Beyond The Gates Festival 2026 Reveals Third Wave of Bands
December is here; and so is the full Beyond the Gates 2026 lineup! The festival is now unveiling seven new artists, completing next year’s bill. Leading the charge are stoner-doom legends Electric Wizard and death-metal prog visionaries Blood Incantation, topping the bill with the already announced Emperor and Testament. Beyond the Gates 2026 will be an absolute feast for anyone with an appetite for underground magic.
The festival is proud to present a lineup that’s diverse, and truly reflective of today’s death, doom, and black metal scenes. In addition to this legacy act, Greek metal legends Rotting Christ are considered innovators of the black metal scene; they will compile a very exclusive old school set for Beyond the Gates, performing songs from the period 1989 – 1995. French post-metal icons Alcest have steadfastly continued their ascent to the stars, with last years mindblowing Les Chants de l’aurore album and their mesmerizing live shows as stepping stones. Beyond the Gates is very pleased to have them back. Vafurlogi from Iceland released their debut album, ĂŤ vökulli áþján, last year. The band helmed by former Svartidauden guitarist, Þórir GarĂ°arsson, will be a most welcome treat to festival-goers.
In addition, Beyond the Gates will present a very special collaboration between Behemoth frontman Nergal and Icelandic black metal visionaries MisĂľyrming. Marking the 30th anniversary of its original release, Nergal will revisit the dark origins of his musical legacy, performing Behemoth’s seminal debut, Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic), in its entirety.
He will be joined by Misþyrming, whose raw energy and uncompromising intensity have reshaped the modern black metal landscape. Together, they will summon the primal spirit of the 1995 release — an album that laid the foundation for Behemoth’s evolution from underground obscurity to global extremity. Performed live for the first time as a full conceptual work, Sventevith will return as both a tribute and a transformation: a rare convergence of heritage and renewal, honoring Behemoth’s roots while embracing the ferocity of a new generation.
The current lineup is now as follows, with many more TBA!:
Emperor ft. Mortiis and Faust
Testament
Beherit (First ever Norwegian show)
Alcest
1349
Rotting Christ
Nergal + MisĂľyrming perform Behemoth’s Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic)
Arcturus
Bölzer
The Ruins of Beverast
Spectral Wound
Warning
Castle Rat
Forteresse
Misotheis
Imha Tarikat
Sulphur Aeon
Dold Vorde Ens Navn
Vafurlogi
Concrete Winds
Saturnalia Temple
The epic four-day metal event will take place once again across several venues in the heart of Bergen (NO) from July 29 – August 1, 2026. Tickets and passes are now available here.
Wednesday, July 29 @ USF Verftet:
Testament
Nergal + MisĂľyrming perform Behemoth’s ‘Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic)’
Rotting Christ
Spectral Wound
Castle Rat
Imha Tarikat
Thursday, July 30 @ USF Verftet:
Electric Wizard
Beherit
1349
Warning
The Ruins of Beverast
Forteresse
Imha Tarikat
Friday, July 31 @ Grieghallen:
Blood Incantation
Marduk
Whoredom Rife
Misotheist
Saturday, August 1 @ Grieghallen:
Emperor
Alcest
Arcturus
Gaahls WYRD
Day Shift Thursday, July 30:
Sulphur Aeon
Terrestrial Hospice
Concrete Winds
Night Shift Thursday, July 30:
Bölzer
Day Shift Friday, July 31:
Dold Vorde Ens Navn
Vafurlogi
Saturnalia Temple
Night Shift Friday, July 31:
Mortuary Drape
In addition, Beyond the Gates is now launching a special December campaign a December campaign with discounted Day tickets and festival passes. Lucky fans can also win a hotel package. More info here.
Since the inception of the Beyond the Gates festival, fans have been coming to Bergen to see performances of their favorite Norwegian artists in their home environment. As most visitors know, nature and local culture has always been a poignant source of inspiration for the bands emerging from the Bergen scene. Yet again, Beyond the Gates will give all of the traveling fans the opportunity to get an unique insight into all aspects of the Norwegian Metal scene and the local culture in general. In that regard, we’re putting together a series of events before and during the festival so that all of you can discover what inspired – and still does – the Norwegian metal scene.
More special events will be announced, including exclusive listening parties, music and culture panels, in-depth live interviews, and a wealth of of events and activities that will give you a Beyond the Gates Experience that will last for a lifetime. Stay tuned for more…
