VINTERLAND & EMYN MUIL join Fortress Festival 2026

Swedish melodic black metal legends Vinterland will perform their cult classic debut album, “Welcome My Last Chapter”, in its entirety for the album’s 30th anniversary. This will be the first time the band has ever performed in the UK, making their set a truly historic and unmissable occasion. Released in 1996, “Welcome My Last Chapter” has since achieved legendary status among black metal fans and is often celebrated as a pivotal release.

Also joining the festival is Italian epic/atmospheric black metal project Emyn Muil, who will deliver a UK exclusive performance on the new Dungeon Synth stage. Led by the multi-instrumentalist Saverio Giove (aka Nartum), Emyn Muil’s music is deeply rooted in the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien, weaving cinematic and epic atmospheres.

Saverio Giove reveals a unique vision for the performance: “Fortress 2026 will reveal a different incarnation of Emyn Muil. This time, the veil lifts in a more intimate form, three performers, one vision. We return to the UK with a set rooted in instrumental dungeon synth and deep cuts from the discography, alongside a few essential classics. Expect a more immersive, introspective performance. A different journey, same spirit.”

These new bands join previously announced Saturday headliners Old Man’s Child (UK exclusive) and Sunday headliners Gallowbraid (worldwide live debut). The Fortress Festival line-up so far also includes Dødheimsgard, who will perform their album “Black Medium Current” in its entirety, Akercocke with a worldwide exclusive full album performance of their acclaimed 2003 release, “Choronzon”, Norwegian black metal duo Whoredom Rife, who will headline the Ocean Room stage, and Abigail Williams, returning to the UK for the first time in eight years.

The festival will also feature exclusive UK sets from Groza, Mesarthim, Midnight Odyssey, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult (Ocean Room headliner), This Gift Is A Curse and Mispyrming, as well as debuts from Old Sorcery, Totenwache, Black Cilice, Darkenhöld and Antrisch. Atlantean Sword and Gate Master will perform at the new dungeon synth stage, with dungeon synth pioneer Mortiis set to headline the stage.
Aeon Winds will play a worldwide exclusive set, while A Forest of Stars will perform a special return show, and Ossaert will perform a worldwide exclusive set. Vespéral will make their UK debut and perform a worldwide exclusive of their recently released album, “La Mort De L’âme”.

The festival is on track to sell out well in advance. Purchase the last tickets available here: https://www.fortressfestival.co.uk/tickets

FORTRESS FESTIVAL 2026
30-31 May 2026
Scarborough Spa
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK

Tickets: fortressfestival.co.uk/tickets

Old Man’s Child UK Exclusive
Gallowbraid Worldwide Live Debut
Dødheimsgard UK exclusive ‘Black Medium Current’ album set
Akercocke Worldwide exclusive ‘Choronzon’ album set
Misþyrming UK Exclusive
Mortiis
Vinterland UK Debut / ‘Welcome My Last Chapter’ album set
Whoredom Rife UK Exclusive
Ossaert Worldwide Exclusive (No other live shows will be performed until at least 2027)
Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult UK Exclusive
Abigail Williams UK Exclusive
Groza UK Exclusive
A Forest of Stars Return Show
Mesarthim UK Exclusive
Midnight Odyssey UK Exclusive
Aeon Winds Worldwide Exclusive ‘Aeon Odyssey’ set
Vespéral UK Debut & Worldwide Exclusive “La Mort De L’âme” album set
Emyn Muil UK Exclusive
Old Sorcery Worldwide Live Debut
Antrisch UK Exclusive/Debut
Darkenhöld UK Exclusive/Debut
Totenwache UK Debut/Exclusive
This Gift Is A Curse UK Exclusive
Black Cilice UK Exclusive
Gate Master
Atlantean Sword