Scarborough, UK; 21 January 2026: Fortress Forum, Fortress Festival’s side-programme, will return in 2026 on Saturday, 30 May. The theatre room at Scarborough Spa will host a series of exclusive on-stage interviews offering attendees a unique insight into the artists’ lives and work.
The first bands confirmed to participate in the “in conversation” series are Vinterland and Akercocke. Swedish melodic black metal legends Vinterland will sit down to discuss their enduring legacy and their historic UK debut at Fortress, where they will perform their cult classic debut album, “Welcome My Last Chapter”, in its entirety for its 30th anniversary.
Joining them on the Fortress Forum schedule are UK progressive black metal masters Akercocke. Following the announcement of their worldwide exclusive full album performance of the acclaimed 2003 release, “Choronzon”, the band will discuss the history and making of one of extreme metal’s most celebrated records.
Additional artists for the “in conversation” series will be announced in the coming months.
The Fortress Forum conversations will be led by Jackie Smit of the acclaimed Into the Necrosphere podcast and renowned author, journalist and Cult Never Dies founder Dayal Patterson.
While Saturday focuses on industry and artist discussions, the theatre stage will transform on Sunday, 31 May, to host the festival’s previously announced Dungeon Synth stage. This dedicated programme will be headlined by the genre’s pioneer, Mortiis, with performances also confirmed from Emyn Muil, Atlantean Sword and Gate Master.
Fortress Festival has a stacked line-up of international and exclusive acts, including Saturday headliners Old Man’s Child (UK exclusive) and Sunday headliners Gallowbraid (worldwide live debut).
The Fortress Festival line-up 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 WhoredomRife, 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 Fluisteraars, 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, Antrisch and Emyn Muil. 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”. Swedish melodic black metal legends Vinterland will also make their UK debut and perform their cult classic debut album, “Welcome My Last Chapter”, in its entirety for the album’s 30th anniversary.
The festival is on track to sell out soon. Purchase the last weekend and day 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 ChildUK Exclusive
GallowbraidWorldwide Live Debut
DødheimsgardUK exclusive ‘Black Medium Current’ album set
Akercocke Worldwide exclusive ‘Choronzon’ album set
Misþyrming UK Exclusive
Mortiis
Fluisteraars UK Exclusive
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
