Some of the major heavy metal festivals scheduled for 2026 include destination cruises and large-scale, multi-day gatherings in North America and Europe. Lineups are still being announced for many, but some bands have been confirmed.
North American Festivals
- 70000 Tons of Metal (January 29–February 2): The world’s biggest heavy metal cruise departs from Miami, with a lineup that includes Anthrax, Amorphis, Dark Tranquility, and many more.
- ShipRocked (January 25–31): Another cruise festival setting sail from Miami. The lineup features Halestorm, Motionless in White, and Knocked Loose.
- Sonic Temple (May 14–17): Held at the Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, this four-day festival will feature a heavy lineup that includes My Chemical Romance, Lorna Shore, Sepultura, and Amon Amarth.
- Maryland Deathfest (May 21–24): Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this festival focuses on death metal and related subgenres. The 2026 lineup features Kreator, Sarcofago, Old Man’s Child, Destruction, Grave, Nevermore, Dying Fetus, and more.
- Milwaukee Metal Fest (June 5–7): Returning to The Rave/Eagles Ballroom, the festival will feature Acid Bath as a headliner, with more bands to be announced.
- Louder Than Life (September 17–20): Taking place at the Highland Festival Grounds in Louisville, Kentucky, with My Chemical Romance and other bands to be announced.
European Festivals
- Wacken Open Air (July 29–August 1): This iconic German festival is one of the largest metal festivals in the world.
- Hellfest (dates TBD): Held in Clisson, France, this festival draws massive crowds and features a diverse metal lineup.
- Graspop Metal Meeting (June 18–21): Taking place in Dessel, Belgium, the lineup includes Limp Bizkit, Volbeat, Bring Me The Horizon, and Sabaton.
- Download Festival (June 10–14): Held at Donington Park in the United Kingdom, this major festival’s lineup will feature Guns N’ Roses, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park.
- Sweden Rock Festival (June 3–6): This Swedish festival features a mix of rock and metal bands, including Iron Maiden and Volbeat.
- Tuska Metal Festival (June 26–28): A major metal festival located in Helsinki, Finland.
- Brutal Assault (August, dates TBD): This festival in the Czech Republic has already confirmed new bands like Bodycount and Misþyrming.
At MetalMania Live Radio, we follow one rule above all: every song played is the live version. No studio polishing, no overdubs—just raw, unfiltered heavy metal and hard rock, straight from the stage. That’s why fans around the world tune in. Nothing captures the energy, intensity, and adrenaline of this music like a live performance, and that’s exactly what we deliver 24/7. Tonight, the Metallica Live Radio Show brings a special treat: a handpicked live recording of Metallica from San Francisco, CA – October 18, 1982, a performance that showcases the band in their earliest, most electrifying days.
Metallica Live in San Francisco, 1982 – Thrash Metal at Its Birth
The San Francisco show represents Metallica at the very start of their career, yet it already demonstrates the force that would define thrash metal for decades. James Hetfield’s searing vocals cut through the roar of the crowd, Lars Ulrich’s drumming pounds relentlessly, and the guitar work is blistering in speed and precision. The audience was on fire from the first note, reacting to every riff and drum fill with the passion only a dedicated live metal crowd can deliver. This wasn’t just a concert—it was a declaration: live heavy metal and hard rock would never be the same.
The setlist is a masterclass in raw, unpolished thrash:
Hit the Lights
The Mechanix
Motorbreath
Jump in the Fire
Phantom Lord
Metal Militia
Seek & Destroy
Each track captures the unfiltered energy of Metallica’s formative years. From the rapid-fire assault of Hit the Lights to the audience-driven frenzy of Seek & Destroy, this performance embodies the power, aggression, and connection that only live metal can deliver.
Major Tour Announcements for 2026
As Metallica continues to dominate the live metal scene, fans have reason to celebrate: the M72 World Tour will extend into 2026, with North American dates from April to June. The tour features powerhouse support acts including Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ice Nine Kills, promising an unforgettable live experience. Tonight’s Metallica Live Radio Show celebrates this announcement by highlighting the band’s live legacy.
Other major events in the live metal world include:
- Welcome to Rockville 2026 reveals a massive lineup of over 160 bands, headlined by Iron Maiden, Limp Bizkit, Gorillaz, and BABYMETAL.
- Lamb of God will tour North America with support from Kublai Khan TX, Fit for an Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg.
- Mötley Crüe marks their 40th anniversary with a North American tour, joined by Tesla and Extreme.
- Brutal Assault 2026 confirms Bodycount and Misþyrming for its lineup.
- Death To All announces The Symbolic Healing Tour across North America.
Current ongoing tours include Queensrÿche, Accept, and Cattle Decapitation on North American legs, the latter supported by Aborted, Frozen Soul, and Tribal Gaze. For more details on live metal and hardcore shows, fans can check resources like Lambgoat.com, while Cherry Hill, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA locals can use venue listings and platforms such as Ticketmaster or Bandsintown.
