The 10 Best Rock and Metal Music Festivals in 2027
By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Direct answer
Wacken Open Air in Germany is the best rock and metal festival, with Hellfest in France at #2 and Download Festival in England (9-13 June 2027) at #3. The ranking weighs metal identity, scale and track record.
Photo: Andreas Lawen, Fotandi / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe world’s biggest metal festival.
When: 28-31 July 2027Where: Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, GermanyFounded: 1990Bands: Around 200 bands over four daysAttendance: Around 85,000 metalheads from more than 80 countriesSite: 240-hectare site including campgrounds
Wacken Open Air, founded in 1990, runs 28-31 July 2027 in Wacken, Germany. It draws around 200 bands and around 85,000 metalheads from more than 80 countries to a 240-hectare site.
Go ifThe full heavy metal pilgrimage, camping included
Skip ifYou want a short, quiet weekend
Why #1 over #2: Its scale and metal focus edge Hellfest.
2
Hellfest
Photo: Don-vip / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFrance’s metal heavyweight and Europe’s most diverse extreme metal bill.
When: 17-20 June 2027Where: Clisson, FranceFounded: 2006Lineup: 350 bands in 2022Attendance: 60,000 people per day in 20224-day pass: 389 euros, as listed on the official site
Hellfest, founded in 2006, takes over Clisson from 17-20 June 2027. In 2022 it featured 350 bands and drew 60,000 people per day.
Go ifHard rock and extreme metal on six stages
Skip ifYou dislike big crowds in June heat
Why #2 over #3: Its extreme-metal range edges Download.
3
Download Festival
Photo: Andy Harbach / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe United Kingdom’s largest rock festival.
When: 9-13 June 2027Where: Donington Park, Leicestershire, EnglandFounded: 2003Attendance: 75,000-80,000 in recent yearsHeritage: Created as a successor to Monsters of Rock, held at Donington until 1996
Download Festival returns to Donington Park on 9-13 June 2027. Founded in 2003 as a successor to Monsters of Rock, it draws 75,000-80,000 in recent years.
Go ifRock and metal fans who want a UK headline weekend
Skip ifYou want pure underground metal only
Why #3 over #4: Its headline weekend edges Graspop for UK fans.
4
Graspop Metal Meeting
Photo: TheFoxxo / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictBelgium’s metal meeting that packs a huge crowd into small grounds.
When: Annual (usually late June)Where: Dessel, BelgiumFounded: 1996Visitors: 220,000 visitors in 2022 and 2023Stages: Two main stages, Marquee, Metal Dome and Jupiler StageSite: Grounds with a perimeter of only about 4 km
Graspop Metal Meeting, founded in 1996 in Dessel, Belgium, drew 220,000 visitors in 2022 and 2023 on grounds with a perimeter of only about 4 km. It is usually held in late June.
Go ifA compact festival with a worldwide metal crowd
Skip ifYou need confirmed 2027 dates today
Why #4 over #5: Its metal focus edges Rock am Ring.
5
Rock am Ring
Photo: Achim Raschka (talk) / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictGermany’s biggest rock weekend at the Nürburgring.
When: 4-6 June 2027Where: Nürburgring, Nürburg, GermanyFounded: 1985Format: Five days of camping and three days of concertsTwin festival: Rock im Park in Nuremberg shares nearly identical lineupsFirst edition: 75,000 audience members in 1985
Rock am Ring, founded in 1985, runs 4-6 June 2027 at the Nürburgring with five days of camping and three days of concerts; its twin, Rock im Park, shares nearly identical lineups.
Go ifRock and metal on a motor-racing circuit
Skip ifYou want only heavy metal
Why #5 over #6: Its history edges Welcome to Rockville.
6
Welcome to Rockville
Photo: 350z33 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Florida rock and metal blowout.
When: May 6-9, 2027Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FloridaFounded: 2011First edition: Held in Jacksonville, Florida, headlined by GodsmackAttendance: 200,000 over four days in 2024
Welcome to Rockville, founded in 2011, runs May 6-9, 2027 at Daytona International Speedway and drew 200,000 over four days in 2024.
Go ifA four-day US rock and metal weekend in Florida
Skip ifYou want a small, intimate lineup
Why #6 over #7: Its set dates edge Louder Than Life.
7
Louder Than Life
Photo: MitchDoner / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictLouisville’s autumn rock and metal festival.
When: Annual (September; the 2026 edition ran September 17-20)Where: Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, KentuckyFounded: 2014Length: Four days since 2021Attendance: 265,000 in 2026 (estimate)Extras: Whiskey, craft beer, gourmet food and multiple exhibits
Louder Than Life, founded in 2014, runs four days each September at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, with whiskey, craft beer and gourmet food around the stages.
Go ifAmerican rock and metal with Kentucky whiskey
Skip ifYou need confirmed 2027 dates today
Why #7 over #8: Its rock and metal focus edges Bloodstock for scale.
8
Bloodstock Open Air
Photo: Douglas86 / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe UK’s largest independent metal festival.
When: August 5-8 2027Where: Catton Park, Derbyshire, EnglandFounded: 2001Open-air since: 2005Attendance: Around 20,000New Blood stage: Reserved for at least thirty new and unsigned bands
Bloodstock Open Air runs August 5-8 2027 at Catton Park in Derbyshire; it began in 2001 and has been open-air since 2005 with around 20,000 attendees.
Go ifUnderground-friendly heavy metal in the English countryside
Skip ifYou want mainstream pop-rock headliners
Why #8 over #9: Its underground focus edges Copenhell.
9
Copenhell
Photo: Pugilist / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictHell in the middle of Copenhagen.
When: 23-26 June 2027Where: Refshaleøen, Copenhagen, DenmarkFounded: 2010Headliners: Faith No More, Judas Priest and D-A-D announced for 2027Stages: Helviti, Hades, Pandæmonium and Gehenna
Copenhell, founded in 2010, runs 23-26 June 2027 at Refshaleøen in Copenhagen, with Faith No More, Judas Priest and D-A-D announced.
Go ifA metal festival inside a capital city
Skip ifYou want to camp on site
Why #9 over #10: Its city setting edges Resurrection Fest.
10
Resurrection Fest
Photo: Bene Riobó / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictSpain’s heaviest summer festival.
When: June 30 to July 3, 2027Where: Viveiro, Lugo, SpainFounded: 2006Genres: Heavy metal, hardcore punk and punk rockRecord attendance: 54,500 in 2015Length: Four days since 2015
Resurrection Fest, founded in 2006, runs June 30 to July 3, 2027 in Viveiro, mixing heavy metal, hardcore punk and punk rock; its record attendance was 54,500 in 2015.
Go ifMetal, hardcore and punk on the Spanish coast
Skip ifYou want a festival with a long pure-metal history
How we ranked these
We ranked each festival on rock and metal identity, scale and track record, using published 2027 dates only where the official site states them. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
When is Wacken Open Air 2027?
28-31 July 2027, in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
When is Hellfest 2027?
17-20 June 2027, in Clisson, France.
When is Download Festival 2027?
9-13 June 2027, at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
When is Welcome to Rockville 2027?
May 6-9, 2027, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Year the festival began at a glance
Rock am Ring1,985 year
Wacken Open Air1,990 year
Graspop Metal Meeting1,996 year
Bloodstock Open Air2,001 year
Download Festival2,003 year
Hellfest2,006 year
Resurrection Fest2,006 year
Copenhell2,010 year
Welcome to Rockville2,011 year
Louder Than Life2,014 year
Year the festival began, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
