Bloodstock

Bloodstock 2026

Bloodstock 2026 takes place from 6-9 August at Catton Park near Walton-On-Trent, Derbyshire. This four-day metal festival attracts thousands of fans for a celebration of heavy music in the scenic Derbyshire countryside.

Music

Featuring multiple stages, Bloodstock showcases a broad range of metal genres including heavy metal, thrash, death metal, and power metal. The lineup includes international headliners, underground bands, and emerging talent.

• Main Stage and Second Stage for major acts
• New Blood Stage highlighting new artists
• Acoustic and surprise pop-up performances

Festival Experience

Beyond the music, Bloodstock offers a Metal Market with band merchandise, vintage vinyl, and rock artwork. The Sophie Lancaster Stage hosts late-night performances and DJ sets celebrating alternative metal. Food stalls provide a variety of cuisine, while bars serve craft beer, real ale, and the famous Lemmy’s Bar pays tribute to Motorhead.

Camping and Atmosphere

The festival campgrounds create a strong sense of community, with areas for tents, campervans, and luxury glamping. Mornings bring relaxed guitar warm-ups and socialising among fans. The countryside setting offers woodland paths and riverbanks for downtime between sets.

Community and Workshops

Bloodstock prioritises a fan-focused ethos with quality sound, friendly staff, and a welcoming atmosphere. Fans can meet artists at signing tents and attend workshops on gear and musicianship.

By train, the nearest station is Burton-on-Trent (just four miles away), with regular services from Birmingham, Derby and beyond. From Burton, local buses (notably Stagecoach route 22) run to Walton-on-Trent, or you can take a quick taxi ride to the festival site. Derby train station (about 13 miles east) is another option with frequent long-distance services; from there, regional buses or a taxi can bring you to Walton. If you plan to use public transit, check schedules in advance: weekend services in rural areas may be less frequent.

By car, Walton-on-Trent is accessible via the A38 and A50 highways. Drivers from the north or east can use the M1 motorway to Exit 26, then take the A50 westbound toward Burton and follow signs to Walton-on-Trent. From the south and west, the M6/M42 connects to the A38 (Burton to Lichfield) and then to the A511 toward Ashby-de-la-Zouch, with a final route on smaller roads. Ample parking is typically available on-site (often by pre-booking a parking pass), but expect delays on busy festival days. Carpooling or sharing rides is recommended to ease traffic congestion.

Visitors flying in have several airport options. East Midlands Airport (EMA) is the closest major airport, about 50 miles east of Walton-on-Trent (roughly a 1–1.5 hour drive). Birmingham Airport is another choice (around 70 miles southwest, about 1.5–2 hours by road). From either airport, you can rent a car or take public transit: for example, from EMA you might train to Derby or Nottingham and then continue by bus or taxi. Manchester and London airports are farther (about 2–3 hours away by train/car) but offer many flight options.

Walton-on-Trent itself has limited lodging, so planning ahead is key. Bloodstock offers on-site camping (bringing your own tent or booking a glamping option) which many fans choose for the full experience. If you prefer a hotel or B&B, look in nearby towns: Burton-on-Trent (4 miles away), Swadlincote and Ashby-de-la-Zouch (both within 10–15 miles) have hotels and guesthouses. Derby (13 miles east) and Lichfield (about 20 miles) offer more hotel chains. Summer is peak season, so book accommodations early. Having a car or arranging a taxi is wise if staying off-site, to easily reach the festival each day.