First off, a quick band update! Purely due to some unavoidable logistical issues, there’s been a little switch around on Saturday’s line-up.
In an update to the line-up, due to logistics, Of Mice And Men and Death Angel will perform on the Sophie Lancaster Stage whilst Nevermore and Urne have moved to the Ronnie James Dio Main Stage.
Without further delay, here are the Fancy Dress themes for Bloodstock 2026…
On Thursday, and even though it’s been done before, but with HEAVYSAURUS on the bill and it being SO MUCH FUN, it has to be DINOSAURS again. That costume you bought a couple years back is now excellent value for money, huh?
The Friday embraces the dark, the macabre, and the creative… Bloodstock wants to see how you interpret TWISTED FAIRYTALES as a theme! Black widow bitten Miss Muffet? Malice in Wonderland? Goth fairies welcome!
Saturday rolls back the clock to the 1980’s! Bring out your best ‘80’s fashion (mullets encouraged, neon leg warmers optional), or be a character from your fave ‘80s movie, TV show, or band! There is no such thing as too much leopard print.
On Sunday, there’s a special treat in the Rock and Metal Museum, as festival founder and renowned fantasy artist Paul Gregory will be exhibiting his original, oil on canvas, Lord Of The Rings-inspired painting ‘Morannon’! An impressive 1.8m x 3m in size, it was last exhibited over 20 years ago at the indoor BLOODSTOCK. In honour, Sunday’s fancy dress theme will be LORD OF THE RINGS / FANTASY! Come as a dragon, a wizard, an orc, or even as Gollum, my precious.
Here are your late night shenanigans on the Stowford Press New Blood and Sophie Lancaster stages:
THURSDAY
The legendary silent disco levels up at the New Blood Stage from 11pm-2am with more channels and headsets than ever! Rich Harris holds down rock/metal, Little M takes dance, while Jamie Haines and Lloyd split ’50s-’90s pop vs hardstyle/techno before switching to noughties pop vs jungle/drum ‘n’ bass.
Then over at the Sophie Stage from 12-2am, DJ Pressplay kicks off his Welcome Party with prime cuts from the weekend’s bands plus rock and alternative bangers to set the tone.
FRIDAY
Rich Harris returns to New Blood from 11pm-2am to host Rage Against the ’90s – a full volume night of nu-metal, grunge and stoner vibes featuring Deftones, Korn, Alice in Chains, Static-X, Pantera, RATM, Slipknot and more. And that’ll INCLUDE a special guest DJ set from none other than Biohazard’s Evan Seinfeld!
Over at the Sophie Stage from 12-2am, Lloyd and Little M return for year four with the Blood Rave – electronic, industrial and heavy dance inspired by the opening scene in Blade.
SATURDAY
The silent disco returns to New Blood from 11pm-2am with four channels – Rich Harris on rock/metal, Little M on club classics, Lloyd on cheese/pop, and DJ Pressplay delivering a full set of modern & classic country for your very own hoedown.
At the Sophie Stage from 12-2am, DJ Arockalypse’s Gary Newey is joined by trap metal sensation n0trixx for guilty pleasures and classic alternative tunes with a twist.
SUNDAY
Round off the weekend at the Sophie Stage from 12-2am with Rich Harris’s closing party – classic singalongs, a taste of next year’s bands, and songs to carry you through summer.
Bloodstock, as always, is not to be missed !!
