Connecting the live music industry
Belgian Metal Festival Draws Record 75,000 Visitors
August12
Belgium’s Alcatraz Metal Festival welcomed a record 75,000 visitors for its 2026 edition, with organisers reporting that the four-day event in Kortrijk reached its maximum capacity.
Held from August 6-9, the festival was completely sold out and presented more than 120 acts across four stages.
The programme included Alestorm, Slaughter to Prevail, Arch Enemy and Powerwolf alongside Biohazard, Body Count, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Primus, Saxon, Savatage, Soulfly, Satyricon, Testament and Thy Art Is Murder.
Belgian metal band Channel Zero also used the festival for its final outdoor concert.
From 1,000 visitors to major European metal festival
Alcatraz was launched in 2008 as a one-day indoor festival at the Brielpoort in Deinze, where its first edition attracted around 1,000 visitors. The event moved to Kortrijk in 2013 and has subsequently expanded in both duration and capacity, developing into one of Belgium’s largest dedicated metal and hard rock festivals.
The festival is organised by Belgian non-profit organisation Apache Productions VZW, with Mario Mortier among the key figures behind the event. Apache Productions also operates Alcatraz-branded club shows throughout the year, extending its activities beyond the annual festival.
The festival has steadily increased its footprint in recent years. It expanded from two days to three in 2017, while additional stages and programming have been introduced as attendance has grown. In 2024, Alcatraz was voted Belgium`s best festival by listeners of Belgian radio station Studio Brussel, while 2025 marked the first time that all full-festival tickets sold out in advance.
Four stages operating from opening day
For 2026, organisers made several operational changes. All four main stages were active from the opening Thursday, while the festival also moved to a fully cashless payment system.
The main Prison Stage received upgraded production, including new decoration and larger video screens. A new 120-metre “death ride” was also installed from the Safety Jogger Guard Tower, carrying festivalgoers above part of the site.
The expanded Thursday programme represented another step in Alcatraz`s development into a full four-day festival operation. Ahead of the event, organisers had said they were not seeking further expansion in scale, with the emphasis instead being placed on improving the existing festival experience.
First 30 acts confirmed for 2027
Alcatraz will return to Kortrijk from August 5-8, 2027, with organisers already confirming the first 30 acts.
The initial line-up includes Europe, Mercyful Fate, Cavalera, DevilDriver, Halestorm, Wind Rose, HammerFall, Turbonegro, Danko Jones and more.
Despite the record attendance in 2026, Alcatraz is signalling that further capacity growth is not the priority. Its current messaging for 2027 states: “We won’t be bigger, but we will be better.”
With VIP-Booking.com, you can search for anyone in the live music industry - try it yourself!
Search Artists:
Trusted by professionals in the live music industry around the world for 25 years!
