Final News Round-Up From BLOODSTOCK + How/When To Get Tix For 2026

FINAL NEWS ROUND-UP FROM BLOODSTOCK

(and the lowdown on how and when to get the cheapest tickets for 2026)

BLOODSTOCK IS NEXT WEEK!!! Let that sink in, only one more weekend to go!!

And there’s a whole host of information to share from more details about this year’s event to how and when you can get the cheapest tickets for 2026, so read on, dear metalhead, for the full lowdown.

OZZY

First off though, all at Team BLOODSTOCK are devastated at the loss of Ozzy, the one and only Prince Of Darkness. Some members of our team were lucky enough to be at Villa Park for the almighty Black Sabbath’s incredible final show, others watched the live stream… all were moved. The impact that Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne had on heavy metal can never be overstated. It’s been touching to see all the tributes from across the world since his passing, and we know BLOODSTOCKers have big hearts. There will now be an unmissable 17m Ozzy tribute wall next to the main stage (by the charity stands), and BLOODSTOCK encourages all fans to write their heartfelt messages of tribute and/or condolence on it. There will be other commemorative moments during the festival as well. Horns aloft.

BAND NEWS!

BLOODSTOCK unfortunately has to confirm that SPIRIT ADRIFT will no longer be able to perform. Frontman Nate Garrett has shared the following update:

“Hey guys, Nate here. Unfortunately we have a serious medical situation in my family. Sorry to be vague at this time, but it’s out of respect for my loved ones. You’ll be hearing more solid info at some point, but rest assured there is no feasible way we can responsibly go through with the tour. I promise we’ll be back when the time is right, and hopefully with a new record and some new songs to play for you guys. Sorry to let you all down but we’ll make it up to you. Thanks for all the support.”

All at BLOODSTOCK send our very best wishes to Nate and his family, and know you will do the same.

Ably stepping into the gap are London-based Middle Eastern progressive doomsters LOWEN. Dropping their second album Do Not Go to War With the Demons of Mazandaran last October via Church Road Records, you can get up to speed with a full stream here. Want more? Watch the video for single “Waging War Against God” here or read a recent interview with frontwoman Nina Saeidi by Kerrang! here. We are sure BLOODSTOCKers will give them a warm welcome!

Take the word “band”, remove a letter and change a vowel, and what do you get? A bin! BIN JOUSTING is back and better than ever, and wait til you see the new bins, especially made for this year. A legendary part of BLOODSTOCK lore, do you dare to have a go? Spectators and first timers are also welcome. Is there a more invigorating form of late night entertainment? Taking place in the Midgard campsite after hours (where else), be there or else lie about it afterwards and say you were.

OH, YOU’RE A VIP?

Did you manage to snap up a VIP ticket for this year? You’ll want to click over immediately to the Bloodstock VIP Facebook page, for newly released, full details of this year’s exclusive Serpents Lair entertainment (including exclusive bands and a Never Mind The Bloodstocks quiz with Raised By Owls), all the interesting ales and ciders you can find at the Serpents Lair bar (some are also gluten free), and how to book for the new The Spa @ facility in the VIP campsite (which is in addition to the usual campsite pamper tent, and offers hair-styling, makeup, massage, and more)! You can also find out what classic family movies will be showing this year (at 10am Fri, Sat, & Sun)!

FREE PATCH!

Want a free Battle Jackets London x Bloodstock patch for your battle jacket?! A limited number will be given out free each day of the festival – you just have to find Louis from Battle Jackets in the main arena! For more info, see the official Bloodstock Facebook page.

WHO CAN COLLECT THE MOST CUPS?

Do we have any cup collectors out there? BLOODSTOCKs’ popular cup recycling scheme returns, where helping reduce cup litter earns prizes! Simply amass as many Bloodstock paper cups as you can (we find people are more amenable to help you with this after they’ve finished their drink), and turn them in at Lemmy’s Bar, and you can earn free drinks, merch, VIP upgrades, or even be side of stage for a band!

And if you can’t be bothered to take your tent (and select other accessories) home with you, help keep BLOODSTOCK clean and do your bit by donating at the designated Tent Donation points, where it can then be put to good use. There’s even a competition, donate to enter!

SIGNING TENT

Want to know who will be in the Signing Tent this year? You can find out on August 4th right here when all sessions will be revealed! Collect enough cups (see above) and you can even skip the queue…

FREE WATER / FOOD / SHOPPING

There’s free drinking water at designated water points in the campsites and main arena, so remember to bring a refillable non-glass bottle with you and stay hydrated!

