Samhain Festival 2026: Location, Dates & What to Wear

Two days, one Dutch venue, and a lineup that reads like a black-metal fan's fantasy draft. Samhain Festival lands in Maastricht this October with Paradise Lost and Wolves in the Throne Room topping a bill built for people who don't need the genre explained to them. Here's what's actually happening, and how to dress for a weekend that doesn't do daylight.

What Is Samhain Festival?

Samhain doesn't chase crossover names — it books deep. This year's bill runs Paradise Lost and Wolves in the Throne Room alongside Gehenna, Oranssi Pazuzu, Soulburn, Mork, Vinterland, Hessian and a dozen more acts spanning black metal, doom and post-metal. It's the kind of lineup a promoter builds when they're trying to impress the scene, not the mainstream press.

Location & Dates

24–25 October 2026, Muziekgieterij, Maastricht — a mid-sized venue in the city's cultural quarter, a short walk from the main station. Maastricht itself sits right where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet, so it's a genuinely easy add-on if you're already routing through Liège, Aachen or Brussels that weekend.

What to Expect

No filler acts, no crossover pop-metal wedged in to sell more tickets — just a bill curated by people who clearly listen to this stuff outside of work. Doors open mid-afternoon both days and the venue runs into the night. Expect an older, scene-embedded crowd who came for the bands, not the Instagram photos, and a merch line that's worth budgeting extra time for.

What to Wear

Black, obviously — but the practical brief matters more than the aesthetic one. You'll be on your feet in a warm, packed room for hours, so skip anything that traps heat. A layer you can tie round your waist once the venue fills up, boots that won't punish you by hour six, and socks that can survive both.

Our Deathly Delights collection exists for exactly this crowd — skull and occult graphics that don't look out of place next to a Paradise Lost patch. Ouija is the obvious pick if you want your feet to match the lineup's energy without trying too hard.

Samhain Festival 2026 at a Glance

Dates	24–25 October 2026
Venue	Muziekgieterij, Maastricht, Netherlands
Genre	Black metal, doom, post-metal
Headliners	Paradise Lost, Wolves in the Throne Room
Who it's for	People who already own the t-shirt

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a beginner-friendly festival?

It's a great way in if you're curious, but don't expect hand-holding — the crowd and the programming both assume you already have a working knowledge of the genre. Come for Paradise Lost if you need a familiar name to anchor the weekend, then let the rest of the bill introduce you to something new.

Will it sell out?

A bill this deep, in a venue this size, tends to move fast once the metal press picks it up — Paradise Lost alone plays a limited number of European dates a year. Book once you've decided, not once you've decided to decide.

How do I actually get to Maastricht?

Direct or one-change rail from Amsterdam, Brussels and Cologne, and the venue's a short walk or tram ride from the station once you're there — no car needed.

What should I actually bring?

Earplugs if two days of sustained volume isn't your normal, a bag small enough to not be a hassle in a packed room, and nothing you're precious about — merch tables and packed floors don't mix well with anything delicate.

Plan Your Trip

Paradise Lost and Wolves in the Throne Room on the same bill, in a venue you can walk to from the station — Samhain 2026 doesn't need much of a sales pitch. Pack black, pack patience for the queue at the merch stand, and finish the look properly with Deathly Delights.