Hills of Rock
Comment: We need to see WP:SIGCOV of the subject. This would not include routine announcements such as saying the event is coming or who is playing at it. Sulfurboy (talk) 19:06, 22 August 2026 (UTC)
| Hills of Rock | |
|---|---|
 Hills of Rock 2025 | |
| Venue | Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
| Years active | 2017-present |
| Next event | Hills of Rock 2027 |
Hills of Rock is the largest annual music festival in Bulgaria, focusing on rock and metal music. First launched in 2017, the multi-day event takes place every summer at the Rowing Canal in Plovdiv, drawing tens of thousands of international and local music fans.[1]More than 150 foreign and Bulgarian bands have been performed in the three festival stages since 2017.[2]
History
Hills of Rock was founded in 2017 as a strategic project integrated into the "Plovdiv 2019 – European Capital of Culture" framework. Organized initially in partnership with Sofia Music Enterprises, the festival aimed to establish Bulgaria as a major stop for touring international rock and metal acts. In that same year, the festival became one of Bulgaria's biggest music events. It attracted thousands of visitors, who enjoyed the performances of 32 bands and artists – world stars, hot names from the neighbouring Balkan states, as well as some of Bulgaria’s best bands. Headliners were Epica, Evanescence, Three Days Grace and Guano Apes.[1][3] The festival spans across three separate stages, showcasing over 30 international and local bands each year.
Stages
Main Stage (2017-present)
Na Tamno Stage (2017-present)
World Stage (2017)
Alternative Hill Stage (2018)
Music Jam Stage (2019, 2022)
Stroeja Stage (2024-2025)
Power Stage (2026-present)
Hills of Rock 2017 (1st Edition)
- Dates: June 30 – July 1, 2017
- Location: Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Stages: Main Stage, World Stage, Na Tamno Stage
The inaugural edition established Hills of Rock as Bulgaria's primary open-air rock destination, partnering with the "Plovdiv 2019 - European Capital of Culture" initiative.
- Day 1 Headliners: Evanescence, Epica, RavenEye.
- Day 2 Headliners: Three Days Grace, Guano Apes, Existance.
- Other Notable Acts: Sevi, Odd Crew, Siluet, Hayes & Y.
Hills of Rock 2018 (2nd Edition)
- Dates: July 20–22, 2018
- Location: Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Stages: Main Stage, Alternative Hill Stage, Na Tamno Stage
Expanded into a full three-day format, hosting legacy heavy metal icons and modern power metal groups.
- Day 1 Headliners: Sabaton, Crematory, Serenity.
- Day 2 Headliners: Judas Priest, Dope, Battle Beast.
- Day 3 Headliners: Iron Maiden, Tremonti, The Raven Age.
- Other Notable Acts: Cold Snap, Koza Mostra, Jinjer, Kultur Shock.
Hills of Rock 2019 (3rd Edition)
- Dates: July 28–30, 2019
- Location: Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Stages: Main Stage, Music Jam Stage, Na Tamno Stage
The third edition emphasized variety, combining hard rock, alternative rock, and alternative metal legends across three hot, yet very rainy summer days.
- Day 1 Headliners: Disturbed, Moonspell, Avatar.
- Day 2 Headliners: Whitesnake, Ronnie Romero, Bonfire.
- Day 3 Headliners: Garbage, Children of Bodom, Amaranthe.
- Other Notable Acts: Dreamshade, Innerglow, Sevi, Obraten Efekt.
Hills of Rock 2022 (4th Edition)
- Dates: July 22–24, 2022
- Location: Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Stages: Main Stage, Music Jam Stage, Na Tamno Stage
After a mandatory two-year hiatus (2020–2021) due to global COVID-19 restrictions, the festival returned under promoter Fest Team with its heaviest billing to date.[4]
- Day 1 Headliners: Slipknot, Heaven Shall Burn, Rise Of The Northstar.
- Day 2 Headliners: Mercyful Fate, Behemoth, Bury Tomorrow.
