Gig News: Steelhouse Festival Lineup

November 7, 2025 rocknews

THE LEGENDS RETURN: TWISTED SISTER TO CLOSE A MONUMENTAL STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL LINEUP 2026!

EBBW VALE, WALES — Few music festivals command the kind of passion, loyalty, and sheer altitude of the Steelhouse Festival. Perched atop Hafod-Y-Dafal Farm, making it officially the UK’s highest music festival, this annual rock pilgrimage has grown from humble beginnings into an essential fixture on the international rock calendar. Now, celebrating its landmark 15th anniversary (SHXV), the Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026 has been unleashed, and it is a statement of monumental intent, headlined by one of the most iconic names in heavy metal history: Twisted Sister.

The Heritage of the Mountain and the Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026

To understand the magnitude of this announcement, one must appreciate the spirit of Steelhouse. Born from a simple desire by local rock promoters Max Rhead and Mikey Evans to bring authentic rock culture to the South Wales Valleys—a region steeped in industrial heritage—Steelhouse is a festival built on grit and a deep love for the genre. Its name is a nod to the now-closed Ebbw Vale steelworks, a pillar of the local community for generations.

The unique selling point is, quite literally, the location. Attendees make the ascent to the mountaintop site, overlooking spectacular panoramic views that stretch across the Brecon Beacons. This stunning, remote location fosters a deeply communal and friendly atmosphere, often cited by fans and bands alike as the secret ingredient that makes the Steelhouse experience unlike any other. It’s a festival where classic rock cornerstones—like Thin Lizzy, Saxon, Black Stone Cherry, and Skindred in years past—have rocked a single, spectacular stage, sharing the view and the experience with a dedicated crowd. The curators of the Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026 have meticulously balanced this spirit, ensuring a blend of legends and rising talent.

Sunday Night: Twisted Sister’s 50-Year Scream

Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026 Twisted sister

The biggest news dominating the Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026 is the confirmation of Sunday night’s headliner: Twisted Sister.

The American metal legends will descend upon the mountain to close out the 15th-anniversary celebrations on Sunday, July 26th, 2026. This is a truly global-scale event, marking the band’s first confirmed UK show in a decade as they themselves commemorate an awe-inspiring half-century milestone. For festival promoters, Max and Mikey, securing Twisted Sister is the culmination of years of ambition. They stated that they felt 15 years was worth celebrating in the biggest possible way, and what better way than with Twisted Sister, noting it is an “absolute and unbelievable honour.”

The band’s performance is set to be an emphatic, rip-roaring closure, with anthems like “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock” set to echo across the entire valley. Twisted Sister’s frontman, Dee Snider, has history with the mountain, having delivered a triumphant headline slot in 2015. However, this marks the very first time the band has performed as a band at the event, ensuring a legendary, bucket-list moment for every attendee of the Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026.

The Weekend Schedule: From Groove to Glastonbury

The full weekend schedule for the Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026 is packed with rock royalty and rising stars, perfectly embodying Steelhouse’s commitment to bridging classic and contemporary rock.

Kicking off the monumental weekend on Friday, July 24th, are the highly-anticipated headliners, The Temperance Movement. Having a long history with the festival that stretches back to the event’s early days, their return is a proper Steelhouse reunion, promising a night of groove, grit, and soulful blues-rock that will ignite the mountain atmosphere.

Taking the coveted special guest slot on Saturday are the revered Glastonbury rock veterans, Reef, ready to deliver their massive catalogue of hits and their signature dynamic stage presence to the Welsh peaks.

The Full Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026 (First Wave)

Beyond the headliners, the depth of the initial Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026 announcement is exceptional, featuring a strong mix of international powerhouses and UK rock talent:

• Alien Ant Farm: Making their inaugural appearance on the mountain, bringing their smooth, alternative rock sound.

• Tyketto: Melodic rock veterans known for their enduring anthems.

• Von Hertzen Brothers: Bringing their complex, expansive Finnish prog-rock sound.

• Mason Hill: Scottish hard rock favourites who have successfully climbed the UK charts.

• Darren Wharton’s Renegade: Delivering a powerful dose of classic-era hard rock.

• Luke Morley (of Thunder): Showcasing material from his celebrated solo work and his legendary band’s history.

• Anthony Gomes: A powerful US blues-rock guitarist and vocalist.

• Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse: Bringing southern-fried soul and rock to the valley.

• Dan Byrne

• AMH

• Parker Barrow

• LN

• King Kraken: Proudly representing the vibrant Welsh heavy music scene and flying the local flag high.

• Blue Nation

This initial drop of the Steelhouse Festival Lineup 2026 provides a rich tapestry of sounds, from pure metal chaos and blues-drenched grooves to melodic hard rock, ensuring the 15th anniversary is a celebration for all facets of the rock community. With more acts still to be announced, the final line-up is set to be the biggest in the festival’s history.

Event Details & Tickets

Steelhouse Festival 2026 takes place over the weekend of Friday, July 24th to Sunday, July 26th, 2026, at Hafod-Y-Dafal Farm, Ebbw Vale. The event offers various accommodation options, including camping, glamping, and live-in vehicle passes, catering to all festival-goer needs. Tickets are on sale now, with payment plans available to spread the cost.