Photo Credits: Iliyan Ruzhin

After the explosive start of the Hills of Rock festival on Friday with Marilyn Manson, thousands of fans once again filled the Rowing Base in Plovdiv on July 25th, united by the love for live music and festival experiences. The second day of the festival was marked by a lot of energy, dozens of mosh pits, legendary performers on stage and unforgettable moments in front of it.

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Photo Credits: Iliyan Ruzhin

The headliners of the evening, Godsmack, came out with a bang and right at the very beginning Sully turned to the Bulgarian audience and told them “It’s good to be home in Bulgaria”. “Cryin’ Like A Bitch” turned the space in front of the stage into a real whirlwind of energy, and just a few meters away – in the VIP area of ​​the festival, the concert became the setting for an unforgettable marriage proposal to the background of the beloved band’s song “You and I”.

It’s no secret to anyone how much Godsmack is a beloved band in Bulgaria, and Sully Erna made sure that the connection with the audience was alive throughout the concert. He greeted the ladies with a smile, invited them to climb on the shoulders of their friends, and a little later many children, personally invited by him to become part of the show, also took to the stage.

Photo Credits: Georgi Angelov

On the second day of the festival, we also saw Black Label Society with the magnificent Zakk Wylde – a guitarist with legendary status, known for his characteristic sound and stage presence. Their set also included a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who left us a year ago and will forever remain one of the most important names for both Zakk Wylde and millions of rock and metal fans around the world. Before them, Skindred whirled on the Main Stage with their typical reggae rock, and a little earlier, like a tornado, House Of Protection – the American duo that woke up the audience and lifted it into the air. Mospits, somersaults, crowdsurfing – all this, accompanied by a strong and unwavering sound, and towards the end of the set Stephen Harrison climbed onto the video walls and hammered his guitar solo dozens of meters above the audience. The first act on the Main Stage was Karen Dio, one of the bravest and most promising new voices on the alternative scene.

At the same time, the mood was boiling on the “Na Tamno” and Power Stage stages, and when Northlane took to the Bulgarian stage for the first time, the temperatures rose sharply. Hundreds of fans made sure that the energy in front of the Power Stage was no less than that in front of the Main Stage, and since the early afternoon Hellion Stone, Lek City Case, Vrani Volosa and dozens of other bands warmed up the audience with uncompromising performances.

On July 26, the final day of Hills Of Rock 2026, in which Electric Callboy took the stage in Bulgaria for the first time, and before them we saw Lamb Of God, Nevermore, Paradise Lost and Deafheaven. Before that, from 5:30 p.m., Press Fest Area gathered one of the most commented names on the Bulgarian scene, Tsar Pluh, for a meeting with media and fans. Follow the official festival profiles for more news.

The festival continues to prove that music is for everyone, namely through the Hills of Rock 2026 program for sign language translation, which gives people with hearing impairments full access to what is happening on stage.

Hills Of Rock 2026 is organized by “Fest Team” OOD, as part of the “Heritage 2023” program of the “Plovdiv 2029” Foundation and with the support of the Plovdiv Municipality. Current news and additional information – festteam.bg, hillsofrock.bg and ticketstation.bg, and on the festival’s official social media profiles.