FIRST ACTS FOR ACW 2026

Since its foundation in 2016, the Copenhagen, Denmark based festival A COLOSSAL WEEKEND has been an artistic platform for genre-crossing, heavy, and experimental music. It is a festival where representation, inclusivity, and aesthetic radicalism go hand in hand, as well as being a free space for audiences and artists to meet in safety, openness, and musical exploration. Next year, the festival will celebrate its 10th year anniversary, which will take place from 7th-9th May 2026 with VEGA and Basement in Copenhagen as its fixed location.

Today, A COLOSSAL WEEKEND can announce the first artists for next year’s anniversary celebration. First are the two American headliners RUSSIAN CIRCLES and PELICAN, each mastering their own unique form of post-metal. Both bands also performed at the festival’s very first edition in 2016, thus bringing a sense of full circle as they re-actualize the festival’s roots through their performances in this anniversary year.

‍

With its exploratory nature, A COLOSSAL WEEKEND moves through both present and past and the fusion of these, as is also the case with today’s announcement. In addition to the two headliners, gothic electronic rock/indie from PAIN MAGAZINE (FR) is added, a band that includes members from Birds in Row as well as Maelstrom & Louisahh, and who will perform for the first time on Danish soil. Furthermore, hyper-psychedelia from HYPER GAL (JP), contemporary hardcore from FERAL NATURE (NO), avant-garde post-rock from SHEARLING (US), and the stoner rock institution TRUCKFIGHTERS (SE) are announced.

‍

The final poster will feature up to 30 bands from both Denmark and abroad.