NEW BAR! Any fans of black beer? There will be a Black Beer Bar serving various different black beers across the weekend from a dedicated bar in the main arena.

For those looking for alcohol-free options, look out for Bitburger Zero, Peroni Zero, and Guinness Zero!

We’re also pleased to confirm the Return of the Kraken! Kraken will be available across all of the main bars, in addition to BLOODSTOCK’s brand new and very unique Kraken Slushie! Yes, you read that right, Kraken Slushie. You’ll be able to find the slushies at the Kraken Cocktail Bar, EMP Bar, and VIP outside bar.

For details on the wide range of food available to buy on site (including vegan & gluten-free), click here for some of the options. There’s also some info about a few of the market traders you can find in the main arena if you fancy a bit of heavy metal shopping in between your headbanging, from alt clothing, accessories, housewares, face painting, jewelry, music, and more!

For any essentials you’ve forgotten, there’s a supermarket in the Midgard campsite (and a small shop in the main arena) plus Fat Frank’s Camping Store, where for cheaps you can also get your air bed inflated for a comfier night’s sleep.

GAMING ARENA NEWS!

Calling all gamers! Award-winning creative agency Liquid Crimson is bringing their signature energy and deep games industry expertise to BLOODSTOCK 2025, as they officially take the reins of the beloved Gaming Arena.

The Gaming Arena has long been a haven for festivalgoers who live and breathe both metal and gaming – but this year, it’s being reimagined by a team that’s spent decades at the intersection of both worlds. From playable horror titles to all-weekend drop-in sessions, tournaments, and on-stage chaos, the 2025 Gaming Arena is set to be the loudest, bloodiest and most immersive yet.

“Metal and games go hand-in-hand – this is the crossover event we’ve been waiting for,” said Lauran Carter, Comms Director at Liquid Crimson. “We’ve helped launch games with global studios, built festivals from the ground up, and now we get to throw all that experience into creating something brutal, built-for-the-people and 100% Bloodstock!”

With a team rooted in game development and a portfolio that spans AAA launches, pop-culture collaborations, and community-powered campaigns, Liquid Crimson brings a fresh, authentic voice to the Arena’s programming – combining fan-first content with industry polish.

BLOODSTOCK’s Gaming Arena will also host hands-on stations for two standout indie favourites: Windblown from Motion Twin, a kinetic co-op roguelite packed with air-dashing combat and attitude, and Neon Abyss from Veewo, a relentless run-and-gun that blends twitch reflexes with big energy and bigger guns. Expect stylish chaos, intense action and a whole lot of replayability – all festival long.

Festival-goers will also get a sneak peek at one of the UK’s most beloved management sims, as Two Point Studios brings Two Point Museum to the Gaming Arena – complete with its brand new DLC, Fantasy Finds. The team at Two Point are long standing members of the UK games industry., known for their irreverent humour and deep simulation gameplay, and are letting fans dive into their latest chaotic curation challenge… where artefacts are mysterious, staff are questionable, and dragons may or may not be visitor-friendly…

The Gaming Arena will feature:

• Playable games – incl. DOOM from Bethesda, Two Point Museum’s brand new DLC, plus Windblown from Motion Twin and Neon Abyss from Veewo – both brought to you by Kepler Interactive
• Live showdowns and tournaments with prizes
• Drop-in play sessions with developers and festival-long mischief

Located in its own dedicated tent within the main arena, the Gaming Arena will run throughout the festival weekend. Whether you’re blowing off steam between bands or challenging your mates to a virtual face-off, this year’s arena promises mayhem, metal, and more than a few surprises!

WELFARE

Always keen to improve, BLOODSTOCK is delighted to share that the festival has now been awarded Bronze Charter status from Attitude Is Everything in recognition of its efforts to improve facilities on site for accessible patrons, crew, and artists. This doesn’t mean that efforts stop, but it’s a great high five along the way.

BLOODSTOCK want you to have an amazing weekend creating incredible memories, while staying safe and well too. If you find yourself falling ill or in need of some extra support/assistance while at BLOODSTOCK, please go to the MEDICAL / WELFARE TENT  – who will also be working with 1625OUTREACH again – in the main arena. You can also visit THE SAMARITANS marquee located in the Midgard campsite for a non-judgemental, confidential chat at any time 24/7 over the festival event. BLOODSTOCK supports #SaferSpaces and #AskForAngela.

While BLOODSTOCK is generally very safe, like at all big events, watch out for pick pockets and be mindful of where your phone is, especially in crowds. Don’t leave drinks unattended or leave valuables in your tent. If you have any concerns, do speak to a member of security.

