Ankea Festival brings prog, post-rock and alternative metal to Tampere in summer 2026

A brand new open-air festival is set to shake up Finland’s summer season. Ankea Festival, a two-day celebration of progressive metal, post-rock and alternative sounds, will debut on June 5–6, 2026, bringing a uniquely atmospheric experievnce to Tampere’s lakeside Hiedanranta industrial area. The first wave of artists has now been revealed, showcasing an ambitious and eclectic lineup.

Situated by Lake Näsijärvi in a former industrial zone covered in graffiti and urban art, Ankea Festival sets out to be a haven for fans seeking something different from the country’s major mainstream events. The inaugural edition will feature over 20 artists across the two days, with the newly announced names already turning heads.

A diverse first lineup announcement

The festival will welcome Norwegian metal visionary and multi-instrumentalist Ihsahn, Irish post-rock titans God Is An Astronaut, Icelandic mystical post-punk trio Kaelan Mikla, and Finland’s own boundary-smashing psychedelic force Oranssi Pazuzu.

Joining them are additional acts confirmed for 2026: Green Carnation, Circle, A.A. Williams, Bruce Soord, Earthside, Ihlo, Vermilia and Virta — with more artists still to be announced.

A new festival with a distinctive identity

Ankea Festival will take place in and around the Hiedanranta industrial site, where organizers expect several thousand attendees. Full details on the festival grounds, food vendors, drinks and additional programming will be shared during the winter.

Behind the new event are two Tampere-based promoters: Alt Agency & Management, known for its work in indie and alternative rock bookings, and Nahka Agency, a well-established player in the Finnish metal touring circuit. Together, they aim to curate an intimate, artist-focused festival with an emphasis on high-quality programming and accessibility.

In a joint statement, promoters Sami Silvennoinen (Nahka Agency) and Marko Nikula (Alt Agency) describe their vision:

“Ankea Festival is an exploration into the world of alternative music. Our aim is to showcase acts from genres with limited representation at summer festivals in Finland and the Nordic countries. With the super atmospheric and unique Hiedanranta site as our home, we’ll try our best to offer an experience like no other — right down to the smallest detail, including food and drinks.”

Ankea Festival 2026 confirmed artists:

Ihsahn (NO), God Is An Astronaut (IE), Oranssi Pazuzu (FI), Kaelan Mikla (IS), Green Carnation (NO), Circle (FI), A.A. Williams (UK), Bruce Soord (UK), Earthside (UK), Ihlo (UK), Vermilia (FI), Virta (FI). More artists to be announced later.

Two-day tickets are priced at 149.90€ and will go on sale Thursday, November 27 at 9:00 CET through the official website: ankeafestival.com