Tons of Rock 2026
Norway’s biggest rock and metal festival was back in Oslo for four days of loud guitars, packed stages and one of the most diverse lineups of the summer.
From death metal and hardcore to classic rock, black metal and nu metal, Tons of Rock once again brought together some of the biggest names in heavy music alongside rising bands and local Norwegian artists.
Here’s how it all went down.
Day 1
The festival got off to a strong start with Die Spitz, the all-female punk band from Austin that has been building a lot of momentum over the past year. They were the perfect choice to kick things off, bringing plenty of energy from the very first song and proving why they’re quickly becoming one of the names to watch.
Things took an unexpected turn during Cavalera Conspiracy. Just a few songs in, a power outage hit parts of Oslo and brought the set to an abrupt stop. It was a frustrating moment for both the band and the crowd. The outage also affected President, while Trivium had to delay the start of their set.
Once the power was back, Trivium wasted no time getting the festival back on track. Their entrance, backed by huge pyro effects, immediately reminded everyone why they’re such a reliable festival band. Matt Heafy barely stood still, giving photographers plenty to work with during those precious first three songs.
Then came Babymetal, whose mix of choreography, storytelling and metal made them one of the most visually distinctive bands of the day.
One of the sets I had been looking forward to the most was Blood Incantation, and they absolutely delivered. Their performance was intense from start to finish. They managed to create an atmosphere that pulled the audience in.
After that, I ran over to see Jordsjuk, one of the Norwegian bands on the lineup. That’s something I really appreciated throughout the festival. Tons of Rock doesn’t just bring international headliners to Oslo; it also gives local bands a real platform in front of thousands of people. Jordsjuk made the most of it with a powerful set and a crowd that clearly showed up for them.
Then came The Offspring. Hit after hit, the crowd sang every lyric, giant balloons floated over the festival site, and the band even threw in a fun cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train. For an hour, it was impossible not to have a good time.
Even with the Norwegian summer sun still up, Bring Me The Horizon closed the opening day in spectacular fashion. Massive production, confetti cannons and a surprise appearance from Babymetal made it the perfect way to wrap up Day 1.
Day 2
Day 2 kicked off for me with Grandson, who once again proved why he’s such a solid festival opener. I’d already seen him a few times in the U.S., but his mix of rock, hip-hop and punk still worked just as well in front of a Norwegian crowd.
Next up was Imminence, their signature violin, combined with crushing breakdowns and Eddie Berg’s vocals, gave the set its own identity. It was heavy, emotional and one of the most unique performances of the afternoon.
I then stopped by D-A-D, a band I wasn’t familiar with before the festival. The Danish rock veterans were a fun discovery and a good reminder that Tons of Rock isn’t just about international headliners. Scandinavian rock has its place here too.
After missing them several times while living in California, I finally got to see Suicidal Tendencies. They had been on my list for a long time, and they were worth the wait. The energy never dropped, both on stage and in the pit.
The afternoon continued with another metal institution: Anthrax. No gimmicks, no unnecessary production—just a band that has been doing this for over forty years and still knows exactly how to work a festival crowd.
Then came Alice Cooper. One of the biggest names on the lineup, and a great chance to finally see one of rock’s true legends on stage.
The second day ended with Iron Maiden. Before the show, fans were asked to keep their phones in their pockets and simply enjoy the performance. It was refreshing to look around and actually see people watching the stage instead of their screens. Bruce Dickinson owned every inch of it, and it felt like the perfect way to end another packed day at Tons of Rock.
Day 3
Day 3 started on a completely different note with Eivør. The Faroese singer delivered one of the most emotional performances of the weekend. Her music felt almost cinematic, offering a quiet moment before the day got considerably heavier. I wasn’t very familiar with her before Tons of Rock, but she ended up being one of my favorite discoveries of the festival.
Next came Raga Rockers, another Scandinavian band I had never seen before. They brought a completely different atmosphere and once again reminded me how much space Tons of Rock gives to Nordic artists alongside international acts.
The pace changed quickly with Kublai Khan TX. As one of the only hardcore bands on the lineup, they wasted no time turning the pit into chaos. The crowd was moving from the very first breakdown, and Matt Honeycutt knew exactly how to keep that energy going.
