Europe hosts many incredible heavy metal festivals, catering to all tastes from traditional to extreme metal.
Here’s a list of six festivals in different countries that you’ll love to learn about, including their history, fun facts, and the main bands that have graced their stages.
Get ready to dive into the best of heavy metal through these spectacular European festivals!
Metal Festivals in Europe
1. Copenhell – DENMARK
2. Wacken Open Air – GERMANY
3. Sweden Rock Festival – SWEDEN
4. Hellfest – FRANCE
5. Tuska Open Air Metal Festival – FINLAND
6. Inferno Metal Festival – NORWAY
1. Copenhell – DENMARK
Copenhell is Denmark’s largest rock and metal festival and one of the premier events in Northern Europe. Held in Copenhagen since 2010, Copenhell stands out due to its unique location: it’s the only rock and metal festival held in the heart of a major city, specifically on the Refshaleøen peninsula in Denmark’s capital.
The festival typically takes place during the third week of June over four days, drawing about 30,000 people per day.
Artists like Helloween, Ghost, Bruce Dickinson, Crypta, Avenged Sevenfold, Gojira, Korn, Tool, Slipknot, Halestorm, Opeth, Megadeth, Rise Against, and Iron Maiden have performed at Copenhell.
Besides enjoying performances on three stages, attendees can indulge in entertainment areas, food, drinks, and merchandise.
Being an urban event, most attendees stay in nearby hotels, hostels, or apartments, as the festival site is just a ten-minute bike ride from the city center. Walking and bus options are also available, and there are several camping areas nearby.
- Location: Refshaleøen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Time of year: Generally the third week of June
- Capacity: Approximately 30,000 people per day
- Website: copenhell.dk
2. Wacken Open Air – GERMANY
Wacken Open Air is the most famous metal festival in the world, attracting fans from all corners of the globe.
The festival’s history began in 1990 in the village of Wacken in northern Germany. More than 150 artists perform across various stages. Attendees have the chance to see renowned metal acts like Iron Maiden, Helloween, and Judas Priest, as well as discover new bands.
Tickets usually sell out the year before, even before the full lineup is announced.
The festival typically occurs in the first week of August over four days, with around 25,000 people attending daily.
Despite its excellent infrastructure and organization, rain can turn the festival grounds muddy, so it’s wise to bring rubber boots and waterproof gear.
Hamburg, the nearest major city, is about 80 km away and connected by train to Itzehoe, from where shuttles run to the festival. Most attendees camp on-site.
- Location: Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
- Time of year: Generally the first week of August
- Capacity: Approximately 25,000 people per day
- Website: wacken.com
Concerts in Europe: Rock and Metal schedule
3. Sweden Rock Festival – SWEDEN
Home to great rock and heavy metal bands, Sweden hosts one of Europe’s premier festivals, the Sweden Rock Festival. It takes place in Norje, near Sölvesborg, in southern Sweden, about 130 km from Malmö (Sweden) and 175 km from Copenhagen (Denmark).
The festival began in 1992 as Sommarfestivalen i Olofström and was renamed Sweden Rock Festival in 1999.
Typically held in the first week of June over four days, the festival boasts five stages and ample space for food, drinks, camping, and band merchandise. It’s also notable for its proximity to the ocean.
Visitors from over 50 countries attend Sweden Rock Festival each year, averaging 35,000 attendees per day.
Over its 30-year history, bands like Ghost, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Black Sabbath, HammerFall, Scorpions, Volbeat, Alter Bridge, In Flames, Accept, and Mercyful Fate have performed.
Public transport is a convenient way to reach Sweden Rock, with Sölvesborg Station being the closest. Buses run from the station to the festival site, and detailed travel information is available on the festival’s website.
- Location: Norjebokevägen 2, Norje, Sölvesborg, Sweden
- Time of year: Generally the first week of June
- Capacity: Approximately 35,000 people per day
- Website: swedenrock.com
4. Hellfest – FRANCE
Hellfest is one of the major metal and rock festivals during the European summer. This festival, held in Clisson, about 35 km from Nantes in western France, started in 2006.
Typically, the French festival takes place in the last week of June over four days, with around 60,000 people attending daily.
More than 200 artists perform at the event. In keeping with the tradition of major European festivals, the first acts are announced a year in advance.
Hellfest has hosted many great bands, including Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Rancid, Mastodon, Alter Bridge, Rise Against, Tool, and Gojira.
In addition to music, there are entertainment areas, merchandise stands, and food and drink options. The festival also features camping facilities.
One of the best ways to reach Hellfest is by train. Clisson Station is about 2.5 km from the festival site, with a free shuttle running from the west parking area.
- Location: Clisson, Pays de la Loire, France
- Time of year: Generally the last week of June
- Capacity: Approximately 60,000 people per day
- Website: hellfest.fr
5. Tuska Open Air Metal Festival – FINLAND
Tuska Open Air Metal Festival is the largest metal festival in Finland and one of the key events in Scandinavia.
The first edition was held in 1998. Since 2011, the festival has been based at the Suvilahti cultural center, a former power plant in Helsinki.
Usually, the festival takes place in the last week of June over three days, with around 21,000 people attending daily.
The lineup features both established and emerging bands across various metal genres. Ghost, Slayer, Gojira, Kreator, Arch Enemy, HIM, Behemoth, Avatar, and Amorphis are among the artists who have performed.
Tuska also offers space for other arts and topics, such as craft exhibitions and mental health awareness.
Tuska Open Air Metal Festival accepts only electronic payments (card and contactless).
The best way to reach the festival is by metro. Kalasatama Station is less than 1 km from the venue and easily accessible from central Helsinki. There are also night bus routes.
- Location: Suvilahti, Helsinki, Finland
- Time of year: Generally the last week of June
- Capacity: Approximately 21,000 people per day
- Website: tuska.fi
6. Inferno Metal Festival – NORWAY
Inferno Metal Festival is a historic extreme metal festival held in Oslo, Norway. Death and black metal, industrial, doom, and thrash are some of the highlighted subgenres.
Unlike other festivals on this list, Inferno Metal Festival takes place across multiple venues: the Rockefeller Music Hall and John Dee, also with special events in bars like Kniven and Rock In.
Traditionally, the festival occurs over four days during Easter.
Over more than 20 editions, Inferno Metal Festival has hosted bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Gorgoroth, Crypta, Candlemass, Amorphis, Dark Funeral, Emperor, Opeth, Napalm Death, Carcass, Moonspell, Taake, and Suffocation.
The festival venues are centrally located in Oslo, making them easily accessible by public transport and within walking distance from many points in the city.
- Location: Oslo, Norway
- Time of year: Generally at Easter
- Website: infernofestival.net
More and more rock and heavy metal fans are traveling to attend these and many other festivals across Europe. Have you had the chance to participate in any of them? Share your experiences in the comments, Red Bird!