TRAVEL AND GENERAL INFORMATION (AND STAGE TIMES)

Looking for directions or travel info including coaches and the official festival shuttle, running from Tamworth train station? Click here.

For all general event info & frequently asked questions, including box office, main arena, and car park opening times, accessibility, lost & found (inc. lost kids), and much more, go here.

The all important stage times will be posted on the official BLOODSTOCK app so be sure to download that for free in your App Store if you haven’t already!.

TICKETS FOR 2026 & WHO IS PLAYING

If you’re at BLOODSTOCK on Friday, don’t miss the 2026 announcement at the main stage after Lacuna Coil (approx 6:20pm), as – in honour of next year being BLOODSTOCK’s 25th Birthday – a massive 25 bands will be revealed, including all of the Ronnie James Dio main stage and Sophie Lancaster stage headliners!

Early bird tickets for 2026 will be available at the box office on site this year, and will be the cheapest way to purchase, with no booking fee!

Weekend early bird tickets (Thu-Sun) for BLOODSTOCK 2026 will be available to purchase at the box office on site for £185.

Child (age 4-11) weekend early birds will be £50. Children under 4 attend for free.

Wednesday early access will also be available next year for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience – an early bird adult Wed-Sun ticket will cost £215. There is no additional cost for children under 4, or aged 4-11, to arrive with a parent on Wednesday.

From 09:00 on 11th August, early bird tickets will be available online with a booking fee. Once early birds sell out, adult standard weekend tickets will increase to £210 + fees, and child weekend tix will rise to £69 + fees.

Serpents Lair VIP and Campervan tickets will go on sale at 09:00 on 13th August.

Campervan tickets must be bought in addition to your festival ticket, and will be priced £130 without power / £250 with power.

VIP ticket pricing varies depending on the package. Wednesday early arrival is not available for VIP or accessible campsites.

A limited number of Serpents Lair VIP Bar Access passes will be available priced £130 – please note, this is an add-on to your standard weekend ticket and does not include camping.

A limited number of VIP Patch Of Grass tickets will be available on the 6 month instalment plan, which will be launched at a later date. More information on the instalment plan will follow in the coming weeks.

A limited number of Kyrr campsite specific tickets will be released at a later date – stay tuned to BLOODSTOCK’s official socials for updates.

Some categories of tickets are expected to sell out very quickly, so if you want one, be ready!

BLOODSTOCK 2026 will take place 6th – 9th August, 2025.

There are still a few Friday only day tickets available for 2025! Head to the ticket store here to purchase and don’t miss out on the fun! If you’ve never been before, it’s also a great way to check things out and see if perhaps next year a full weekend ticket will appeal!

If you’ve missed out on your preferred ticket type for 2025, sign up to official resale partner Tixel. Simply set an alert for notification if your tickets of choice become available, or pre-authorise your card in advance, so no need for constant checking back. Tixel also allows you to safely re-sell tickets to a new home if plans have changed. You can sell ALL ticket types, including instalment plan purchases, plus any tickets sold via Ticketmaster or other third party ticket outlets. Click through to https://tixel.com/uk/bloodstock-tickets for more information on how it works.

Get more festival information over at bloodstock.uk.com.

BLOODSTOCK 2025 will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2025.

BLOODSTOCK’s 2025 Ronnie James Dio stage headliners are TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, and GOJIRA. Headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage will be ME AND THAT MAN, KATAKLYSM, STATIC-X, and OBITUARY. You’ll also be able to see MASTODON, NAILBOMB, MINISTRY, EMPEROR, FEAR FACTORY, LACUNA COIL, HERIOT, ORANGE GOBLIN, CREEPER, KUBLAI KHAN TX, CAGE FIGHT, RIVERS OF NIHIL, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, FEUERSCHWANZ, LORD OF THE LOST, PALEFACE SWISS, AUGUST BURNS RED, WARBRINGER, UNDEATH, LOWEN, THROWN, ALL FOR METAL, BREED 77, HIGH PARASITE, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD. Joining them are SHRAPNEL, FAMYNE, KONVENT, THE SPIRIT, GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS, ONE MACHINE, MY DILIGENCE, SHADE EMPIRE, EIHWAR, WATERLINES, PHOENIX LAKE, NEONFLY, WALL, DOGMA, SIGLOS, DEADFLESH, FOURWAYKILL, GNOME, TURIN, LOCK HORNS, OFNUS, ROUGH JUSTICE, IREOSIS, BA’AL, FRAYLE, PENGSHUI, VNDER A CRVMBLING MOON, APATHY UK, BARBARIAN HERMIT and more! See the full line-up on the website.