Get ready, Istanbul—Turkey’s heaviest metal festival returns louder, darker, and more powerful than ever. Headbangers’ Weekend 2025 will take over the forested grounds of Istanbul Life Park from Friday, 4 July to Sunday, 6 July 2025, delivering three days, two stages, and over 20 bands of uncompromising metal madness. Secure your ticket now on Biletix and Passo!
Organized by %100 Müzik, this year’s edition of the festival features an unrelenting lineup of international giants and local legends, promising an immersive and high-voltage experience for thousands of metalheads from all over the region. Whether you’re into classic heavy metal, doom, death, progressive or melodic metal—this year’s curation has something for every breed of headbanger.
FRIDAY, JULY 4
Headliner: Manowar
Kicking off the festival in true warrior fashion, Manowar returns to Istanbul with their legendary battle anthems and bombastic live show. Known for their epic tales, crushing riffs, and unyielding commitment to “true metal,” Manowar’s appearance is a triumphant call to arms for heavy metal purists.
Also on the bill:
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Candlemass – The undisputed pioneers of doom metal bring their monumental riffs and cathedral-sized sound to the Turkish stage once again.
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Pentagram (Mezarkabul) – Turkey’s metal icons will raise national pride high with their hybrid of Anatolian spirit and heavy metal soul.
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Episode XIII – Symphonic, aggressive, and theatrical, this rising act promises a visual and sonic spectacle.
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Yaşru – Melding folk elements with black and doom metal, Yaşru brings a uniquely Turkish mysticism to the lineup.
SATURDAY, July 5
Headliners: Kreator & Machine Head
Prepare for a ferocious double dose of thrash and groove metal as Kreator, Germany’s kings of razor-sharp riffs, go head-to-head with Machine Head, the Californian juggernauts known for their punishing sound and defiant spirit. Expect circle pits, chaos, and pure adrenaline.
Supporting devastation:
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Bleed From Within – Scottish metalcore thunder with melodic flare and pit-splitting aggression.
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Dark Tranquillity – Swedish melodic death metal legends bringing emotional depth and technical precision to the fore.
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Soen – A masterclass in progressive metal, with atmospheric arrangements and soul-searching lyrics.
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Murder King – Local heavy hitters known for their commanding stage presence and modern metal blend.
- Pickpocket, Sülfür Ensemble, Hatemotion, and Ascraeus – Representing the sharpest edge of Turkey’s underground metal scene, these bands bring diverse sounds ranging from metalcore to technical death.
SUNDAY, JULY 6 :
Headliner: Opeth
Closing the weekend with a flourish of complexity and melancholy, Opeth returns to Istanbul to mesmerize audiences with their seamless fusion of progressive rock and death metal. Known for their transcendent live performances and emotional range, this set will be a soul-stirring finale.
Also unleashing the final storm:
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Katatonia – Masters of atmospheric melancholy, delivering brooding soundscapes and haunting melodies.
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Paradise Lost – Gothic doom pioneers who’ve shaped the sound of darkness for over three decades.
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Hypocrisy – Swedish death metal royalty, known for their brutal tone and extraterrestrial lyrical themes.
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Ensiferum – With war cries and folk metal fury, these Finnish warriors will get the crowd chanting and charging.
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Leprous – Progressive brilliance meets emotional intensity; one of the most innovative bands of the last decade.
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Cemetery Skyline, Pitch Black Process, Sabhankra, and Alkera – Completing the final assault with diverse blends of melodic death, thrash, and symphonic metal.7
Headbangers’ Weekend 2025 is not just a festival, it’s a rite of passage for anyone who lives and breathes metal.
Follow %100 Müzik and Life Park İstanbul official websites for lineup updates and upcoming news! Don’t forget to secure your ticket via Biletix and Passo!.
Bahçeköy Yeni, Bahçeköy Cd. No:114, 34473 Sarıyer/İstanbul
