Lamb of God, Electric Callboy, Black Label Society and Four More Acts Join HILLS OF ROCK 2026
The festival will take place at Plovdiv Rowing Canal from July 24 to 26
The new artists joining HILLS OF ROCK 2026 represent leading names in contemporary rock and metal, known for their powerful live presence and dedicated fanbases. This ensures three intense days with diverse musical highlights for the next summer festival in Plovdiv. Joining the previously announced Godsmack, Vended, Paradise Lost, Nothing More, Nevermore, and Of Mice & Men are seven more acts, broadening the festival’s stylistic range and adding extra intensity to the lineup. Lamb Of God, Electric Callboy, Black Label Society, Deafheaven, and Karen Dio will perform on the main stage, while Orbit Culture and The Toy Dolls take key sets on the second stage. Tickets are on sale via Ticket Station. With these additions, the festival, organized by Fest Team, continues to build a strong, multi-layered lineup that brings together generations, stages, and directions in heavy music.
Electric Callboy join HILLS OF ROCK 2026 following fan demand, earning a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest metal phenomena. Combining 90s synthpop, alternative rock, and explosive metalcore, their sound defies genre boundaries and transforms each performance into an ecstatic experience. Unafraid of extremes and experimentation, Electric Callboy mix death metal with German hits, Euro classics with post-hardcore, and do so with such effortless flair that even the most traditional metal fans are impressed. With sold-out global tours, their own festival, a growing social media following, and instantly recognizable fashion, they are a true cultural force.
Lamb Of God are undeniably one of the most important bands in contemporary metal. Emerging in the early 2000s, they pushed the boundaries between mainstream and underground with a crushing groove metal and venomous thrash, perfectly complementing post-grunge and nu-metal. Led by Randy Blythe, their albums Ashes of the Wake and Sacrament helped define the NWOAHM movement, and their Bulgaria performance promises both classics and new experiments shaping the genre.
Black Label Society, led by the legendary Zakk Wylde, bring the full weight of American hard rock to HILLS OF ROCK 2026. Built around the principle that “the guitar rules,” their blend of raw blues, relentless groove, and unfiltered rock ‘n’ roll creates a live experience that is part assault, part nomadic carnival—full of noise, fire, and emotion.
Deafheaven and their San Francisco blackgaze transform chaos into beauty, blending black metal, post-rock, and shoegaze into compositions with both intensity and emotional depth. Critics have called their shows “transcendent experiences,” long before their 2018 Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. Bulgarian audiences will witness this firsthand next year.
Emerging talent Karen Dio is one of the most promising voices on the alternative scene. Having shared stages with Limp Bizkit and Sum 41, she captivates with explosive energy, stage confidence, and a sound that resonates with today’s fans. HILLS OF ROCK 2026 will mark her first performance in Bulgaria.
On the festival’s second stage, Orbit Culture from Eksjö, Sweden, are among the most talked-about new names in contemporary metal. Their sound blends groove, melody, and cinematic depth, rooted in a strong DIY ethic. After touring with Slipknot and Machine Head, and performing at Madison Square Garden, they arrive in Plovdiv with their upcoming fifth album, releasing October 3 via Century Media.
The Toy Dolls bring a different but equally powerful energy—punk infused with humor, absurdity, stage madness, and cult status. Founded in 1979 in England, they remain anarchic, melodic, and infectious, beloved in Bulgaria. Their performance feels fresh, as if they just escaped rehearsal in their garage to take the stage.
HILLS OF ROCK 2026 takes place on July 24, 25, and 26 at Plovdiv Rowing Canal. Promo tickets are still available through Ticket Station; after these sell out, prices will rise to BGN 240 for Fest Club members and BGN 260 for everyone else. Membership in the Fest Club program provides additional perks, including exclusive news, special offers, and discounts at numerous commercial and cultural venues. The updated Fest Club app is available for iOS and Android.
For more information, follow festteam.bg, hillsofrock.com, and ticketstation.bg, as well as the festival’s official social media channels.
HILLS OF ROCK 2026 is organized by Fest Team Ltd. as part of the “Heritage 2023” program of the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation, with support from Plovdiv Municipality.