, and more. Head to https://bloodstock.uk.com/events/boa-2026/traders for full details of all food that will be on site, including gluten-free, halal, veggie, and vegan options. While this graphic doesn’t cover every single food vendor on site, it’s a handy quick guide.
There’s free drinking water at designated water points in the campsites and main arena, so remember to bring a refillable non-glass bottle with you and please stay hydrated.
There’s more info at the same link about some of the market traders you can find in the main arena if you’re keen to do some heavy metal shopping in between bands, from clothes both new and vintage, accessories, housewares, face painting, music, sculptures, and more! There’s also a big selection of silver and stainless steel jewellery, not least from Nox of York’s Black Feather - perhaps treat yourself to their twin axe pendant, a cool collab with headliner alumni Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage!
From tent pegs to tampons, and any other essentials you’ve forgotten, there’s a supermarket in the Midgard campsite (and a small shop in the main arena) plus Fat Frank’s Camping Store, where they’ll also inflate your air bed for a better night’s sleep!
OH, YOU'RE DOING VIP? Did you manage to snap up a now-sold-out VIP ticket for this year? You’ll want to click over to https://www.facebook.com/BloodstockVIP, for details of this year’s exclusive Serpents Lair entertainment - Deadliners have been revealed and a Never Mind The Bloodstocks quiz compered by Raised By Owls is already confirmed, with more announcements to come!
You can also learn how to book for the ultra luxe The Spa @ facility in the VIP campsite (which is in addition to the free VIP campsite Get Ready station with DIY hair-dryers, straighteners, and mirrors). There’s also a new VIP Spa Pass that includes non-alcoholic welcome bubbly, experience shower with bespoke aromatherapy, wood-fired hot tub & sauna (with a birch whisk), cold plunge bath, mineral salt bath, fire pit, relaxation area, and unlimited herbal teas & fruit-infused water! The Spa @ is bookable (limited spaces) Thurs - Mon.
But that’s not all… the VIP Pamper Parlour offers:
The Hair Chair – Mohawks, braids, blowouts, and battle-ready styles
The Beard Bar – Viking plaits, cooling mists, facials & SPF finish
Hell Bound & Highlighted – Warpaint, blackout eyes, blood red lips, make-up glitter & gems
Weary Warriors – Massage, facials, reflexology, & reiki to reset mind and body
Keep an eye on the VIP page, because in the coming weeks you can also find out what classic movies will be showing this year (mornings Fri - Sun), plus all the interesting ales and ciders you can find at the Serpents Lair bar (some are also gluten free). If you missed out on VIP tickets, check Tixel as the official ticket resale partner.
When the bands stop, the fun doesn't - late night shenanigans kick off for all BLOODSTOCKers at the Stowford Press New Blood and Sophie Lancaster stages!
Thursday: the legendary silent disco levels up at the New Blood Stage from 11pm-2am with more channels and headsets than ever! Rich Harris holds down rock/metal, Little M takes dance, while Jamie Haines and Lloyd split '50s-'90s pop vs hardstyle/techno before switching to noughties pop vs jungle/drum 'n' bass. Then over at the Sophie Stage from 12-2am, DJ Pressplay kicks off his Welcome Party with prime cuts from the weekend's bands plus rock and alternative bangers to set the tone.
Friday: Rich Harris returns to New Blood from 11pm-2am to host Rage Against the '90s - a full volume night of nu-metal, grunge and stoner vibes featuring Deftones, Korn, Alice in Chains, Static-X, Pantera, RATM, Slipknot and more. And that'll include a special guest DJ set from none other than BIOHAZARD's Evan Seinfeld! Over at the Sophie Stage from 12-2am, Lloyd and Little M return for year four with the Blood Rave - electronic, industrial and heavy dance inspired by the opening scene in Blade.
Saturday: The silent disco returns to New Blood from 11pm-2am with four channels - Rich Harris on rock/metal, Little M on club classics, Lloyd on cheese/pop, and DJ Pressplay delivering a full set of modern & classic country for your very own hoedown. At the Sophie Stage from 12-2am, DJ Arockalypse's Gary Newey is joined by trap metal sensation N0trixx for guilty pleasures and classic alternative tunes with a twist.
Sunday: Round off the weekend at the Sophie Stage from 12-2am with Rich Harris's closing party - classic singalongs, a taste of next year's bands, and songs to carry you through summer.
Every year, BLOODSTOCK likes to highlight and support a couple of charities. BLOODSTOCK is pleased to confirm that charity partners for 2026 will be the Sophie Lancaster Foundation and Heavy Metal Truants.
The ever important work of the SOPHIE LANCASTER FOUNDATION to stamp out prejudice, hatred, and intolerance everywhere is something BLOODSTOCK have been glad to support ever since 2009 when the second stage was renamed the Sophie Lancaster Stage. Their educational work in primary and secondary schools is second to none, but they also work with university/college students and adult learners, as well as offering outreach activities, training, workshops, and presentations. Learn more at: https://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/.
