The Mangualde Hardmetalfest returns on 10 January 2026 to the C.C. Santo André for its 31st edition, maintaining its status as the longest-running metal festival on the Iberian Peninsula. Over more than three decades, the event has established Mangualde as a consistent meeting point for international and national metal acts, with a programme that continues to reflect a broad range of the genre’s heavier styles.
This year’s line-up is characterised by several first-time appearances in Portugal. Swedish band The Crown make their national debut as part of the festival, presenting material from their most recent album, Crown of Thorns. Also among the most prominent names on the bill are Destroyer 666, a long-established presence within black/thrash metal, whose relationship with Portuguese audiences is well documented.
German speed and thrash metal are represented by Darkness and Warrant, both appearing in Portugal for the first time. Doom metal is brought to the programme by Sweden’s Doomherre, whose sound draws on a lineage associated with bands such as Candlemass and Black Sabbath. The festival also marks the Portuguese debut of Asagraum, an all-female black metal band that has gained recognition within the contemporary scene.
The national contingent plays a central role in the day’s programme. Warout open proceedings with their take on thrash metal, followed by Dishonour in a black/death metal register. Tones of Rock add a hard rock presence to the early part of the schedule, while Els Focs Negres explore darker heavy metal territory. The night concludes with TVMVLO, whose approach is rooted in old-school death metal.
Maintaining its traditional one-day format, the Mangualde Hardmetalfest once again presents a compact programme that spans multiple strands of metal, combining international debuts with a strong representation of Portuguese acts.
With its combination of international debuts, established names, and a strong national presence, the 31st edition continues the festival’s long-standing role within Portugal’s metal calendar.
Bus excursions are available via Strike Tours, link here.
:. Tickets .:
Tickets available at regular stands and at Ticketline Portugal, UNKIND.pt, Letsgo.pt, MasQueTicket.com.
Mangualde HardMetalFest is organized by Rocha Produções.
HardMetal fest sponsors
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