It was the first weekend in June, and summer festivals were in full swing. Our editorial team decided to visit Pilsen’s Metalfest 2026 at the Lochotín Amphitheater again this year.
I set out early and arrived on Friday, June 5, before the gates even opened. When I arrived, almost everything in the area was still closed, and the atmosphere was pretty sleepy. At least I was able to pick up my wristband in peace and chat with the fans who had already arrived and were waiting.
Below are a few videos from before the festival kicked off, as well as the first opening of the gates at 11:30 a.m.
An emotional start with Tri State Corner and Energy by April Art
The main music program kicked off at exactly 12:30 p.m. with Tri State Corner. Czech fans are surely already familiar with this band from other festivals, as they visit the Czech Republic quite regularly. For those who don’t know them, it’s a band made up of musicians from three different countries (Greece, Germany, and Poland) with big hearts and immense talent. From my perspective, they kicked off the festival in grand style and had significant support from the audience.
The second band, April Art from Germany, was a stark contrast with their high energy and very positive attitude. During their performance, the first mosh pits also broke out, and the atmosphere was very wild. They also played several of their newest songs, including one that hasn’t been released yet. Another memorable moment was when the singer Lisa-Marie ran into the crowd alone and let herself be carried on people’s shoulders right in the middle of the mosh pit.
The Unexpected Rage and the Modern Symphony of Beyond the Black
The band Rage stepped in at the last minute to fill in for Orphaned Land, who were unable to make it. I don’t think I was the only one who was happy about this change, and we really enjoyed their performance. The band was very relaxed during the show, yet focused on every note. During their allotted time, they took us through their discography, from older songs to the newest ones from their latest album.
Next up were the very popular symphonic metal band from Germany, Beyond the Black. They released a very successful album this past January, and they performed the best tracks from it live in Pilsen as well. Including “The Flood” and “Let There Be Rain,” which thematically fit the terrifying rain that appeared before their performance. They rounded out the rest of the set with older favorites such as “Songs of Love and Death” and “Lost in Forever.”
A Party with PAIN and the Legendary Anthrax
It was a bit unusual to see the band PAIN in broad daylight, but they brought with them not only everything we expected, but also an exceptionally good vibe. They managed to spread that energy to all the fans in attendance. People were running, jumping, and singing throughout the amphitheater. They played all the right party songs, like “Don’t Wake the Dead,” “Party in My Head,” and “Go With the Flow.” Of course, they couldn’t end without the famous “Shut Your Mouth.”
For some people, the grand finale was the performance by the legendary Anthrax. The amphitheater was probably at its fullest all weekend during this band’s set. We were all curious to see what they would put on. Personally, I’m not a big connoisseur or fan of classic American heavy metal, but it’s nice to check off another band from the Big Five. Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations, but overall I enjoyed the show in the company of my wonderful friends.
I then headed back so I could get myself physically and mentally ready for the next day. Luckily, our other reporter, Lenka, filled in for me, and she’ll tell you all about the last band.
Closing with a celebration of Accept
The real highlight of the entire evening came with the band Accept. The German heavy metal legend celebrated an incredible 50 years of existence at Pilsen’s Metalfest, and for me, their set was the best experience of the day. I love their dense sound—it’s just classic, no complicated frills, just honest, catchy rock-metal straightforwardness. Although no wild mosh pit broke out in front of the stage at this point in the concert, the older generation of die-hard rockers must have been 100% satisfied. Even though the band has global megahits like “Balls to the Wall” in their repertoire, my personal and most powerful experience of the evening was the immortal anthem “Princess of the Dawn.” Even after half a century on the scene, this icon still has plenty to offer.
Photos and closing paragraph by Accept: Lenka Machuldová
Report, lead photo, and videos: Kerry Lynx
You can find videos highlighting the day’s events on our social media channels, and be sure to follow us so you don’t miss the reports from the coming days.