8 must-see metal and extreme music festivals in France

Published by Caroline de Sortiraparis · Photos by Caroline de Sortiraparis · Published on February 6, 2025 at 03:44 p.m.
Hellfest of course, but also Motocultor, Plane'R Fest, Mennecy Metal Fest, Festival 666 and Heavy Weekend... discover 8 must-see metal music festivals in France in 2025!

Every year, there are many festivals in France. Festivals dedicated to French chanson, rap or electro... some musical events also give pride of place to metal and other extreme music, inviting local groups as well as international artists.

While some, like Hellfest and Motocultor, set the standard, others are also beginning to make a name for themselves on the French metal festival scene, such as Plane'R Fest, Festival 666 and Mennecy Metal Fest! Let's take a look at the 8 must-see metal festivals in France this year.

Hellfest 2023 - vendredi 16 juin, nos photos - IMGP2174Hellfest 2023 - vendredi 16 juin, nos photos - IMGP2174Hellfest 2023 - vendredi 16 juin, nos photos - IMGP2174Hellfest 2023 - vendredi 16 juin, nos photos - IMGP2174

8 must-seemetal and extreme musicfestivals in France in 2024

We Metal Festival 2024: le nouveau festival francilien dédié aux musiques extrêmesWe Metal Festival 2024: le nouveau festival francilien dédié aux musiques extrêmesWe Metal Festival 2024: le nouveau festival francilien dédié aux musiques extrêmesWe Metal Festival 2024: le nouveau festival francilien dédié aux musiques extrêmes We Metal Fest 2025: Klone, Vestige, Ashen... here's the line-up
Metal invites itself back to Le Plan in Ris-Orangis on Saturday April 5 and Sunday April 6, 2025 for the second edition of the 'We Metal Fest'. On the program? Two days of concerts dedicated to extreme music, featuring Klone, Vestige, Ashen, Akiavel, Pogo Car Crash Control, Hangman's Chair and Psykup. [Read more]

Download Festival 2018 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2018 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2018 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2018 à Paris : les photos Re-animator 2025 in Saint-Nolff: LocoMuerte, Mercyless... the rest of the program
Lovers of rock and extreme music can smile! The Re-animator is back in Brittany. Join us in Saint-Nolff from Thursday May 8 to Saturday May 10, 2025 for 3 days of open-air music! On the program? Burning Heads, Komodor, Didier Super, Nytt Land, Sorcerer and Les Ramoneurs de menhirs, LocoMuerte and Mercyless. [Read more]

Judas Priest et Saxon en concert au Zénith de Paris: on y était, on vous raconteJudas Priest et Saxon en concert au Zénith de Paris: on y était, on vous raconteJudas Priest et Saxon en concert au Zénith de Paris: on y était, on vous raconteJudas Priest et Saxon en concert au Zénith de Paris: on y était, on vous raconte Heavy Weekend 2025 at Nancy Open Air: Saxon, Europe... join the line-up
After a very good vintage in 2024, the Heavy Weekend returns to Nancy Open Air, to offer heavy metal and hard rock fans a second edition as beautiful and enjoyable as the last. Join us on Friday June 6, Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8, 2025 in the Grand Est region of France for three explosive days of action. The Heavy Weekend line-up includes Slipknot, Powerwolf, Dream Theater, Saxon, Europe and Mass Hysteria. [Read more]

Hellfest 2023 - samedi 17 juin, nos photos - IMGP2665Hellfest 2023 - samedi 17 juin, nos photos - IMGP2665Hellfest 2023 - samedi 17 juin, nos photos - IMGP2665Hellfest 2023 - samedi 17 juin, nos photos - IMGP2665 Hellfest 2025: Linkin Park, Muse, Korn, Scorpions... the line-up by stage
Hellfest returns with four new days of concerts dedicated to extreme music. Mark your calendars: Hellfest awaits metalheads from Thursday June 19 to Sunday June 22, 2025. On the program for this new edition? Americans Linkin Park, Brits Muse, Germans Scorpions, as well as Korn, Judas Priest, Till Lindemann, The Hu, Falling in Reverse, Dream Theater, Ultra Vomit, Within Temptation, Electric Callboy and Heilung... Here's the program by day and by stage! [Read more]

Download Festival 2018 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2018 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2018 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2018 à Paris : les photos Plane'R Fest 2025: While She Sleeps, Vestige... the rest of the program
Ultra Vomit, Perturbator, Gloryhammer, Loudblast, Beyond The Black, While She Sleeps and Vestige announce their participation in the 2025 edition of Plane'R Fest, aka the "Rock in Montcul" festival! Join us on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5, 2025 in Colombier-Saugnieu, near Lyon, for a feast of extreme music! [Read more]

Hellfest 2024 - Dimanche 30 juin, nos photos - IMGP4942Hellfest 2024 - Dimanche 30 juin, nos photos - IMGP4942Hellfest 2024 - Dimanche 30 juin, nos photos - IMGP4942Hellfest 2024 - Dimanche 30 juin, nos photos - IMGP4942 Festival 666, 2025 edition: Mass Hysteria, Hatebreed, Fu Manchu... the line-up
Metal music returns to Charente-Maritime this summer with the sixth edition of the 666 festival. Join us in Cercoux on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August 2025 for live performances by Mass Hysteria, Hatebreed, Fu Manchu, Karras, Kublai Khan TX and Vestige. [Read more]

Hellfest 2022, part 1 - samedi 18 juin, nos photosHellfest 2022, part 1 - samedi 18 juin, nos photosHellfest 2022, part 1 - samedi 18 juin, nos photosHellfest 2022, part 1 - samedi 18 juin, nos photos Motocultor Festival 2025: Extreme, Trivium... join the line-up
After thrilling many a festival-goer last summer, the Motocultor festival announces its return in 2025 with a new, 16th edition not to be missed on Thursday 14th, Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August in Carhaix, Brittany. On the program? Machine Head, Dimmu Borgir, Kerry King, Me and That Man, Eivør, Cult of Luna, Mogwai, Carpenter Brut, Lacuna Coil, Sólstafir, Extreme and Trivium... Discover the line-up by day! [Read more]

Download Festival 2016 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2016 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2016 à Paris : les photosDownload Festival 2016 à Paris : les photos Mennecy Metal Fest 2025: Blind Guardian, Dagoba, Loudblast... the first names
Metal music is back in Essonne for the 13th edition of the Mennecy Metal Fest. Join us on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September 2025 at Parc de Villeroy to enjoy the powerful sounds of Blind Guardian, Dagoba, Loudblast, Dropdead Chaos, Waltari and Unbounded Terror. [Read more]

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and that several other metal festivals take place in France every year. Stay tuned for more!

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Tags: metal, Hellfest
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