News: Maid of Stone Festival announce first wave of bands

On the weekend of 17-19th July 2026, heavy metal royalty will invade the picturesque Mote Park as Saxon headline Maid of Stone Festival.

Now in its fourth year, Maid of Stone Festival returns to Mote Park with its most ambitious announcement to date. Heavy metal icons Saxon will top the bill on Saturday 18 July.

Recently reformed The Temperance Movement will headline Friday 17 July, supported by US southern rockers A Thousand Horses, FM, and Anthony Gomes—the Canadian blues-rock guitarist renowned worldwide for his explosive live shows and soulful guitar work. Canadian rockers Danko Jones return to Mote Park on Saturday 18th, their first time since 2016.

The festival’s closing day brings the ever-unpredictable and always enjoyable The Wildhearts to the main stage, with the weekend also featuring standout sets from The New Roses (Germany), Tailgunner, Cobra Spell (Spain), Häxan, Morganway, Cassidy Paris (Australia), Kit Trigg and Silveroller. Local favourites Queen Horizon and Battle Born, both who had to pull out of this years event, return to the bill.

On the second stage, Crow Black Chicken take Friday’s top slot, The Virginmarys headline Saturday, and Chez Kane closes the weekend on Sunday.

LINE-UP SO FAR

SAXON
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
THE WILDHEARTS
A THOUSAND HORSES
FM
DANKO JONES
THE NEW ROSES
TAILGUNNER
THE VIRGINMARYS
ANTHONY GOMES
COBRA SPELL
CROW BLACK CHICKEN
HAXAN
CHEZ KANE
MORGANWAY
CASSIDY PARIS
KIT TRIGG
QUEEN HORIZON
SILVERROLLER
BATTLE BORN

Festival booker Chris Wright says:

“It’s been another challenging year with so many major acts touring the UK, but we’ve managed to pull together a line-up we’re incredibly proud of. The support from fans keeps growing, and 2026 is shaping up to be another great year.”

Maid of Stone has become known for delivering an affordable, all-ages weekend built around genuine community energy. Early Bird tickets sold out in record time, and only a handful of campervan and caravan passes remain.

With a growing international flavour and a fan-first ethos, the independently run festival once again partners with Planet Rock to celebrate three days of real rock music in one of the South’s most picturesque settings.

Tickets are on sale now at www.maidofstonefestival.com or directly from Skiddle

Further announcements to arrive at the end of November.

Maid of Stone Festival line up poster

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