Music
Bloodstock Open Air
...the UK's largest independent metal festival
At a glance
- Size
- Medium (10k–40k)
- Entry
- Ticketed
Music
- Metal
Pictures
About
Bloodstock began in 2001 as an indoor event at Derby Assembly Rooms and moved outdoors to Catton Park, on the Derbyshire-Staffordshire border, in 2005. It's the UK's biggest independent metal festival, run by a family who are fans first.
The Ronnie James Dio main stage, the Sophie Lancaster tent and the New Blood stage cover every strand of metal, from thrash and death to power, doom and black metal. The crowd is friendly, the campsites are full of daft flags, and the focus stays on heavy music.
News and reviews
Bloodstock Open Air3 May 2021
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS: All Hail The Yeti Performs 'Headless Valley' at Bloodstock Open Air 202324 March 2024
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS: Bloodstock Open Air 2023 – Official Festival Trailer22 December 2023
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS: Bloodstock Open Air 2022 – Official UK Metal Festival Trailer16 September 2022
Bloodstock Open Air 2019: Tickets now on sale10 September 2018
What the press said
Bloodstock 2026: Thursday/Friday (opens louderthanwar.com in a new tab)
Bloodstock 2026 - Thursday/Friday Catton Hall, Derbyshire 6th-9th August 2026 Bloodstock's 25th anniversary gathering; a celebration of all things metal. Trev Eales travels to Derbyshire to review and photograph Bloodstock Open Air for Louder Than War.
Good to know
Camping and stays
- Standard camping
- Campervans and caravans
- Glamping
- Accessible camping
Editions
Organisers
Run this festival? Claim the listing to keep it up to date and add each year’s dates. Know the next dates? Send them to us.
Festival details can change from year to year. Check the festival's own site before you book.