Sabaton, Savatage, Epica and Sevi Join BE4 HILLS
The new festival day Before Hills ahead of HILLS OF ROCK 2026 in Plovdiv is July 23
On July 23, 2026—exactly one day before the official start of HILLS OF ROCK 2026—the stage at the Rowing Canal in Plovdiv will open with a brand-new standalone concert day: BE4 HILLS (Before Hills). Four new bands join Fest Team’s summer 2026 program—Swedish metal powerhouse Sabaton, cult legends Savatage, Dutch symphonic force Epica, and Bulgaria’s own Sevi will take the stage in Plovdiv on July 23 as part of this special event.
This fully-fledged concert day featuring four major performances stands as an independent event, while also offering an expanded festival experience for those eager to kick off HILLS OF ROCK week even earlier and turn it into a four-day celebration instead of three. Access to BE4 HILLS requires a separate ticket, available from Tuesday (October 28) via the Ticket Station network at a price of 99 BGN for HILLS OF ROCK 2026 ticket holders and 120 BGN for all others.
July 2026 will transform Plovdiv into the most concentrated festival destination in the country. Fest Team’s calendar unfolds in a natural sequence—from the brand-new PHILLGOOD festival featuring The Cure, Gorillaz, and Moby (July 17–19), through the special BE4 HILLS concert day (July 23), and into the three main days of HILLS OF ROCK 2026 (July 24–26). The Rowing Canal once again gathers audiences from different musical directions, and this ten-day stretch in July offers a truly layered and immersive festival experience.
Sabaton return to headline the Plovdiv stage four years after their last appearance at HILLS OF ROCK (July 23, 2022). Known for their relentless live energy, the band recently released their new album Legends, unveiling a fresh stage concept while maintaining their strong and emotional connection with Bulgarian fans. Their performances in Bulgaria are always powerful, particularly when including songs like “The Valley of Death,” inspired by Bulgarian history. Their appearance at BE4 HILLS is part of their 2026 European tour dates.
Formed in Florida in the 1980s, Savatage are among the pioneering bands that helped shape power and progressive metal worldwide. Their blend of symphonic virtuosity, heavy guitar riffs, and dramatic intensity made them a unique phenomenon, later evolving into the renowned Trans-Siberian Orchestra project. Their performance at BE4 HILLS will be a rare and special meeting with Bulgarian fans—an event connecting generations of classic heavy rock listeners.
Opera, orchestral arrangements, thrash, groove, folk, progressive, gothic, power, and death metal—all of this defines Epica. The Dutch band remains one of the leading names in global symphonic metal, celebrated for their epic compositions, the powerful vocals of Simone Simons, and their masterful fusion of styles that resonate equally strongly in studio recordings and live performances.
Sevi will represent the Bulgarian rock scene at BE4 HILLS. Over the past decade, the band has established itself as one of the most active and consistent Bulgarian rock acts, performing at international festivals, touring extensively in clubs, and building a loyal fanbase at home.
BE4 HILLS is the newest addition to Fest Team’s calendar—a standalone event with a separate ticket, conceived as a natural extension of HILLS OF ROCK for those who want to prolong the entire festival week in Plovdiv.
The seventh edition of HILLS OF ROCK 2026 begins the very next day—July 24, 25, and 26—with an impressive lineup featuring Godsmack, Lamb of God, Electric Callboy, Black Label Society, Vended, Paradise Lost, Nothing More, Nevermore, Of Mice & Men, Deafheaven, and Karen Dio. Tickets are already on sale through Ticket Station.
For additional information, follow festteam.bg, hillsofrock.com, ticketstation.bg, and the festival’s official social media channels.