Rock in Rio announces Avenged Sevenfold as headliner.

Fans can now mark the date for the highly anticipated Rock Day: on September 5th, the festival brings together two of the most influential names in contemporary rock in an intense and visceral lineup that revisits and reinvents the history of the genre and promises to be one of the highlights of this edition.

Rio de Janeiro, February 3, 2026: Rock is more than ready to mark another memorable chapter in the history of Rock in Rio. On September 5th, the World Stage will feature one of the most important bands in contemporary metal as its headliner, in addition to a major act making its festival debut. After delivering a memorable show at the 2024 edition, Avenged Sevenfold will close the Rock Day performances, delivering an even more memorable moment for the audience. The date also marks Bring Me The Horizon’s first time at the festival. Also taking to the World Stage, the group is one of the most successful and innovative names in current world rock. The show takes on even more special dimensions due to the group’s close relationship with Brazil, strengthened by vocalist Oliver Sykes, who lives in the country and has publicly declared his connection and passion for Brazilian culture. With trajectories marked by reinvention, intensity, and global impact, both bands represent different facets of heavy rock, connected by their ability to engage with massive audiences without sacrificing identity, artistic audacity, and cultural relevance. For a legion of devoted followers around the world, Avenged Sevenfold’s catalog is part of the DNA of current hard rock, functioning as a constantly evolving soundtrack that redefines modern metal. The band is known for its visionary integration of technology, fan-focused ticketing models, and large-scale creative production. Considered one of the leading names and one of the most influential bands in contemporary American metal, the group formed by M. Shadows, Synyster Gates, Zacky Vengeance, Johnny Christ, and Brooks Wackerman has built a career defined by powerful musical talent, innovative songs, and a reputation for reinvention, ambition, and incredible live performances. Their anthems have amassed billions of streams, the band has sold over twelve million records globally, and achieved two consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200, in addition to several singles topping the rock charts. Named one of the 50 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time by Kerrang! and one of the 100 Greatest by Rolling Stone, City of Evil (2005) marked a turning point in the band’s career and earned them the Best New Artist award at the MTV Video Music Awards. The self-titled album, Nightmare, and Hail to the King all topped the charts upon release and received platinum certification from the RIAA. With The Stage (2016), exploring humanity’s collision with technology, and Life is But a Dream… (2023), Diving headfirst into surrealism and self-reflection, and with the band’s most recent song, “Magic” (2025), released in partnership with the video game Call of Duty, Avenged Sevenfold continues to evolve and has entered its boldest era to date. Meanwhile, Bring Me The Horizon, nominated for a BRIT Award and a Grammy, with multiple platinum records and a sold-out show in São Paulo on their last visit to Brazil, arrives at Rock in Rio as one of the most successful and innovative names in current world rock, having sold over five million albums. Formed in 2004, the British band has established itself as one of the most relevant creative forces in contemporary heavy music. Led by vocalist Oliver Sykes, alongside Lee Malia (guitar), Matt Kean (bass), and Matt Nicholls (drums), the group began its journey in deathcore and metalcore, drawing attention for its sonic intensity and the emotional power of its lyrics. Over the years, the band has undergone a remarkable artistic transformation, incorporating elements of alternative metal, alternative rock, electronic music, and pop, broadening its reach and breaking down genre barriers. This constant evolution has led Bring Me The Horizon to no longer be associated with a single label, conquering a diverse audience around the world and standing out for collaborations with artists from different musical scenes, as well as consistent recognition from critics and the industry. The band’s debut on the Palco Mundo stage takes on even greater symbolic significance with Oliver Sykes’ strong connection to Brazil, a country where he has resided for several years and for which he has publicly declared his passion, making this show one of the most anticipated moments of the festival.

Rock in Rio arrives full of surprises in 2026. Scheduled to take place at Cidade do Rock, in the Olympic Park of Rio de Janeiro, on September 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11, 12 and 13, 2026, Rock in Rio has already announced names in the line-up, such as Elton John, Stray Kids, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Gilberto Gil, Jamiroquai, Mumford & Sons and João Gomes and Orquestra Brasileira. In addition to the artists, the festival arrives with striking novelties: the Palco Mundo (World Stage) gains a completely new scenography and, for the first time, its entire front structure will be covered by 2,400 m² of high-definition LED panels, transforming the space into a single, immense visual panel. Another highlight is the return of the aerial show The Flight, one of the most requested moments by the public, returning after historic performances at the festival – promising even more excitement with synchronized acrobatic maneuvers, a special soundtrack, and 756 daytime fireworks displays. Fans who were unable to purchase the Rock in Rio Card will have another opportunity in the official sale scheduled for 2026. The date will be announced soon.