MetalMania Live Radio – Always Live, Always Metal
At MetalMania Live, studio versions never air. Every track we play is a live recording, capturing the raw power, the sweat, the connection between band and audience, and the untamed energy of true heavy metal and hard rock. From Metallica’s San Francisco 1982 show to legendary performances by Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Pantera, and beyond, we deliver music exactly as it was meant to be heard—loud, live, and unfiltered.
Tonight’s Metallica Live Radio Show featuring San Francisco, CA – October 18, 1982 is a chance to experience the ferocity of the band in its earliest form. Crank the volume, feel the adrenaline, and let MetalMania Live Radio transport the stage directly to you.
MetalMania Live Radio — Every Song Played is the Live Version. Always.
More on tonight’s Metallica live broadcast
MetalMania Live Spotlight: 70,000 Tons of Metal 2026 Sets Public Sales Date and Adds Thrash Icons Anthrax to the Lineup
At MetalMania Live Radio, we operate on one uncompromising principle: every song played is the live version. No studio polish, no overdubs—only raw, unfiltered heavy metal and hard rock captured in the purest form of performance. Fans tune in from around the world because nothing delivers the intensity, the connection, and the adrenaline of this music like a live show—and that’s exactly what we bring 24/7. Tonight, we turn the spotlight to one of the most extreme and exhilarating events in the metal calendar: 70,000 Tons of Metal 2026, which has just announced its public sales date and added legendary thrash metal pioneers Anthrax to the lineup.
70,000 Tons of Metal: The World’s Heaviest Cruise Returns
For more than a decade, 70,000 Tons of Metal has redefined what it means to experience live metal. Unlike conventional festivals, this immersive cruise festival delivers nonstop live performances on the high seas, where fans and bands share intimate, unforgettable moments. Every performance, from the main stage to the smaller shipboard venues, is live, loud, and raw—matching the ethos of MetalMania Live Radio itself. There are no pre-recorded tracks here; every note, scream, and drum fill is authentic, and every song is performed in the live version, capturing the energy that only a metal audience at sea can create.
The 2026 edition promises to outdo itself. With the public sales date officially announced, metal fans now have the chance to secure their spot on this legendary voyage before it sails into history. The ship will once again host fans from across the globe, uniting them in a celebration of extreme metal and hard rock across multiple stages, day and night.
Anthrax Joins the Lineup: Thrash Metal Titans at Sea
One of the most exciting additions to the 2026 lineup is none other than Anthrax, veterans of the New York thrash scene and one of the iconic “Big Four” of thrash alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer. Anthrax’s live performances are a testament to why thrash metal endures—frenetic riffs, thunderous rhythms, and a stage presence that ignites every venue they enter. At 70,000 Tons of Metal, fans can expect nothing less than Anthrax delivering every track in its live incarnation, full of aggression, precision, and the kind of energy that only decades of stage experience can hone.
Adding Anthrax to the lineup ensures that the 2026 voyage will feature a spectrum of thrash history—from the earliest, blistering days of the genre to its modern evolution. Fans aboard the cruise can expect to hear fan-favorite classics performed live, from “Caught in a Mosh” to “Indians”, each track roaring with intensity and authenticity, fully aligned with the MetalMania Live Radio philosophy that every song is the live version.
A Festival Experience Like No Other
What sets 70,000 Tons of Metal apart is the total immersion in live metal culture. From Q&A sessions with artists to intimate meet-and-greets, fans are treated to the full spectrum of metal life—yet always centered around the unifying heartbeat of live music. On this floating fortress of metal, the connection between fans and performers is unmatched, echoing the ethos of MetalMania Live Radio, where the electricity of a live performance can be felt through every broadcast.
The cruise will feature dozens of bands spanning thrash, death, power, and traditional heavy metal, creating a living, breathing festival where the only thing that matters is the live music experience. Every performance is uncut and unedited, ensuring that listeners both on board and tuning in through live broadcasts feel the raw power and communal intensity that define extreme metal.
Lock In Your Spot for 2026
With the public sales date now confirmed, fans of live heavy metal and hard rock can plan to join this unparalleled voyage. The combination of legendary acts like Anthrax, a curated lineup of rising stars, and nonstop live performances ensures that 70,000 Tons of Metal 2026 will once again set the standard for extreme music festivals worldwide.
At MetalMania Live Radio, we celebrate every note played live. Just as Anthrax will tear through the decks of the ship in 2026, we deliver the same intensity, aggression, and authenticity through every broadcast. From classic thrash to modern metal, every song is live, every riff is raw, and every performance carries the pulse of the stage directly to your speakers.
Experience the excitement, the adrenaline, and the unfiltered force of live metal music with MetalMania Live Radio. Crank it up, feel the power, and get ready—70,000 Tons of Metal 2026 is sailing soon, and the live thrash never stops.
MetalMania Live Radio — Every Song Played is the Live Version. Always.