- Day 3 Headliners: Sabaton, Testament, Dagoba.
- Other Notable Acts: Majestica, Vended, Nervosa, Milena.
Hills of Rock – Sofia Edition (2022)
- Dates: July 2–3, 2022
- Location: Sofia Airport Park, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Stages: Main Stage, Hills of Bass Stage
The first and only spin-off variant held outside Plovdiv, created to cater to the capital’s audience. It incorporated a dedicated electronic music infrastructure via the "Hills of Bass" platform.[5]
- Day 1 Headliners: Placebo, The Sisters of Mercy, Dubioza Kolektiv.
- Day 2 Headliners: Five Finger Death Punch, Ill Niño, Kultur Shock.
- Hills of Bass Acts: LTJ Bukem, TC, DJ SS
Hills of Rock 2024 (5th Edition)
- Dates: July 25–27, 2024
- Location: Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Stages: Main Stage, Stroeja Stage, Na Tamno Stage
Following an organizational pause in 2023, the 2024 edition marked a resurgence with high-profile nu-metal and alternative bookings.[6]
- Day 1 Headliners: KoЯn, Skindred, Spiritbox.
- Day 2 Headliners: Bring Me The Horizon, Imminence, Baroness.
- Day 3 Headliners: Amon Amarth, PAIN, Suicidal Tendencies.
- Notable Acts: Loathe, Sevi, Spalni Mesta, Kerana & Kosmonavtite.
Hills of Rock 2025 (6th Edition)
- Dates: July 25–27, 2025
- Location: Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Stages: Main Stage, Stroeja Stage, Na Tamno Stage
The sixth edition expanded its stylistic borders, bringing iconic progressive metal, alternative rock, and thrash metal giants under one banner.
- Day 1 Headliners: Gojira, Skunk Anansie, Extreme.
- Day 2 Headliners: Machine Head, Sepultura, Fear Factory.
- Day 3 Headliners: The Smashing Pumpkins, Mastodon, While She Sleeps.
- Notable Acts: Static-X, Vukovi, Dope.
Hills of Rock 2026 (7th Edition)
- Dates: July 24–26, 2026 (Preceded by BE4 HILLS on July 23)
- Location: Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Stages: Main Stage, Power Stage, Na Tamno Stage
The 2026 installment significantly modernized logistics, moved the primary gates to Koprivshtitsa Blvd, and introduced an independent, single-day precursor event called BE4 HILLS.[7][8][9]
- BE4 HILLS (July 23): Sabaton, Savatage, Epica, Sevi.
- Day 1 Headliners (July 24): Marilyn Manson, Sex Pistols, P.O.D.
- Day 2 Headliners (July 25): Godsmack, Black Label Society, Skindred.
- Day 3 Headliners (July 26): Electric Callboy, Lamb of God, Paradise Lost.
- Notable Acts: Vended, Malevolence, Deafheaven, Orbit Culture, Tsar Plъh, Koza Mostra.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "SuperJS check". plovdiv2019.eu. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "HILLS OF ROCK – Sofia Music Enterprises". sme.bg. Archived from the original on 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "Ето програмата на Hills Of Rock 2017 по часове | RockTheNight.eu" (in български). 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ Plovdiv, Visit. "Hills of Rock 2022". www.visitplovdiv.com. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "Hills of Rock SOFIA EDITION". ticketstation.bgbg (in български). Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ Rock, Hills of (2024-07-29). "HILLS OF ROCK 2024 сбъдна мечтите на хиляди у нас с издание за рок историята - Hills of Rock" (in български). Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "Schedule and Line Up – Hills of Rock – Bulgaria's Largest Rock & Metal Festival - Hills of Rock". 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ Rock, Hills of (2025-10-27). "Sabaton, Savatage, Epica and Sevi join Be4 HILLS - Hills of Rock". Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ Rock, Hills of (2026-01-19). "HILLS OF ROCK 2026 reveals its full program by stage - Hills of Rock". Retrieved 2026-08-22.
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