Norway’s Beyond The Gates festival has revealed the first wave of bands for its 2026 edition, known as Chapter XIV.
The upcoming event is already shaping up to be a major highlight for the global metal scene. Organizers announced that Emperor will headline with a very special performance featuring former members Håvard “Mortiis” Ellefsen and Bård “Faust” Eithun.
Emperor, regarded as one of Norway’s most groundbreaking and influential black metal bands, helped elevate atmospheric black metal to new heights. Festival organizers expressed their excitement, stating they can’t wait “to return to the roots with them when they hit the stage in the iconic Grieghallen.”
Other Norwegian acts set to perform include 1349, Arcturus, and Misotheist, alongside returning bands Imha Tarikat and The Ruins of Beverast. A strong lineup of underground talent will also make their debut at the festival, including Spectral Wound, Warning, Forteresse, Sulphur Aeon, and Concrete Winds.
The 2026 edition of Beyond The Gates will run from July 29 through August 1, taking over the city center of Bergen. The festival will once again utilize multiple venues, including the legendary Grieghallen and USF Verftet. Known for attracting fans from over 50 countries, Beyond The Gates has grown into a global hub for extreme metal enthusiasts. Festival passes are already on sale.
To add to the excitement, organizers have launched a December giveaway campaign. Fans who purchase festival passes before December 31, 2025, will be entered into a drawing for free hotel packages and other exclusive prizes.
Festival organizers highlighted the event’s cultural significance, saying: “Since the inception of the Beyond The Gates festival, fans have been coming to Bergen to see performances of their favorite Norwegian artists in their home environment. As most visitors know, nature and local culture have always been a poignant source of inspiration for the bands emerging from the Bergen scene. Yet again, Beyond The Gates will give all of the traveling fans the opportunity to get a unique insight into all aspects of the Norwegian metal scene and the local culture in general. In that regard, we’re putting together a series of events before and during the festival so that all of you can discover what inspired — and still does — the Norwegian metal scene.”
They added that more announcements are on the way, teasing “exclusive listening parties, music and culture panels, in-depth live interviews, and a wealth of events and activities that will give you a Beyond The Gates experience that will last for a lifetime.”
