NEWS: Fortress Festival announces first wave of bands for 2026
“May the infinity haunt me… in darkness.”
The UK’s biggest festival for atmospheric and esoteric black metal has dropped its first wave of announcements. These bands join Emperor, who were the first to be announced as a UK 2026 exclusive – a hyped appearance and certainly a band that have always been fated to be a Fortress headliner some day. This wave includes twelve more additions to the line-up.
Among these bands we certainly have some favourites which play into Fortress‘ mission: to bring the absolute underground of black metal onto a stage and to an audience they truly deserve. These are bands that flourished in dark corners of the internet, spreading organically through word of mouth and sustained hype without algorithmic manipulation. Putting them all together creates an event for a niche audience. If you know, you know, and oh boy, do we know – check out our report from the 2024 instance of the event here.
The first band we’ll highlight are Gris, one of the most respected depressive and atmospheric black metal bands of all time. This state of royalty has been bestowed upon them simply based on their studio albums, especially Il était une forêt… and À l’âme enflammée, l’äme constellée…. If we’re getting Gris, it makes perfect sense that Miserere Luminis are also playing, as they share two key members. Miserere Luminis offer a more modern take on post and atmospheric black metal, perhaps just as bleak and depressing as Gris.
Speaking of modern and current bands, Yellow Eyes join the line-up and are playing a full set dedicated to Confusion Gate. Their sound is certainly more esoteric and dissonant, carrying a thread of raw DIY energy across an already massive discography. And, speaking of modern, big discographies, this is an incredibly rare chance to see Trhä, the atmospheric black metal project from Damián Antón Ojeda of Sadness fame. With 41 albums we can’t guess what they might draw their material from, only that it will be an emotionally urgent and engrossing set.
Fortress will take place on the 29th and 30th May 2027 at Scarborough Spa. Tickets are already 70% sold, and we don’t expect there to be further allocation, and can be grabbed here.
Full line up to date:
Emperor UK Exclusive
Gràb Worldwide Exclusive
Miserere Luminis UK Debut/Exclusive
Gris Worldwide Live Debut
Tardigrada UK Debut/Exclusive
Yellow Eyes‘Confusion Gate’ Full Album Set UK Exclusive
Mourir UK Debut/Exclusive
Trha UK Debut/Exclusive
SlagmaurUK Exclusive
Havukruunu UK Exclusive
Sinmara UK Exclusive
Forteresse Special UK Exclusive Set
Dungeontroll Worldwide Exclusive Set
