Fortress Festival has announced the final wave of bands for its 2027 edition, taking place May 28–30 at the Scarborough Spa on the North Yorkshire coast in England. These names complete a bill led by Emperor, who will close the festival with a UK-exclusive show, and by Stormkeep, the Colorado melodic black metal band, who also travel to Scarborough for an exclusive headline slot and a set spanning several eras of their career, including material they have never played in the UK.
Joining the main weekend are Germany's Ultha, returning to Fortress after their 2024 appearance with a UK-exclusive show, and fellow Germans Firtan, also exclusive, with their atmospheric black metal. Austria's Perchta, who play a ritualistic form of black and pagan metal, will make their UK debut after cancelling their 2025 appearance. "Perchta is proud to announce our UK debut at the legendary Fortress Festival. Some things are worth the wait. In 2027, we will finally bring our music to UK soil. See you at Fortress," the band said.
The dungeon synth stage, set in the venue's theatre, expands to both days of the weekend and adds Frostgard, a Tolkien-inspired atmospheric dungeon synth and dark ambient project. The stage will host the first-ever live performance by France's Erang, a pioneer of the genre's revival, with a set built around the "Land of the Five Seasons" and arriving 15 years after 'Tome I.' The theatre bill also includes Wraith Knight, OldNick's medieval-inspired project, crossing the Atlantic for a UK debut; the live debut of France's Spectral Castle; US act Hole Dweller; Atlantean Sword, who had to cancel in 2026; Spain's Lord Bakartia, with his dark ambient textures; France's DragonKeep; and Sweden's Örnatorpet, in a UK exclusive.
Blood Countess join 'Fortress: First Light,' the opening show on Friday, May 28, in the Scarborough Spa's Grand Hall, ticketed separately from the weekend pass. The night is headlined by Watain in a UK exclusive and features the UK debut of Poland's Terrestrial Hospice. "For one last time we will let the ancient fires of real Black Metal and spiritual liberation light up the night," vocalist Erik Danielsson said when the date was confirmed.
Elsewhere on the bill, Gris will play their worldwide live debut, Gràb and Dungeontroll will give worldwide exclusive performances, and Yellow Eyes will perform 'Confusion Gate' in a UK exclusive. Also playing UK exclusives are Forteresse, with a setlist kept secret until shortly before the event, Slagmaur, Havukruunu, Sinmara, Norway's Mare, with their Nidrosian black metal, and Germany's Sulphur Aeon, with their Lovecraftian death metal. Miserere Luminis, Tardigrada, Mourir and Trha make their UK debuts, as do Belgium's Silver Knife, who will play new material, and Oerheks, along with Bloodbark, playing the UK for the first time. British act Ninkharsag return with an exclusive set after two years of relative quiet.
"We've created the strongest line-up the UK has ever seen for our fifth anniversary of Fortress Festival. It's only been a few months since Fortress 2026, and we are already down to our final ticket allocation for next year. It's given us the space to really create something special for you all for 2027. Thank you to everyone who supports this event!" said Gary Stephenson, the festival's founder and director. Fortress debuted in Scarborough in 2023 and has sold out every edition; in 2024 its bill included Triptykon and Wolves in the Throne Room. Remaining tickets are available at fortressfestival.co.uk.
