GRIM REAPER FESTIVAL 2026

GRIM REAPER FESTIVAL 2026 MARKS 25 YEARS OF MALTESE HEAVY METAL CULTURE

St. Julian’s, Malta — Monday, 9 February 2026 — The GRIM REAPER FESTIVAL, Malta’s past-live celebration dedicated exclusively to local heavy metal, returns in 2026 to commemorate its 25th anniversary. Founded in 2001 by Nick Grima (Grim Reaper Organization), the festival has played a pivotal role in uniting Maltese metal bands, providing a dedicated platform for performance, collaboration, and the growth of the island’s underground music scene.

The 2026 edition represents a landmark moment in the festival’s history, reaƯirming its cultural relevance within Malta’s underground arts community while honouring the artists who have sustained the scene over the past quarter century. Designed as a full day-to-night experience, the GRIM REAPER FESTIVAL 2026 will feature an expanded line-up of ten Maltese heavy metal bands, culminating in an extended afterparty with a special guest artist and a special 2026 live set.

Event Details

Date: Monday, 9 February 2026 (eve of a public holiday)

• Venue: Tigullio, St. Julian’s, Malta

• Doors Open: 12:00 hrs

• First Performance: 14:00 hrs

• Entrance: €30

• Age Restriction: +17 P

• Performance Schedule:

EVER OBSCURE — 14:00–14:45

SACROMENT — 15:00–15:45

FROM SHEEP TO WOLVES — 16:00–16:45

RANKIN — 17:00–17:45

DAMAGED & CO. — 18:00–18:45

ATOMIC FLAME — 19:00–19:45

VIPER SOUP COMPLEX — 20:00–20:45

REPUGNANCE — 21:00–21:45

SCEPTOCRYPT — 22:00–22:45

FORSAKEN — 23:00–24:00

ANCIENT REMAINS — 24:30–01:30 (Special 2026 live set)

Beyond the live performances, the festival will conclude with an extended afterparty, offering fans and artists the opportunity to celebrate the milestone together and reinforcing the communal spirit that has defined GRIM REAPER FESTIVAL since its inception.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary, a limited-edition GRIM REAPER FESTIVAL anniversary t-shirt will be released. Priced at €25, the shirt will be available exclusively by pre-order, underscoring its collector’s status for long-time supporters and new attendees alike.

GRIM REAPER FESTIVAL 2026 stands not only as a celebration of heavy metal music, but as a testament to the resilience, creativity, and unity of Malta’s underground music community. This anniversary edition invites audiences, media, and cultural stakeholders to witness a defining chapter in Maltese alternative music history.

Thank you so much for keep the Maltese Metal music scene alive with your support!