Headbangers Boat 2026 Lineup Locked In — This One’s Not for the Weak
Headbangers Boat isn’t just another festival announcement — it’s a reminder that heavy metal still has its own rules. The 2026 edition is officially locked in, and once again Lamb of God are steering this floating nightmare straight into open water. Forget mellow ocean cruises and watered-down “rock vacations.” This is a four-day, no-bullshit metal assault where riffs replace relaxation and sleep is optional.
From October 30 through November 3, 2026, the Norwegian Jewel becomes a steel-clad, riff-fueled war zone, sailing from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. No steel drums. No cruise directors. Just stages, pits, bars, and thousands of metalheads who know exactly why they’re there.
What Is Headbangers Boat?
For the uninitiated, Headbangers Boat is the definitive heavy metal cruise — a floating festival built by metalheads, for metalheads. Curated and headlined by Lamb of God, it strips away the corporate nonsense and replaces it with stacked lineups, intimate performances, and a rare sense of community that most land festivals can’t touch.
This isn’t about checking boxes or chasing trends. It’s about extreme music, legacy acts, underground chaos, and fans who actually care. Everyone eats together, drinks together, and loses their voice together. There’s no VIP divide — just decks, stages, and shared bruises.
Headbangers Boat 2026 Dates, Ship & Route
Dates: October 30 – November 3, 2026
Ship: Norwegian Jewel
Route: Miami → Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas → Miami
The Halloween timing isn’t accidental. Costumes take over the ship, stage lights hit harder after dark, and the entire experience leans into controlled chaos. It’s a rare blend of festival intensity and close-quarter insanity that simply doesn’t exist on land.
Headbangers Boat 2026 Lineup Breakdown
The 2026 lineup doesn’t play it safe. It leans heavy, weird, aggressive, and unapologetically metal.
Headliners & Anchors
Lamb of God once again command the ship, and at this point, Headbangers Boat is as much their domain as any stage they touch. These sets hit harder knowing there’s no barricade between band and crowd — just deck railings and ocean air.
Zakk Sabbath delivers Sabbath worship the right way — loud, low, and filthy. Doom riffs hit different when you’re surrounded by saltwater and sunburned necks snapping in unison.
Extreme & Legacy Acts
The Dillinger Escape Plan bring controlled chaos to open water, turning mathcore into something borderline dangerous when there’s nowhere to escape. In Flames represent Swedish melodeath royalty, balancing melody and aggression with surgical precision.
Death Angel keep thrash alive and feral, while The Haunted and D.R.I. inject old-school violence that still feels relevant decades later.
Brutality, Sludge & Hardcore
All Shall Perish return with deathcore devastation, 200 Stab Wounds keep things bloody and blunt, and Harm’s Way provide hardcore heaviness that hits like concrete. Kylesa bring sludge-soaked atmosphere, while Soilent Green inject grimy Southern extremity.
Add in GWAR for theatrical destruction, X-Cops for cult chaos, plus appearances from Mark Morton Band and Chained Saint, and you’ve got a lineup that refuses to sit still.
A Brief History of Headbangers Boat
What started as a borderline insane idea — putting extreme metal on a cruise ship — has evolved into one of the most respected niche festivals in the scene. Past voyages have featured Carcass, Napalm Death, Exodus, Unearth, and countless others, proving year after year that metal doesn’t need massive fields or VIP lounges to thrive.
Headbangers Boat earned credibility by staying focused. No genre tourism. No pop crossover experiments. Just metal, presented the way it should be — loud, sweaty, and unfiltered.
What Happens Onboard
Between sets, the ship stays alive. Expect artist Q&As, DJ sets (including spins from Lamb of God’s Art Cruz), podcast recordings, fan events, merch chaos, and late-night bar conversations that turn strangers into lifelong allies. Halloween costumes take things further — because subtlety was never part of the deal.
Tickets, Cabins & How to Go
Cabins are limited and this cruise historically sells fast. Full details, cabin options, and official booking are available via the Headbangers Boat official site. Keep an eye on ticket partners and affiliates as availability tightens.
If you’re going, pack smart. Sun, salt, pits, and sleep deprivation are part of the experience. Grab earplugs now — you’ll thank yourself later.
Is Headbangers Boat Worth It?
If you love extreme music, community, and controlled chaos — yes, absolutely. If you need quiet mornings, early bedtimes, or polite applause, look elsewhere. Headbangers Boat isn’t a vacation. It’s a commitment.
For the right crowd, though, it’s unforgettable. Miss it, and you’ll hear about it for years.
Lineup includes: Lamb of God, Zakk Sabbath, The Dillinger Escape Plan, In Flames, GWAR, The Haunted, Death Angel, All Shall Perish, Kylesa, D.R.I., Harm’s Way, Soilent Green, 200 Stab Wounds, Chained Saint, X-Cops, Mark Morton Band, and more.
