Hellfest Open Air Festival
The biggest metal and extreme music festival in France
About Hellfest
Hellfest is the biggest extreme music festival in France and one of the most important in Europe. Created in 2006 in Clisson, Loire-Atlantique, it welcomes over 60,000 festival-goers per day on a 21-hectare site every June. Its lineup, spread across six stages, covers a wide spectrum from hard rock to extreme metal, including punk and hardcore, with leading international headliners.
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The European temple of metal since 2006
Founded in 2006 by Ben Barbaud and Yoann Le Nevé, the Hellfest Open Air Festival has established itself over two decades as the unmissable event for extreme music lovers in Europe. Heir to the Fury Fest (2002-2005), the festival was born at the Val de Moine sports complex in Clisson, a small wine-growing town 35 kilometers southeast of Nantes, in the Nantes vineyard. What started with 22,000 spectators at the first edition has become an international event attracting over 60,000 festival-goers per day and generating over 35 million euros in economic impact.
Six stages for all shades of metal
Hellfest's uniqueness lies in its ability to bring together all facets of heavy music on six stages. The two Mainstages host international headliners — hard rock, heavy metal, alternative metal — while the four covered stages (The Altar, The Temple, The Valley, and The Warzone) are dedicated to more extreme music: death metal, black metal, doom, stoner, grindcore, hardcore, and punk. This eclectic lineup allows the festival to offer over 180 bands per edition, from living legends to the most daring discoveries.
Over the years, Hellfest has hosted the biggest names in the global metal scene: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Guns N' Roses, Slayer, Scorpions, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Megadeth, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Slipknot, Muse, Linkin Park, and many others.
A unique immersive experience
Hellfest is more than just its concerts. The 21-hectare site is a true themed universe with a refined aesthetic, dotted with monumental sculptures, decors inspired by metal imagery, and spectacular artistic installations. The Hellfest Corner, a permanent space open all year round, extends the experience with a bar, restaurant, shop, and exhibitions. The festival also offers a campsite that can accommodate tens of thousands of campers, with various options ranging from classic camping to the all-comfort Easy Camp.
A major economic and cultural player
With over 1,500 seasonal employees, Hellfest has become the third-largest festival in France in terms of attendance and the first in terms of revenue among French music festivals. Organized by the association Hellfest Productions, it is a considerable economic driver for the Clisson region and the entire Loire-Atlantique department. The festival is also committed to environmental responsibility with initiatives for waste sorting, reducing its carbon footprint, and raising public awareness.
Hellfest — edition 2026
21st edition of Hellfest in Clisson. 183 artists scheduled from June 18 to 21, 2026, across 6 stages, with 85 bands appearing for the first time. Iron Maiden, Bring Me The Horizon, Limp Bizkit, and The Offspring headlining, accompanied by Megadeth, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, A Perfect Circle, and Behemoth.
21st Edition: Iron Maiden Celebrates 50 Years of Career at Hellfest
Hellfest 2026 will take place from June 18 to 21 in Clisson with 183 artists spread across the festival's six stages, including 85 bands performing on the hallowed grounds of Val de Moine for the first time. The 4-day passes once again sold out in minutes during the sale on July 8, 2025, even before the lineup announcement.
Each day will be marked by an exceptional headliner: Bring Me The Horizon opens the festival on Thursday, Iron Maiden — celebrating 50 years of career with the Run For Your Lives Tour — takes over the Mainstage on Friday, Limp Bizkit makes an explosive return on Saturday, and The Offspring closes the festival on Sunday with a special punk rock day.
The lineup features genre pioneers like Deep Purple and Alice Cooper, thrash metal heavyweights Megadeth and Sepultura (farewell tour), current sensations like Bad Omens and Blood Incantation, and long-awaited reunions: Acid Bath and The Dillinger Escape Plan are reforming for the occasion. A Perfect Circle, Breaking Benjamin, Volbeat, Behemoth, Cult of Luna, Amenra, Igorrr, Kadavar, and Ultra Vomit complete an exceptional lineup blending legends and discoveries.
Programme Hellfest 2026
2026 Headliners
- Bring Me The Horizon — Thursday, June 18 (Mainstage)
- Iron Maiden — Friday, June 19 (Mainstage) — 50th Anniversary Run For Your Lives Tour
- Limp Bizkit — Saturday, June 20 (Mainstage)
- The Offspring — Sunday, June 21 (Mainstage)
Other Major Artists
- Megadeth
- Deep Purple
- Alice Cooper
- A Perfect Circle
- Breaking Benjamin
- Sepultura (farewell tour)
- Volbeat
- Behemoth
- Bad Omens
- Blood Incantation
- Cult of Luna
- Amenra
- Igorrr
- Kadavar
- Ultra Vomit
- Acid Bath (reunion)
- The Dillinger Escape Plan (reunion)
Highlights Hellfest 2026
- 183 artists including 85 newcomers to Hellfest
- Iron Maiden headlining for their 50th career anniversary
- Reunions of Acid Bath and The Dillinger Escape Plan
- Megadeth, Deep Purple, and Alice Cooper among the legends
- Special punk rock day on Sunday with The Offspring
- 55,000 4-day passes sold before lineup announcement
- Over 60,000 festival-goers expected daily
Prices Hellfest 2026
Practical information — Hellfest
Practical Information
Site Access
Hellfest takes place on a dedicated 21-hectare site in Clisson, 35 km southeast of Nantes, in Loire-Atlantique.
- By car: From Nantes, take the N149 towards Clisson (approx. 40 minutes). From Paris, take the A11 motorway then A83 (approx. 4 hours). Parking lots are available near the site.
- By train: Clisson SNCF station, served by TER from Nantes (approx. 30 minutes). Shuttles between the station and the festival site.
- By bus: Special shuttles are provided from Nantes and park-and-ride lots throughout the festival.
Camping
Camping opens on the Wednesday before the festival. Several options are available: classic camping (included in the pass) and Easy Camp (all-comfort accommodation, extra charge). Access to Easy Camp requires a 4-day pass.
Ticketing
4-day passes go on sale on tickets.hellfest.fr, usually in July of the previous year. Tickets sell out in minutes (55,000 passes sold almost instantly for 2026). An official resale platform is available for festival-goers who can no longer attend.
Indicative prices
4-day pass: approx. €329 (2025 price). 1-day pass: available depending on editions. Prices include access to classic camping.
On-site
The festival has numerous food stalls, bars, merchandise stands, rest areas, and water points. Cashless payment is mandatory on site. Lockers, phone charging stations, and first aid stations are available.
Contact
- Email: [email protected]
- Official website: hellfest.fr
- Ticketing: tickets.hellfest.fr
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Hellfest at the best price.
Sponsored link
Where does it take place — Hellfest
Site du Hellfest — Complexe sportif du Val de Moine
Rue du Champ Louet, 44190 Clisson