Ankea Festival – a new open air festival for alternative rock and metal lovers – opens its gates for the first time next June in Tampere, Finland. The first acts of the line up have now been revealed. The festival area, nestled by lake Näsijärvi in a graffiti-filled post-industrial site, will welcome the likes of Swedish masters of melancholy Katatonia with a rare The Great Cold Distance 20th Anniversary Show, Norwegian metal legend and multi-instrumentalist Ihsahn, American instrumental rock outfit This Will Destroy You, Irish post-rock duo God Is An Astronaut, Icelandic mystical post-punk group Kaelan Mikla, French psychedelic space rockers SLIFT and boundary-pushing psychedelic rockers Oranssi Pazuzu. Ankea Festival will feature over 20 artists all together.
The festival will be held in and around the Hiedanranta industrial site, where an attendance of a few thousand music-lovers is expected. Further details of the festival area, food, drinks and program will be revealed during the winter.
Ankea Festival is the brainchild of two Tampere-based promoters: Alt Agency & Management, renowned booking agency and festival promoter in the indie rock scene, and Nahka Agency, best known as a tour promoter and booker in the metal music community. The goal of the organizers is to offer progressive rock and metal lovers a cosy alternative to major festivals, easily accessible to public transport, cyclists and international guests.
Ankea Festival 2026 artists:
Katatonia – The Great Cold Distance 20th Anniversary (SE)
Ihsahn (NO)
This Will Destroy You (US)
God Is An Astronaut (IE)
Oranssi Pazuzu (FI)
SLIFT (FR)
Kaelan Mikla (IS)
Green Carnation (NO)
Circle (FI)
A.A. Williams (UK)
Bruce Soord (UK)
Earthside (US)
Ihlo (UK)
Vermilia (FI)
Virta (plays Hurmos) (FI)
Rioghan (FI)
Ankea Festival
Fri 5.6.2026 - Sat 6.6.2026
Tampere, Hiedanrannan Tehdasaukio
