Bloodstock Adds Saxon, Evil Scarecrow And More To 25th Anniversary Lineup

Bloodstock has announced 27 more bands for its 25th anniversary celebration next year, including British Heavy Metal legends Saxon who will return to Derbyshire to become the festival’s first ever Thursday main stage headliner. 

On 26 August, Bloodstock announced that they would be opening the main stage on Thursday evening for the first time in their 25-year history, celebrating the anniversary with an even bigger bang than usual.

Fans speculated over who the fourth headliner would be, with many guessing it would be either American Thrash Metal Titans Megadeth or Saxon; however, the German Electronicore group Electric Callboy also received a fair few guesses.

As Bloodstock’s first ever headliners back in 2001, the return of the NWOBHM leaders promises to be a party of riotous Heavy Metal power.

The Thursday main stage will also welcome tongue-in-cheek Metal eccentrics Evil Scarecrow and dinosaur-costumed heroes Heavysaurus, who were originally announced for the Sophie Lancaster stage but were deemed to have too loud a roar for the iconic tent stage. 

Joining the previously announced Lamb Of God, Slaughter To Prevail, and Judas Priest on the Ronnie James Dio stage will be Kittie, Skynd, Party Cannon, Battlesnake, Inhuman Nature, Castle Rat, Graphic Nature, and Bootyard Bandits, for healthy doses of all the best, the weirdest, and most feral that Metal has to offer. 

The new additions to the Sophie Lancaster stage are Excrementory Grindfuckers, Hidden Intent, Sellsword, NeckBreakker, Hammer, Seething Akira, Stamping Ground, Urne, Celestial Sanctuary, Viking Skull, Bound In Fear, Imperium, Froglord, Mushroomed, Dream State, and Trivax.

There are approximately 125 more bands still to be announced, but with early bird, camper van, and VIP tickets already sold out, and weekend tickets over 90% gone, the festival organisers urge people to act quickly to avoid disappointment. 

Bloodstock also shared the news that a total of £13,818 was raised from the 2025 festival, split equally between their charity partners Metal For Good and The Sophie Lancaster Foundation. This came from guest and media donations, as well as the T-shirt Amnesty initiative – where festival goers donate old band T-shirts to be sold on at a bargain price, with all proceeds going to the partner charities.

Shepherd Events, who run the beloved Bloodstock bars, made an extra £2000 contribution to The Sophie Lancaster Foundation by donating bar tips, running ‘spin to win’ competitions, and two tireless workers – Christopher Roberts and Taylan Rodgers – even donated their entire earnings.

The 25th anniversary edition of Bloodstock Open Air Festival will take place in Catton Park, Derbyshire, from 6-9 August 2026. 

For more information, visit the official website at bloodstock.uk.com.

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