Graspop Metal Meeting (GMM) is a Belgian heavy metal festival held annually in Dessel, Antwerp. The 2026 edition (June 18 to 21) is the 29th edition, featuring over 130 bands across five stages with headliners Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, Def Leppard, and Sabaton. The four-day event has a capacity of 55,000 (45,000 weekend tickets plus 10,000 day tickets). Graspop is best suited for metal and hard rock bands seeking performance at the Benelux's largest metal festival.
The 2025 edition (June 19 to 22) was the 28th edition of Graspop, headlined by Iron Maiden (celebrating their 50th anniversary), Slipknot (performing a set focused on their self-titled debut album), Korn, and Judas Priest. The lineup also included Nine Inch Nails, Till Lindemann, Powerwolf, Behemoth, Bullet For My Valentine, and Poppy across four days and five stages. The official aftermovie from the Graspop Metal Meeting YouTube channel captures the atmosphere of the 2025 edition:
About Graspop Metal Meeting
The first Graspop took place in 1986 as a small event grown from a local youth center. The festival in its current form was launched in 1996 by founder Peter Van Geel, who decided to reorient the event toward metal after realizing mainstream rock held insufficient appeal. Van Geel contacted Bob Schoenmaekers, owner of the Biebob concert venue in Vosselaar, who had been running a "Midsummer Metal Meeting." Their collaboration created Graspop Metal Meeting. The festival has been held at Festival Park Stenehei in Dessel since its inception. It has grown from a one-day event to four full days since 2018. The festival features two main stages (North Stage and South Stage) and three secondary stages (Metal Dome, Classic Rock Cafe, and Jupiler Stage). Graspop has been canceled only in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
2026 Edition in Detail
The 2026 edition (June 18 to 21) is the 29th edition of Graspop Metal Meeting. Limp Bizkit headlines the North Stage on Thursday, with Megadeth and Within Temptation (celebrating their 30th anniversary) also on the opening day. The Offspring headlines the South Stage on Thursday. Friday and Saturday headliners were revealed in earlier announcements. Sunday features Def Leppard headlining the North Stage and Sabaton closing the South Stage. Electric Callboy and Alice Cooper are also billed on Sunday. The lineup includes over 130 bands across five stages, with additional acts including Bush, Cavalera (Chaos A.D. set), Cradle of Filth, Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, Danko Jones, Fleddy Melculy, Leprous, Malevolence, Orden Ogan, Quicksand, Sleep Theory, Sonata Arctica, Terrorizer, and Vltimas. Thursday and Saturday tickets sold out, along with all VIP categories. A limited number of combi, Friday, and Sunday tickets remain available via Ticketmaster.
The official aftermovie from the 2026 edition was released on July 7, 2026, on the Graspop Metal Meeting YouTube channel:
Notable Past Headliners
Graspop has programmed the biggest names in metal and hard rock since its relaunch in 1996. Here is a look at headliners from recent editions:
| Year | Thursday Headliner | Friday Headliner | Saturday Headliner | Sunday Headliner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Limp Bizkit | The Offspring | Def Leppard | Sabaton |
| 2025 | Iron Maiden | Slipknot | Korn | Judas Priest |
| 2024 | Tool | Machine Head | Bring Me the Horizon | Deep Purple |
| 2023 | Iron Maiden | Slipknot | Ghost | Gojira |
| 2022 | KISS | Iron Maiden | Scorpions | Five Finger Death Punch |
| 2019 | Slipknot | Tool | Def Leppard | KISS |
Iron Maiden has headlined Graspop multiple times, including their 2025 set celebrating 50 years of the band. Slipknot's 2025 Friday headline set focused on their 1999 self-titled debut album, performing classic tracks and deeper cuts from their early records. Judas Priest closed the South Stage on Sunday in 2025, returning to Dessel after their 2022 headline slot.
Beyond the headliners, Graspop programs emerging metalcore and modern metal acts on its secondary stages. French metalcore band LANDMVRKS performed at the 2025 edition, and their live video of "Sulfur" from the set has accumulated over 389,000 views on YouTube:
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Graspop is the largest metal festival in the Benelux, making it a significant booking for bands targeting the Belgian and Dutch markets. The five stages create opportunities for bands at various career levels, from headliners on the North and South Stages to emerging acts on the Metal Dome and Classic Rock Cafe stages. Dessel's location in the Kempen region of Antwerp draws audiences from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. The four-day format means bands can play on different days, reducing scheduling conflicts. The Classic Rock Cafe and Metal Dome stages host tribute bands and DJs between main stage sets, providing additional performance slots. For strategies on getting booked at festivals like Graspop, read our music festival strategy guide.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
Graspop is exclusively a metal and hard rock festival, excluding artists from other genres. The 45,000 weekend capacity means the festival sells out, requiring advance booking. The Dessel location is rural, with limited transport options (nearest major city is Antwerp, 60 km away). The four-day commitment requires significant time and resources from both artists and attendees. Belgian weather in June can be unpredictable, with rain affecting the open-air stages. The festival's focus on established headliners means emerging acts may receive limited promotion and short set times. The festival's proximity to other European metal festivals (Wacken, Download) means competition for both audience and band bookings. For advice on getting gigs as an emerging artist, see our guide on how to get paid gigs as an unknown artist.
Related Resources
- Music Festivals Directory
- Music Festival Strategy: Get Booked and Make It Count
- How to Get Paid Gigs as an Unknown Artist
- How to Sell Merchandise Without Holding Inventory
- Visit Graspop Metal Meeting for tickets and full lineup
Similar Festivals
- Hellfest - One of the largest heavy metal festivals in the world, held in Clisson, France
- Wacken Open Air - The world's largest heavy metal festival, held in Wacken, Germany
- Download Festival - Major rock and metal festival held in Donington Park, UK
- Bloodstock Open Air - UK-based independent heavy metal festival held in Derbyshire
