Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Reload Festival starts today – first bands for next year announced
Preparations for the 20th anniversary of the Reload Festival in 2025 are complete. The starting gun will be fired today (Thursday, August 14, 2025) – and while the excitement is building, the organizers are already announcing the first top acts for 2026. With three exceptional headliners – led by Judas Priest, who will perform in Sulingen for the first time in 2026 – the Reload Festival is kicking off its next big chapter.
Judas Priest – Heavy Metal icons live in Sulingen for the very first time
There are bands without which metal would sound completely different today. Judas Priest is right at the top of that list. Formed in 1969 in Birmingham, they laid the foundation for countless metal subgenres with their twin guitar leads, thunderous riffs, and Rob Halford’s unmistakable voice. They created the blueprint that generations of bands still follow to this day. Anyone who listens to metal hears traces of Judas Priest – which is exactly why their commitment to Reload 2026 is a historic moment.
For the very first time, Judas Priest will take the stage at the Reload Festival – naturally as one of our three headliners. Live, Judas Priest never do things halfway: crushing, precisely played songs, guitars that slice through the crowd like glowing blades, and Rob Halford’s voice soaring between piercing highs and brutal power, making the air vibrate. Thunderous drums resonate in your chest while the band’s stage presence doesn’t just fill the space – it completely owns it.
Their set will be a journey through the history of metal – from legendary anthems like “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight” to high-speed assaults like “Painkiller“. Expect a powerful statement proving that heavy metal in 2026 is as relevant and indestructible as ever – and that legends don’t just live in the past, they write history anew with every performance.
In Flames – The Melodic Death Metal pioneers reignite the fire
In Flames are coming back – for the fourth time after 2015, 2018, and 2023. Few bands appear so regularly on the fans’ wish lists – and with good reason. As co-founders of Melodic Death Metal, In Flames shaped a genre that took heaviness and melody to a whole new level.
Their music constantly plays with contrasts: crushing riffs meet melancholic leads, raw energy meets anthemic choruses. They master the balance between aggression and atmosphere like no other band. Live, In Flames are powerful and dynamic – seamlessly blending classics with new material without losing momentum. Anders Fridén’s voice carries through the lows and highs, while the guitar work burns into the crowd with razor-sharp precision.
Those who were in the pit in 2023 know exactly what’s coming. Those who weren’t – should make up for it in 2026. So: kick up some dust, warm up your voice – In Flames are about to ignite another inferno!
Arch Enemy – Female-fronted, uncompromisingly strong
For the third time after 2016 and 2022, Arch Enemy will storm the Reload Festival stage – and not without reason: they are absolute fan favorites!
Since the late ’90s, Arch Enemy have been shaping uncompromising melodic death metal: precise and melodic – a powerful blend of crushing riffs, driving double bass, aggressive growls, and guitar solos that swing between technical finesse and anthemic grandeur.
Frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz embodies everything metal stands for: expression, power, and attitude, with her ferocious growls and high-energy stage presence. Her growls strike straight to the core, her performance is uncompromising and captivating. In a scene where women are still too often underestimated or seen as exceptions, she sends a clear message: heavy music doesn’t need tough guys – just skill, charisma, and the absolute determination to tear every stage to the ground.
In 2026, there will be no escape: Arch Enemy are back in Sulingen and will unleash a show that takes no prisoners.
We’re building on the anniversary year 2025 and, in 2026, introducing a new festival tradition with three days of Main Stage power. So far, 21 bands have already confirmed their participation in the Reload Festival 2026.
Regular ticket sales began on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Further information about Reload Festival 2025, the bands, and the exclusive ticket sale can be found on the festival homepage: www.reload-festival.de/tickets.
Reload Festival 2026 – August 13–15 – WELCOME HOME!
With: Judas Priest, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Lamb of God, Godsmack, Airbourne, The Ghost Inside, Thy Art Is Murder, Imminence, Amorphis, Paleface Swiss, Nothing More, Orbit Culture, Perturbator, Stick To Your Guns, Vengaboys, ZSK, Dominum, Deafheaven, Vended, Gutalax, and many more!