Graspop Metal Meeting 2025: the Metal Festival of the year between stellar lineup and useful advice – Rockon.it

The European Heavy Metal temple is about to reopen its doors: the 28th edition of the Graspop Metal Meeting will return to inflame Dessel (Belgium) from the 19 to 22 June 2025 . For four days and five stages, the Crème de la Crème of the international hard rock and metal scene will converge in the small Flemish center, ready to shake its foundations. Tens of thousands of fans are expected (in 2023 they recorded each other beyond 200 thousand presences overall) for what promises to be like “The Metal Highlight of the Year”or the metal event of the year. Almost 130 bands On the bill, the Graspop is confirmed as an unmissable appointment for each metalhead, thanks to a story that has made it one of the most important festivals in Europe since 1996.

Lineup 2025 It is of those to make the chills come. At the top of the Bill there are absolute legends: the Iron Maiden They will be Thursday headliners with a special show to celebrate 50 years of career (11th Apparition in Dessel for the Virgin of Iron!), While on Friday he will see the protagonists Slipknotready to unleash the chaos with their sound ferocity. Saturday will be a memorable day thanks to two exceptional names: on the one hand the pioneers of the industrial Nine inch nailsin their first participation in the GMM; on the other the paladins of the n-metal Kornwho will make the North Stage tremble with their lowered riffs. To close in beauty on Sundays the Judas Priest – British “metal Gods”, fresh from 50+ years of Heavy Metal and ready to celebrate the 35 years of the legendary album Pinkiller – on the southern main internship. Simultaneously, on the north Sunday stage it will go up Till Lindemann (charismatic frontman of the Rammstein) with its headliner show, ensuring a finish with a bang. And that's not all: to open the dances since Thursday we also find i PowerwolfEuropean power metal metal phenomenon, as co-headliner before the Iron Maiden performance.

Next to the big names, the Gmm2025 billboard offers an impressive variety of metal genres and generations. They range from the refined prog metal of Dream Theater to the infernal blackness death death Behemothpassing through the symphonic metal of Epic and the historical hard rock of the Krokus. There is no shortage of goodies for connoisseurs, such as the return of the legendary Savatage (Cult Band 80s/90s rarely live) and the only summer date of King Diamondmaster of horror metal. Space also at new levers: from the deathcore phenomena as Lorna Shore to the revelation group of modern metalcore such as Spiritboxup to the Belgian emerging bands like Amenra. In short, over 130 artists ready to satisfy any shade of the hunger for the metal of the public.

Past edition

Our Rockon.it editorial staff The 2023 and 2024 editions of the Graspop has had the privilege of living on the field, and we can ensure that it is a unique experience of its kind. Last year we witnessed the show entered the legend (above all, the visual show of the tools and the unstoppable Judas Priest), while in 2023 we remained speechless in front of the Ouragano Guns n 'Roses who transformed Dessel into “Paradise City” for one night. With these premises, the 2025 edition has all the credentials to be memorable. To help you enjoy it at most, we collected six practical tips Fruit of direct experience in this festival.

Six tips to enjoy the 2025 graspop at best

1. Plan travel, accommodation and tickets in time: Graspop attracts fans from all over the world and places are stealing. Buy the Pass Festival as soon as possible and book the campsite/hotel: a few days are sold-out already months before the event. Also organize the journey to Dessel (flights to Brussels or Eindhoven, then transfer) in advance to save and have more choice.
2. Study the lineup but be ready for discoveries: With five stages and over one hundred bands, it is useful to take a look at the timetables (available on the official app) and sign the unmissable. At the same time, let yourself be intrigued by the lesser known groups and emerging talents on secondary stages: often the most beautiful surprises take place by discovering new live music.
3. Festival equipment: June in Belgium can reserve both scorching and pouring rain. Dress in layers and get ready for any weather: Boots or robust shoes (the mud to Dessel is legendary in case of rain), waterproof poncho and/or hat and sun cream. Do not forget ears caps (concerts of this reach can be very noisy) and power banks for the phone. A gauge or compact backpack will be useful for bringing these Essential with you without hindering under the stage.
4. Live the Festival in addition to the concerts: Graspop is also an atmosphere. Enjoy the great metal party: turn for the metal market where you can find merchandise and rarity, relax in the chill-out areas between one concert and the other and try the local specialties (a fresh Belgian beer or one stoofvleesthe Flemish stew, will recharge you). Socialized – At Gmm you meet metalheads from all over Europe and it is easy to make friends singing your favorite song in chorus or in the pogo under the stage. The general experience of the Festival will leave you indelible memories, in addition to music.
5. Take advantage of the services offered: The Festival is organized to entertain you in safety and comfort. This year the GMM is cashless: no cash nor paper tokens, recharge i Skullie (the official digital currency) on the bracelet And use them for food and drinks. On the spot you will find a Supermarket 24/7 For campers, charging points for mobile phones and lockers (Lockers) to rent where to keep your personal effects in complete safety. You can even preordinate online crates of Ghiacciata jupiler beer To withdraw on your arrival at the campsite – so toast with friends will be even simpler!
6. Resistance, health and respect: A four -day festival can test even the most reckless metalrs. Sleep enough (when possible), hydrate Often and do regular meals to keep energy. Avoid exaggerated excesses: the goal is to get to the bottom enjoying every day, do not end up ko on the first day. In the Arena, respect the other fans and the indications of the staff: have fun in the Mosh Pit but help those who fall, and if you need a break, take a step back to quieter areas. Collect the waste and keep the campsite clean – a real metalhead also keeps the environment and the community. Following these simple rules, your experience at Graspop 2025 will be sure, positive and absolutely unforgettable.
7. In conclusion, The 2025 Graspop Metal Meeting is expected as an epic event that combines some of the most important bands on the planet and a community of passionate fans. With the right preparation and spirit, four days of pure euphoria metal await you in an atmosphere that only Dessel can offer. Stay Metal, Stay Safe – and see you at Graspop!