The Biggest Rock & Metal Festivals From Around The World

 1. Wacken Open Air

Location: Wacken, Germany

When: Early August

Past Headliners: Iron Maiden, Slayer, Rammstein, Judas Priest, Slipknot

Attendance: ~85,000

Why It’s Big: The most legendary metal gathering on Earth. Sells out annually within hours. A full-on pilgrimage for metalheads.

2. Download Festival

Location: Donington Park, UK

When: Mid-June

Past Headliners: Metallica, KISS, Tool, System of a Down, Avenged Sevenfold

Attendance: ~100,000

Why It’s Big: Britain’s flagship heavy music festival. Historic grounds, iconic sets, and a relentless atmosphere.

3. Hellfest

Location: Clisson, France

When: Late June

Past Headliners: Deftones, Gojira, Nine Inch Nails, Guns N’ Roses, Faith No More

Attendance: ~180,000 (across 4 days)

Why It’s Big: Jaw-dropping stage production. Massive genre diversity. One of Europe’s largest music festivals, period.

4. Rock am Ring / Rock im Park

Location: Nürburgring & Nuremberg, Germany

When: Early June

Past Headliners: Foo Fighters, Muse, Green Day, Korn, Thirty Seconds to Mars

Attendance: ~150,000 combined

Why It’s Big: A twin festival powerhouse balancing mainstream rock and heavier acts and massive crowds

5. Graspop Metal Meeting

Dessel, Belgium

When: Mid to Late June

Past Headliners: Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Scorpions, Slipknot

Attendance: ~150,000 (across 4 days)

Why It’s Big: A brutal lineup every year, unmatched dedication to metal in all its subgenres. Europe’s loudest family reunion.

6. Sweden Rock Festival

Location: Sölvesborg, Sweden

When: Early June

Past Headliners: Aerosmith, Judas Priest, ZZ Top, Def Leppard, Black Sabbath

Attendance: ~40,000

Why It’s Big: Ideal for fans of classic rock, glam, and vintage heavy metal. Family-friendly with legendary headliners.

7. Bloodstock Open Air

Location: Derbyshire, UK

When: Mid-August

Past Headliners: Amon Amarth, Behemoth, Gojira, Lamb of God, Nightwish

Attendance: ~20,000

Why It’s Big: Independent and fiercely loyal to the underground metal community.

8. Summer Breeze Open Air

Location: Dinkelsbühl, Germany

When: Mid-August

Past Headliners: In Flames, Arch Enemy, Sabaton, Children of Bodom, Powerwolf

Attendance: ~45,000

Why It’s Big: Packed with melodic death, thrash, and folk metal. Known for its tight-knit vibe and killer lineup.

9. Aftershock Festival

Location: Sacramento, California, USA

When: Early to Mid-October

Past Headliners: Tool, Metallica, Pantera, Korn, My Chemical Romance

Attendance: ~160,000 (over 4 days)

Why It’s Big: One of North America’s largest rock festivals. A heavyweight mix of legacy acts and alt-metal trailblazers.

10. Resurrection Fest

Location: Viveiro, Spain

When: Early July

Past Headliners: Parkway Drive, Ghost, Mastodon, Bring Me the Horizon, Rancid

Attendance: ~40,000

Why It’s Big: Spain’s premiere heavy music fest—equal parts metal, punk, and hardcore with beach-town charm.