With just eight weeks to go til you can finally scream, “BLOODSTOCK we’re home!” there’s an ever constant stream of news to share.

Have you been following the first batch of the METAL 2 THE MASSES finals? Cue much excitement and a drum roll please, for the first group of winners landing slots on the Stowford Press New Blood Stage can now be revealed! 

On Friday, bear witness to East Anglian aggressors REGICIDE, offering a blend of thrash/groove metal with hardcore elements, Belfast death/thrash champions MICROTONAL, modern melo-death crew ATARKA who won the Birmingham round, and explosive hardcore five-piece BAILED OUT from Leeds.

Saturday welcomes Sheffield metalcore victors DESCENDANCY and cathartic Northants noiseniks DEAD BAIT.  

Sunday adds diverse Scottish top dogs CHEKHOV’S GUN (whose striking sound is matched by a visceral live show, fronted by a flamboyant Lithuanian ballroom dancer!), Manchester’s prog metal quintet TECHNOLOGIST, doom-inspired SUNK who came first for the South Coast region, collaborative Cyprus conquerors JOAKEM, and formidable death metal unifiers KA’APER, comprised of both Russian and Ukrainian musicians.  

Lots more bands to be confirmed still as the METAL 2 THE MASSES finals around the country continue! Make your way to the one nearest you and help shape the festival line-up!

BLOODSTOCKers, unfortunately we also have to share that OF MICE & MEN have cancelled performing, sending this note: “Due to circumstances beyond our control we sadly won’t be able to make it out to Europe this summer as planned. Thanks to all the fans, festivals & promoters we were looking forward to playing for.”  BLOODSTOCK wishes the band well. 

While we know that is disappointing news, BLOODSTOCK has lined up excellent death metal squad SANGUISUGABOGG to step into their shoes. The band declare, “Hey mate! Seems like your favorite death dealing degenerates just hocked up their hairball of a logo all over your Bloodstock flyer! We can’t wait to be in England to melt faces and rock out at Bloodstock, so pack up your broomsticks and your toast and beans and let’s party together – we couldn’t be anymore psyched!” You can catch them as direct support to LEPROUS on Saturday on the Sophie Lancaster stage. Rumours you can win a prize for correctly spelling their name in a BLOODSTOCK Spelling Bee are unfounded.

How about an on site treasure hunt to win BLOODSTOCK 2027 tickets? Are you a master of the side quest?!

Get yourself over to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation charity stand (next to the main stage) to get an entry form and then get hunting for 10 special S.O.P.H.I.E. signs around BLOODSTOCK.

If you are able, a recommended donation to the charity is £2. One winner will get a pair of BLOODSTOCK 2027 weekend tickets! Competition closes at 4pm on Sunday.

For early birds, Wednesday night is movie night in the Midgard campsite! 

Kicking off at 7:30pm, the first showing at MIDGARD MOVIES will be DEVIN TOWNSEND’S THE MOTH! The Moth tells the story of the human experience from birth to death. The narrative is brought to life with the Noord Nederlands Orkest (North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra), a sixty-member choir, and his band. Best known for his groundbreaking metal, progressive rock, and ambient music, Devin Townsend has pushed the boundaries of genre across his 30-year career and established an unparalleled artistic legacy. 

Two more movies will follow and you can have your say on which ones! Head to BLOODSTOCK’s Facebook for the post about movies to cast your vote.

BLOODSTOCK can also confirm that the popular Black Beer Bar, sponsored by Motorhead’s Dance With The Devil stout, will return in 2026 as one of eighteen bars on site! The full line-up of beverages on site across all bars is still being finalised, but to wet your whistle you can expect to see options from at least the following: Westons Cider, Molson Coors, Camerons, Oakham, Thornbridge, Titanic, Lilleys, and Dancing Duck, with more to come.

Got your ticket and making plans already? BLOODSTOCK’s dedicated one-stop-shop with PREO is now up and running, featuring an array of festival goodies from nice-to-have to downright essential! From beers, ciders, and wine (for the first time!) to merch, airbeds, duvets/pillows, and more, you can secure your items in advance from one online shop. There’s also a limited edition sun hat from Fat Franks for just £5, with all proceeds going to the Samaritans. No lugging it from your car, just collect on your arrival, ice cold from the Midgard campsite bar at BLOODSTOCK! For more info and to explore the online shop, visit the Bloodstock Festival Preo store.

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL – 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.

You can also travel by car using LIFTSHARE! Liftshare connect metal loving drivers and passengers going in the same direction. By sharing a spare seat or two, this reduces the number of cars on the road travelling to the festival and subsequently reduces carbon emissions as well as traffic jams. Explore more 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, 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, AETHORIA and more.  See the full lineup at the official website. 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.