Brutal Assault 2026 Reveals First Bands: The Sisters of Mercy, The Ghost Inside, and Animals as Leaders
Czech metal festival Brutal Assault has unveiled the first artists set to perform August 5–8, 2026, within the historic walls of its traditional home, the Josefov Fortress. With more than 30 acts confirmed so far, visitors from all over the world can already look forward to a bill headlined by British gothic rock icons The Sisters of Mercy, American metalcore powerhouse The Ghost Inside, and progressive trio Animals as Leaders. Tickets and a range of additional services are available now on the festival's website.
The Headliners
Since the 1980s, The Sisters of Mercy have been heralds of dark gothic rock and post-punk. Built on dark atmospheres, melodic lines, and a commanding stage presence, their style promises Brutal Assault audiences a cultural and musical experience that reaches beyond the boundaries of metal.
American metalcore titans The Ghost Inside stand among the most respected acts of the modern metalcore movement. With crushing breakdowns, emotional vocals, electrifying energy on stage, and lyrics centered on overcoming adversity, their set is bound to be one of the most anticipated shows of the festival.
Fellow Americans Animals as Leaders will deliver virtuosic, technically demanding music that fuses progressive metal with elements of jazz, funk, and electronic music. The precision of their compositions and the immersive atmosphere they create will bring a sense of experimentation and artistic mastery to Josefov.
A Year of Big Comebacks
2026 will also be a year of major returns at Brutal Assault. Alongside The Sisters of Mercy, fans can expect cult Norwegian black metal ensemble Old Man's Child, embarking on their first tour in over 20 years, as well as Swiss thrash metal strike force Coroner, who are set to release their first studio album in 32 years this October.
Death, Black, and Thrash Metal
The early lineup is already packed with festival mainstays. Death metal fans can look forward to American heretics Deicide, technical masters Cryptopsy and Fallujah, the atmospheric Septicflesh, and slam veterans Internal Bleeding and Sanguisugabogg.
Black metal devotees will be thrilled by legends such as Marduk, the aforementioned Old Man's Child, Swiss pioneers Triptykon, French post-black visionaries Alcest, and American experimenters Deafheaven. Thrash fans will get their dose with Coroner, American provocateurs Municipal Waste, and their compatriots Death Angel.
As always, the festival won't neglect the experimental side of the spectrum, currently represented by Crippling Alcoholism, Master Boot Record, and Wyatt E.
Tickets and Festival Services
In addition to full festival tickets — which are selling out at record speed this year — fans can purchase a wide range of supplementary services, including hotels, parking, locker boxes with USB chargers, and even a children's camp for the youngest visitors. Following last year's successful pilot edition, the camp is expected to see enormous demand and sell out quickly. Tickets and additional services are available on the festival's official website.
First Bands Confirmed
200 Stab Wounds, Alcest, Allt, Amorphis, Animals as Leaders, Arthur Brown, Coroner, Crippling Alcoholism, Cryptopsy, Deafheaven, Death Angel, Deicide, Draconian, Elder, Fallujah, Internal Bleeding, Marduk, Master Boot Record, Municipal Waste, Old Man's Child, Rise of the Northstar, Sanguisugabogg, Saor, Septicflesh, Signs of the Swarm, Slope, The Ghost Inside, The Sisters of Mercy, Triptykon, Vader, Vended, and Wyatt E.
This is only the first announcement for Brutal Assault 2026, with many more bands still to come.