Then it was time for Avatar. If there’s one band that knows how to put on a show, it’s them. Johannes Eckerström made his entrance inside a giant gift box before taking over the stage with the theatrical performance the band is known for.
A completely different crowd gathered for Dogstar. Of course, many people were there because of Keanu Reeves, but the band proved they deserved their place on the lineup beyond that.
The energy picked up again with The Hives. Pelle Almqvist barely spent a minute standing still, constantly interacting with the audience and somehow finding even more energy as the set went on. It was impossible not to get caught up in it.
I had already seen Behemoth earlier this year in California, but seeing them on a festival stage in Europe was a different experience. Their production, pyro, stage presence and the crowd’s reaction made it one of the standout performances of the weekend.
If there was one band I had been waiting to see more than any other, it was Mayhem. Seeing them in Oslo, just after visiting Neseblod, formerly known as Helvete, gave the show an entirely different meaning. I discovered the story of Norwegian black metal as a teenager, so finally seeing Mayhem in the city where it all began felt like a full-circle moment. It was easily one of the most memorable moments of the entire festival.
The day even included an unexpected break from music with France vs. Norway in the Women’s World Cup. As a French person surrounded almost entirely by Norwegian fans, I made sure I celebrated France’s win quietly.
To wrap up the day, Possessed reminded everyone why they’re considered one of the pioneers of death metal. It was the perfect way to close what was, without question, my favorite day of Tons of Rock.
Day 4
The final day started with Slay Squad, a band I hadn’t listened to before the festival. They wasted no time getting the crowd involved, asking for a wall of death almost as soon as they started. Not a bad way to wake everyone up for the last day of Tons of Rock.
Next came Black Label Society, another band that drew a huge crowd. Zakk Wylde’s unmistakable guitar playing and the band’s heavy sound reminded everyone why they’ve built such a loyal fanbase over the years.
Then it was time for Gaerea. The Portuguese black metal band, known for performing behind their signature masks, brought a completely different atmosphere. Judging by the crowd gathered in front of the stage, it was clear they already had plenty of fans waiting for them.
Sepultura followed with what would be their final show in Norway as part of their farewell tour. Seeing one of Brazil’s most influential metal bands on their last run made the set feel even more special.
I was especially happy to finally catch Gatecreeper. Somehow, I had managed to miss them every time they played while I was living in California, so finally seeing them in Oslo felt a little ironic. They were every bit as good as I had hoped.
After that came Leprous, offering a completely different atmosphere with their progressive sound and incredible vocals. Another reminder of just how varied the lineup was from one stage to the next.
One of my biggest surprises of the entire weekend was Blood Red Throne. The Norwegian death metal band completely won me over with fast riffs, crushing songs and a great crowd. I enjoyed the set so much that I walked straight to the merch stand afterwards and bought one of their shirts. I’m already looking forward to seeing them again when they play in Paris later this year.
Next up was A Perfect Circle, another band with an incredibly loyal fanbase. Looking around, it wasn’t unusual to spot people have band’s logo tattoos, a reminder of just how much these songs still mean to so many fans.
By the end of the day, there was no doubt who everyone had been waiting for. Red New Era caps had been everywhere around the festival site since the morning, making it pretty obvious Limp Bizkit would close the weekend in front of one of the biggest crowds of the festival.
Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto, DJ Lethal and touring bassist Richie “Kid Not” Buxton who also plays with Ecca Vandal. delivered exactly the kind of chaotic ending people had been waiting for. The crowd got so wild that both security and Fred Durst had to step in more than once to calm things down.
One of the night’s most memorable moments came when Fred invited a young fan on stage to sing with the band. It was one of those moments that reminded everyone why live shows can still feel so special.
You couldn’t really ask for a better way to close Tons of Rock 2026
Like every festival, Tons of Rock meant making choices. There were bands I missed, others I only caught for a few songs, and plenty of moments happening all at once. But that’s also what makes a festival like this so exciting. Every stage had something worth stopping for.
As my first festival as an accredited photographer, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I came home with more than 7,000 photos, a few new favorite bands, and plenty of reasons to come back to Oslo.
A huge thank you to the entire Tons of Rock team and the photo crew.
Get ready for Tons of Rock 2027.
