Written By Caine Blackthorn
Greece is about to get absurdly loud this summer.
Release Athens Festival has unveiled its biggest heavy music lineup yet for its 10th anniversary celebration, bringing together metal legends, hard rock icons, alternative favorites, and a few beautifully chaotic wildcard choices across a stacked multi-date festival season by the sea.
Among the biggest names storming Athens in 2026 are Pantera, Megadeth, Limp Bizkit, Three Days Grace, Black Veil Brides, Trivium, Sepultura, Helloween, and Saxon – alongside artists from far outside the metal spectrum including Garbage, Gorillaz, Moby, Pet Shop Boys, Flaming Lips, and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
One of the biggest moments of the festival season will arrive on July 9 when Pantera finally performs in Greece for the very first time, with Trivium joining them as direct support. Limp Bizkit, Three Days Grace, and Black Veil Brides will also make their debut appearances during this year’s festivities.
Meanwhile, Megadeth and Sepultura are expected to deliver emotional return performances as both legendary bands continue their farewell runs, giving Greek fans one last chance to witness two giants of heavy music onstage together.
Since launching in 2016 at Athens’ scenic Plateia Nerou (Water Plaza), Release Athens has steadily evolved into one of Europe’s most eclectic summer festival destinations, blending metal, rock, punk, hip-hop, electronic, and alternative acts into one sprawling seasonal event overlooking the sea.
Over the years, the festival has hosted artists including Slipknot, Judas Priest, Alice In Chains, Anthrax, Parkway Drive, Wu-Tang Clan, Prodigy, Cypress Hill, Clutch, New Order, Iggy Pop, Bullet For My Valentine, and countless others.
And honestly? There are worse ways to spend a summer than watching Pantera riffs echo across the Mediterranean while someone nearby passes out from heatstroke and ouzo.
Release Athens is also offering multi-show ticket packages for fans planning to attend several events throughout the season.
Release Athens 2026 Summer Schedule
June 13 – Chris Isaak
June 15 – Limp Bizkit, Viagara Boys, Ecca Vandal
June 20 & July 7 – Imiskoumbria (Greek)
June 21 – David Byrne, Nation of Language, Deadletter
June 22– Jean–Michel Barre, Sebastien Tellier
June 24 – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Baxter Dury, Anna Von Hausswolff
June 25 – Gorillaz, Flaming Lips, Johnny Beth
June 27 – Pet Shop Boys
June 28 – Three Days Grace, Black Veil Brides
June 30– Megadeth,Sepultura
July 1 – Moby, Garbage,Pale Blue Eyes
July 5 – Pavlov Pavlidis, Pan Pan, Paidi Trauma (Greek)
July 7 – The Offspring, Bad Religion, High VIS
July 9 – Pantera, Trivium
July 10 – Helloween, Saxon, Ashes of Ares
July 11 – Thievery Corporation, The Wailers, Balthvs
July 25 – Sabaton, Savatage, Epic
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