Graf Zeppelin Festival
The metal and rock festival of Lessay in Manche, powered by about fifty volunteers
2026
About Graf Zeppelin
Graf Zeppelin — edition 2026
The Graf Zeppelin Festival returns for its 7th edition at the Espace Culturel de Lessay on Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th, 2026, featuring eleven bands with a strong focus on death metal. Loudblast, Mercyless, Seth, Cyphre, and Wormsand kick things off on Friday, followed by Ten56., Benighted, Akiavel, Jours Pâles, Howard, and B C O on Saturday. Free camping, on-site catering, and skateboarding demonstrations with the Ultra Skate Club round out the weekend.
A 7th edition on June 5th and 6th, 2026
The Graf Zeppelin Festival brings eleven bands to the Espace Culturel de Lessay, at 2 rue de l'Hippodrome, for two nights of extreme music on Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th, 2026. Doors open on Friday at 4:00 PM, and the festival runs until the early hours of Sunday morning. After several editions held in May, this year the Cotentin event moves to the first weekend of June.
A death metal-focused lineup
This edition embraces a distinct death metal aesthetic while maintaining the eclectic spirit that defines the festival: the black metal of Seth and Jours Pâles, the sludge stoner of Wormsand, the deathcore of Ten56., the alternative rock of Howard, and the "black opera" of B C O broaden the spectrum beyond the headliners.
Friday is headlined by Loudblast, a pillar of French death metal since the 1980s and a bridge between thrash and death, led by Stéphane Buriez. Saturday highlights Ten56. and Benighted, a brutal death-grind band active since 1998 around frontman Julien Truchan, who released the album Ekbom in 2024.
A volunteer-run festival
Organized by volunteers, the Graf Zeppelin Festival prides itself on high production standards—sound quality, hospitality, and a friendly atmosphere—while blending concerts, visual arts, and alternative culture. The event is supported by the town of Lessay, the Manche department, and the Côte Ouest Centre Manche community of communes, whose logos appear on the official poster.
Skateboarding, camping, and food
Beyond the music, professional skaters will provide free demonstrations and workshops thanks to the Ultra Skate Club and their inflatable ramp installed on-site. Camping is free, and food and drinks are available throughout the weekend.
Highlights Graf Zeppelin 2026
- 7th edition of the Graf Zeppelin Festival, June 5th and 6th, 2026 at the Espace Culturel de Lessay
- Eleven bands on the bill, with a strong death metal focus
- Loudblast headlining on Friday, June 5th
- Ten56. and Benighted headlining on Saturday, June 6th
- Free skateboarding demonstrations and workshops with the Ultra Skate Club and their inflatable ramp
- Free camping and on-site catering
Programme Graf Zeppelin 2026
Friday, June 5th, 2026 — Doors open at 4:00 PM
- Loudblast — death metal · headliner
- Mercyless — death metal
- Seth — black metal
- Cyphre — death metal
- Wormsand — sludge stoner
Saturday, June 6th, 2026
- Ten56. — deathcore / nu-metalcore · headliner
- Benighted — brutal death metal
- Akiavel — death metal
- Jours Pâles — black metal
- Howard — alternative rock
- B C O (Black Chamber Orchestra) — black opera
Throughout both days: free skateboarding demonstrations and workshops with the Ultra Skate Club and their inflatable ramp, on-site catering, and free camping.
Prices Graf Zeppelin 2026
Graf Zeppelin — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 5 June to 6 June 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Graf Zeppelin
Access
By car
The Espace Culturel de Lessay is located at 2 rue de l'Hippodrome, 50430 Lessay, on the west coast of the Cotentin. It is accessible via the D900 from Coutances or the D2 from Saint-Lô.
Tickets
- Weekend pass (2 days): €60 full price
- 1-day pass: €36 full price
Online ticketing available via Weezevent.
On-site
- Camping: free
- Food and drink: available on-site throughout the festival
Contact
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 06 20 71 49 79
- Website: festivalgrafzeppelin.com
Graf Zeppelin Festival: Metal roars in Lessay
Founded in 2019 by the Varoukustom association, the Graf Zeppelin Festival is a metal and rock music festival held annually at the Espace Culturel de Lessay, in the Manche department. From its very first edition in September 2019, the festival set the bar high with a lineup of 15 bands over three days, covering the entire metal spectrum.
All styles of metal in the spotlight
The Graf Zeppelin Festival celebrates the diversity of heavy music. From hard rock to grindcore, including heavy metal, death metal, black metal, hardcore, and French rock, the programming is broad enough to satisfy every fan of powerful riffs and hard-hitting rhythms. Notable bands from previous editions include Lofofora, Shaârghot, Aorlhac, Appalooza, and Pénitence Onirique.
A volunteer-run, non-profit festival
The Graf Zeppelin Festival is entirely driven by passionate volunteers. Around fifty volunteers come together each year to organize the event, handling everything from programming and logistics to catering and guest services. This community spirit creates the warm, friendly atmosphere typical of intimate, human-scale festivals.
Strong local roots
Based at the Espace Culturel de Lessay, the festival enjoys a venue perfectly suited for amplified concerts in the heart of the Cotentin peninsula. The Graf Zeppelin Festival is a key part of the cultural life in Lessay, a town already famous for its thousand-year-old fair and the Heures Musicales at the abbey. After its debut in September 2019, the festival settled into a two-day format, from Friday to Saturday, held in late spring: May for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions, followed by the first weekend of June for the 7th edition, on June 5th and 6th, 2026. It is supported by the town of Lessay, the Manche department, and the Côte Ouest Centre Manche community of municipalities.
Where does it take place — Graf Zeppelin
Graf Zeppelin in brief
Other festivals near Lessay
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