Int’l Lineups: RaR/RiP Germany, Rock For People Czechia, Slam Dunk UK & Primavera Sound Spain

Iron Maiden & Bring Me The Horizon At RaR/RiP

Germany’s iconic twin festivals, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, are heading into the 2026 edition with record-breaking momentum.

More than 70,000 weekend tickets had been sold for Rock am Ring, and more than 40,000 for Rock im Park by Sept. 23, when promoter PRK DreamHaus sent out a press release stating, “fan anticipation has reached unprecedented heights – never before have so many tickets been sold this early in the season.”

Both festivals have unveiled the first wave of acts for 2026. The lineup is led by Iron Maiden, who will play their only German festival shows at RaR/RiP next year. It’s been more than a decade since their last performance at Nürburgring (RaR) and Zeppelinfeld (RiP).

Volbeat will play their only German shows next year exclusively at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, and Linkin Park, who were already confirmed during this year’s festival editions, will officially headline the 2026 line-up.

Rock veterans Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach are also part of the bill, as are Bad Omens, Electric Callboy, The Offspring, and Sabaton, who’ve just announced their first North American headline run.

Babymetal, Within Temptation, Marteria, A Perfect Circle, Architects, Hollywood Undead, Ice Nine Kills, Landmvrks, Social Distortion, Three Days Grace, and Trivium round out the first wave of acts.

“The response to Rock am Ring and Rock im Park 2026 has been nothing short of phenomenal,” commented Matt Schwarz, CEO of PRK DreamHaus and promoter of both festivals, “selling over 70,000 tickets for Rock am Ring and 40,000 for Rock im Park by September is unprecedented. We’re deeply grateful for the fans’ trust and look forward to delivering a festival experience they won’t forget.”

Rock am Ring and Rock im Park take place June 5-7, 2026 at Germany’s famous Nürburgring, and the Zeppelinfeld, respectively. Tickets are on sale. A festival ticket for Rock im Park without camping starts at €259 ($305). A Rock im Park ticket including general camping starts at €318 ($374).

The Cure, The xx, Gorillaz At Primavera Sound

Primavera Sound Barcelona also unveiled its first wave of artists for 2026, when the festival returns for its 24th edition to the Parc del Forum in the Catalan capital, June 3-7, 2026.

The Cure, Doja Cat, The xx, Gorillaz, Massive Attack, Addison Rae, and My Bloody Valentine lead a lineup that also includes Mac DeMarco, Pinkpantheress, Skrillex, Peggy Gou, Lola Young, Father John Misty, Ethel Cain, Bad Gyal, Big Thief, Wet Leg, Little Simz, Slowdive, Kneecap, Alex G, Dijon, and Blood Orange.

In total, Primavera Sound unveiled 150 names, “a constellation of artists that represent the past, present and future of music,” by its own admission.

The lineup couldn’t be more international and eclectic: Iranian percussionist Mohammad Reza Mortazavi; Scottish bagpiper Brìghde Chaimbeul; Amaarae from Ghana; Six Sex from Argentina; ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U from Japan; Buscabulla from Puerto Rico; Samaʼ Abdulhadi from Palestina; Guedra Guedra from Morocco; HYPNOSIS THERAPY from South Korea; Ninajirachi from Australia; as well as homegrown Spanish talent like Rojuu, Depresión Sonora, Barry B, Renaldo & Clara, and DISOBEY.

As usual, Primavera Pro, the conference for industry professionals, will celebrate its 17th edition during the festival. The exact dates are June 3-7.

Fans can now register on Primavera Sound’s website until Sept. 28 to get first access to tickets. Once the Fan Sale starts Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. local time, full festival ticket will be available for €295 ($347), plus booking fees, and a VIP passes for €545 ($641), plus booking fees.

General ticket sales will open on Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. local time, with tickets available at €350 ($411) for general full festival tickets and €545 ($641) for VIP full festival tickets.

Bring Me The Horizon & Iron Maiden Headline Rock For People

Rock for People is once again bringing some of the world’s biggest rock acts to Park 360 in Hradec Králové, Czechia, for five days, June 10-14, 2026.

With Bring Me The Horizon and Iron Maiden, the first two headliners have been revealed. Also confirmed to perform at the 31st edition are Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, Alter Bridge, The Pretty Reckless led by Taylor Momsen, German Electric Callboy, Megadeth on their farewell run, mysterious masked newcomers PRESIDENT, Johnny Franck’s genre-brlending project Bilmuri, Social Distortion, and many more.

The final bill will feature over 200 artists. Rock for People founder Michal Thomes commented, “After this year’s incredibly successful 30th anniversary festival headlined by Linkin Park, I had a feeling that it wouldn’t be easy to maintain the same level of lineup for next year.

“However, I can already confirm with a clear conscience that next year will be fabulous again. Rock for People 2026 will once again be marked by the fulfillment of some of my dreams, led by Iron Maiden, whose music has shaped several generations.”

Tickets for Rock for People 2025 are now on sale. Full five-day festival tickets start at €260 ($305).

Slam Dunk Turns 20

Slam Dunk, the UK’s biggest independent rock festival celebrates 20 years in 2026. As usual, the festival takes place across two sites, Hatfield Park in England’s south on May 23, and Leeds in the north, May 24.

Topping the bill are Good Charlotte and Sublime, plus dozens more artists spanning the best in pop-punk, emo, ska, metal and beyond. Joining the first wave for Slam Dunk 2026 are British alt-rock cult heroes A; Chicago’s pop-punk staples Allister; Virginia pop-rock trio Broadside; metalcore heavyweights Bury Tomorrow; and Cancer Bats.

Cartel return for a UK exclusive, celebrating 20 years since the release of their breakthrough LP Chroma; Dashboard Confessional, the emo pioneers behind tracks like “Hands Down” and “Vindicated” make the bill; as do rising stars Driveways; LA’s ska-punk pioneers Goldfinger; and Hawthorne Heights.

Motion City Soundtrack, President, Set Your Goals, Stand Atlantic, Taking Back Sunday, The Home Team, The Menzingers, The Suicide Machines, unpeople, Tonight Alive, and Zebrahead round out wave one.

Ben Ray, founder of Slam Dunk Festival, commented, “When I started the festival 20 years ago, I had no idea it would get to the milestone of 20 years, let alone be the size that it has grown to. I am overwhelmed by the continued support for the event, both from the dedicated fan base who come every single year, to all the bands that keep coming back to play! A massive thank you to all!”

Slam Dunk started as a Leeds club night in 2001, and grew into a one-day festival by 2006, headlined by Fall Out Boy. Since then, it’s exploded into a multi-award winning weekend festival, taking place at Hatfield Park and Temple Newsam in Leeds.

Over the years, Slam Dunk has brought icons like Paramore, Panic! At The Disco, Enter Shikari, Jimmy Eat World, Sum 41 and NOFX to the stage, while championing the next wave of rock, pop-punk, metal and emo.

Tickets go on sale Sept. 27, starting at £120 ($162) early-bird rate for one of the Slam Dunk days. GA tickets go on sale Sept. 28 starting at £129 ($174).

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