Ankea Festival – Finland’s new summer gathering for alternative rock and progressive metal lovers – has finalized its line-up and announced the daily running order, with 21 artists taking over two open-air stages on June 5–6, 2026. Located at a former factory site in Tampere, Finland, the festival will feature artists from 10 different countries across Europe and North America. The latest addition is Canadian cello virtuoso Raphael Weinroth-Browne, who will appear as a special guest for American progressive metallers Earthside.
The first act to hit the Main Stage on Friday will be Finnish sludge powerhouse Demonic Death Judge, followed by a rare live show from underground rock pioneers Circle, Ireland’s post-rock export God Is An Astronaut, and capped off with back-to-back sets from Norwegian heavyweights Ihsahn and Leprous. The second stage, located right next to the factory building and fittingly named as Factory Stage, will host the likes of Earthside, Iceland’s Kælan Mikla, and a Finnish debut by French space rockers SLIFT, who will coincidentally release their new album “Fantasia” on the same day. Friday will close with American post-rock legends This Will Destroy You, returning to Finland for the first time in 17 years.
Saturday kicks off with two exciting Finnish acts, Royal Sorrow and Rioghan, and culminates with two legendary names: Swedish icons Katatonia will headline the Main Stage with a special 20th anniversary performance of their 2006 classic “The Great Cold Distance”, while the Factory Stage will be closed by Finland’s cult legend Oranssi Pazuzu, whose hypnotic sound will echo across nearby Lake Näsijärvi until midnight.
Ankea Festival takes pride in creating a carefully curated experience beyond the music. The festival site is built in and around the Hiedanranta street art park, featuring over 200 meters of commissioned and free-to-paint graffiti walls. Surrounded by art and unique industrial vibe, visitors will enjoy a selection of Tampere’s top food trucks, a wine bar, a mocktail bar, and a pop-up bar by internationally renowned cocktail venue Tiima. Festival beer will be provided by CoolHead Brew, one of Finland’s leading craft breweries and current holder of the “Best Beer in Finland” title for their Salmiac Licorice Blackcurrant Sour, which will be available at every bar at Ankea Festival.
Friday, June 5, 2026
Leprous (NO)
Ihsahn (NO)
This Will Destroy You (US)
God Is An Astronaut (IE)
SLIFT (FR)
Kælan Mikla (IS)
Circle (FI)
Earthside (US)
Virta (plays Hurmos) (FI)
Demonic Death Judge (FI)
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Katatonia – The Great Cold Distance 20th Anniversary Show (SE)
Oranssi Pazuzu (FI)
Textures (NL)
Green Carnation (NO)
Sylvaine (NO)
A.A. Williams (UK)
Bruce Soord (UK)
Ihlo (UK)
Vermilia (FI)
Rioghan (FI)
Royal Sorrow (FI)
2-day tickets from €169.90 / 1-day tickets from €99.90.
Tickets on sale at: www.ankeafestival.com/tickets