After 13 annual cycle rides from London to Download Festival, this year the HEAVY METAL TRUANTS are charting a new path to glory -- destination: BLOODSTOCK.
Co-founded in 2013 by Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood and then Metal Hammer Editor In Chief Alexander Milas, the Heavy Metal Truants have so far raised over £1.6 million for four children’s charities: Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff & Robbins Music Therapy, Childline, and Save The Children. Since its beginning, this unique initiative has been spearheaded by a three day, 30-person, 175-mile cycle from London to the gates of a major metal festival, and now that destination is BLOODSTOCK.
Sign-ups for Heavy Metal Truants HMTXIV are open NOW! You don’t even need to use your own bike, a hire one can be provided. The 2026 ride will invite cyclists (inc rockstars who aren’t too posh to pedal) of all backgrounds and abilities to take up the gruelling but camaraderie-packed challenge of cycling 175 miles with a single goal: raising vital funds for kids in need. Previous years have seen members of Amon Amarth, Trivium, Judas Priest, Enter Shikari, Orange Goblin, and more take part… you never know who you might end up peddling next to! And when you arrive at BLOODSTOCK triumphant, expect a hero’s welcome, before enjoying all the festival has to offer with an included guest weekend ticket.
As in previous years, the Heavy Metal Truants will also include a series of virtual challenges so walkers, swimmers, runners, cyclists, and more from all over the world can also support and take part!
See the itinerary. For more info and registration: www.heavymetaltruants.com. Follow on social: @hmtruants
Planning your route to BLOODSTOCK yet? For the closest drop-off on site and also eco points, why not come via a carbon-neutral BIG GREEN COACH? There are pick-up points all across the U.K.! And for the first time ever, you can now book your official coach travel to arrive on Wednesday as well as Thursday, helping you to take advantage of the add-on Wednesday Early Bird ticket option for an extra night of metal shenanigans! For those coming by train into Tamworth station, BLOODSTOCK can also confirm that the shuttle bus to site will also run on Wednesday! Get full info & book your seat with Big Green Coach HERE.
BLOODSTOCK’s 25th anniversary is going to be truly unforgettable. BLOODSTOCK 2026 is delighted to present RJD headliners LAMB OF GOD, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, JUDAS PRIEST, and SAXON. Sophie Lancaster stage headliners will be CRYPTOPSY (None So Vile 30-year anniversary set), WEDNESDAY 13, LEPROUS, and CARPENTER BRUT. You’ll also be able to see BODY COUNT, SEPULTURA, MUNICIPAL WASTE, DEATH ANGEL, TESTAMENT, NORTHLANE, BLEED FROM WITHIN, VENDED, ORBIT CULTURE, THE SCRATCH, IMPERIAL AGE, LIFE OF AGONY, OF MICE & MEN, BIOHAZARD, 200 STAB WOUNDS, THE HELL, BLACK SPIDERS, SHINING, NEVERMORE, EVIL SCARECROW, HEAVYSAURUS, SKYND, PARTY CANNON, BATTLESNAKE, INHUMAN NATURE, KITTIE, CASTLE RAT, GRAPHIC NATURE, BOOTYARD BANDITS, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, HIDDEN INTENT, SELLSWORD, NECKBREAKKER, SEETHING AKIRA, HAMMER, STAMPIN GROUND, URNE, CELESTIAL SANCTUARY, THROWN INTO EXILE, VIKING SKULL, BOUND IN FEAR, IMPERIUM, FROGLORD, MUSHROOMHEAD, DREAM STATE, TRIVAX, MANTIS DEFEATS JAGUAR, BLOOD COUNTESS, GURT, OUTERGODS, FLAYED DISCIPLE, NOISEPICKER, ACID THRONE, ALUNAH, VOID BELOW, TEMPLES ON MARS, NEGATIVE FRAME, CONCRETE AGE, THRASHERWOLF, IMPERIAL DEMONIC, CHAINED SAINT, IMBRIUM, OVERPOWER, UNTAMED SILENCE, CHANGE PERSONA, AFTER SMOKE CLEARS, SOULRIDE, VANITAS, GOAT MAJOR, CANCEL THE TRANSMISSION, TEMPEST SAINT, TROLLMOTHER, DOSED, STITCHED, WREX, FOLLOWING THE SIGNS, THE CARTOON CARTEL, and AETHORIA. And there's still more bands to be announced.
All weekend tickets (including Kyrr) are now sold out, but you can still snap up day tickets for £99 (+fees) to be part of the fun! Not been to the festival before? A day ticket is a perfect taster to see what you think! Child tickets are also available and under 4’s attend for free. Head over to the ticket store to see all options and if you’re coming by car, pre-book to save on car parking!
For the most up to date festival information, visit the official website at bloodstock.uk.com.
BLOODSTOCK 2026 will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th - 9th August, 2026.
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