Because it’s the future, the poster with the new round of lineup additions for Roadburn Festival 2026, in always-accommodating Tilburg, the Netherlands, is a video. And Roadburn is one of few places on the planet where ‘the future’ is a hopeful prospect. While you and I live in dystopic hellscapes of various shapes and oppressive, overwhelming, strip-you-of-your-rights-on-our-way-to-passively-if-not-actively-murdering-you realities, Roadburn unrepentantly brings a sense of optimism. The future isn’t that boot on your neck. It’s whatever you want it to be.

This is a message I appreciate as much as I appreciate being obliterated by bands on stage, and surely the likes of Inter Arma, Primitive Man and Slift meet that need here, among others. Look at Warning becoming a Roadburn house band. And a full-album performance from Blackwater Holylight for a record that isn’t out until Jan. 30 — the band will be back in Europe in May for more touring and more fests, and has a US tour slated for February/March, as I think went up yesterday. I have trouble keeping up sometimes with when things are actually getting posted these days. See horrors above.

A beacon amid perennial awfulness and distraction:

Maruja, billy woods, Inter Arma, aya and many more announced for Roadburn 2026

Roadburn festival has today announced a second wave of bands for the 2026 edition which will take place between April 16-19 in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Among the names announced today are festival favourites Inter Arma performing their epic 2014 release The Cavern for the first (and last) time, American rapper billy woods, and Manchester’s genre-bending four-piece Maruja.

Roadburn’s artistic director, Walter Hoeijmakers comments:

“As the path toward Roadburn 2026 unfolds, the energy around us is rising. Every connection, every sound, every spark of creativity is drawing us closer together as the festival comes into view. This second announcement marks another step on that journey, an open invitation to feel the pulse of what’s ahead.

“The artists at the heart of this year’s edition are each shaping worlds of their own, their past, present, and future intertwining in bold new ways. At Roadburn 2026, you’ll hear echoes of where we’ve been, glimpses of where we’re going, and the raw emotion of right now. Each performance will remind us that art can move us, heal us, and bring us together – that through music, we find our shared humanity.

“We’re letting optimism light the way. Let’s meet in Tilburg next April – alive, open, and ready to share this amazing energy, face to face.”

All ticket and accommodation options for Roadburn are on sale now and more information including the full line up can be found at roadburn.com

The latest additions to Roadburn 2026 are as follows:

Additions to Roadburn 2026:

Ak’Chamel
aya
Backengrillen
Blackwater Holylight performing Not Here Not Gone
billy woods
Haress
Inter Arma performing The Cavern
Kowloon Walled City
Mandy, Indiana
Maruja
Milkweed
Orcutt Shelley Miller
Pain Magazine
Primitive Man performing Observance and a set of early years’ material titled Remembrance
Prostitute
RÓIS
Saetia
SLIFT
Slow Crush performing Aurora and premiering a special audio-visual presentation of Thirst
Slowhole
Truck Violence
Unsane performing Occupational Hazard
Warning

These artists will join a slew of previously announced artists including Oathbreaker, Krallice, Agriculture, Habak and many more. The full line up can be found at roadburn.com

Artwork by Douwe Dijkstra

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Blackwater Holylight, If You Only Knew (2025)

Slift, Ilion (2024)