FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Fortress Festival 2026
Words: Sam Jones
Photos: Tim Finch
Attending Fortress is ranked alongside the premier highlights of last year when we recall 2025 in its entirety. It’s slew of black metal from atmospheric to bludgeoning to melodic has endeared the festival a most fearsome rapport, bringing exclusive acts over from all over. With this year’s edition quickly approaching and again sold out months in advance, Fortress has become a potent name in the UK’s extreme metal festival roster.
First off, just look the lineup. Other than a few acts every single band is either a UK exclusive performance, a special album set or a worldwide live debut. It’s when you see names like Gallowbraid and Old Forest and Vesperal on the lineup that confirm Fortress are not pulling punches. They never have done frankly but the confirmation of such names on the bill bespeaks the pulling power their name has acquired. These are bands people likely never dreamt they’d get to see.
But then you see other heavyweights plastered upon the bill: Akercocke, Abigail Williams, Black Cilice, A Forest Of Stars. These are names many would pay to see headlining their own shows, let alone on the same day as many surely will be playing on. One band I personally am excited for is Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult and I wouldn’t be surprised if many more like myself will be ravenous to grab a spot near the stage for such an esteemed name. Midnight Odyssey, a band I never thought I’d get to experience live, also satisfy a slot too and will be amongst my most anticipated acts.
But new to Fortress come 2026 is the unveiling of the Dungeon Synth stage. Whilst not a new thing experienced in the UK festival circuit, Fortress is arguably the biggest name in that said festival circuit to incorporate Dungeon Synth within its repertoire. Though Gate Master (at the time of writing this) have had to pull out, they’ve been replaced by Salt Lake City-aficionados Fief to great acclaim. Other dungeon synth names include Atlantean Sword, Italian Tolkien masters Emyn Muil, the aforementioned Old Forest and possibly one of the subgenre’s forefathers, Mortiis.
But, what’s that? You wanted… more? Fret not because Fortress also bring back the In Conversation side-experience from last year; this year’s edition sees more intimate, in depth conversations with Akercocke and what went into crafting their 2003 masterpiece: Choronzon. Also included are Vinterland, not only embarking on their UK debut performance but commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of their cult melodic black metal opus: Welcome My Last Chapter. Each of these shall be hosted by Into The Necrosphere podcast host Jackie Smit, so if you’re looking for something quieter and more reserved, this is one option for you.
This is an impeccably organised festival with wonderful people, wonderful bands and, held within a beautiful Victorian spa house in Scarborough on the Northern English coast, Fortress has become one of the UK’s most revered extreme metal outings. So regardless what severity of black metal you’re after, the festival have you covered. See you in late May.
Photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
