STORM OUT FESTIVAL - 2026

THE HARD CIRCLE CONTINUES TO GROW: STORM OUT FESTIVAL 2026 NEW IN LICHTENFELS

The Hard Circle indoor festival series continues its steady expansion. In 2026, the established network of Knock Out Festival (Karlsruhe), Rock Out Festival (Augsburg) and Pott Out Festival (Bochum) is expanding to a new location:
On December 4, 2026, Storm Out Festival celebrates its premiere in Franconia. The venue is Stadthalle Lichtenfels.

Storm Out Festival is organized by Veranstaltungsservice Bamberg, bringing the proven Hard Circle concept to Franconia for the first time. The driving force and overarching partner of all festivals in the series is Bottom Row from Karlsruhe, who have significantly built up and shaped The Hard Circle in recent years.

The Hard Circle has long established itself as a fixture in the German heavy metal and hard rock calendar. The series stands for high-quality indoor productions, clear musical direction, and line-ups that unite international genre stars with strong scene acts. In recent years, headliners have included Helloween, Sabaton, Accept, HammerFall, Avantasia, U.D.O., Powerwolf and Gotthard - a clear indicator of the musical direction of the new festival in Lichtenfels.

But The Hard Circle is more than just a world-class live program. What particularly sets this series apart is its atmosphere: a tight-knit community of hard'n'heavy fans who gather year after year to celebrate music, nurture old friendships and forge new ones. The events have become a large, festive pre-Christmas celebration - loud, warm-hearted and family-oriented.

This special atmosphere is now to take hold in Franconia. Storm Out Festival follows the proven approach of the series and offers a compact festival day with strong bands, short distances, professional conditions and an intense live experience.