Knotfest Australia has officially announced a break in 2026, confirming that the heavy music festival will return in 2027. After three powerful years, the Slipknot-curated event will take a short pause to regroup and return stronger than ever. The news follows months of speculation surrounding the future of the Australian leg of the global metal festival brand.

“After three incredible years – made unforgettable by the fans and the artists that shared the stage across each lineup – we’ll be taking a short break in 2026,” organisers shared in a statement released with Destroy All Lines and TEG. They assured fans that this time off will be used to plan the “best Knotfest Australia yet” for its comeback year in 2027.

The 2025 edition featured Slipknot headlining alongside BABYMETAL, Slaughter to Prevail, and a massive roster of international and local metal acts. It was widely praised by both fans and artists, including Polaris frontman Jamie Hails, who called the experience “something special” and a festival that would go down “in the history books” for Australian heavy music.

While Knotfest’s absence in 2026 may disappoint fans, the launch of Parkway Drive’s new festival, Park Waves, will help fill the void. The debut Australian edition kicks off on 14th February, 2026, in Perth and will hit regional centres across the country including Adelaide, Geelong, Wollongong, and Byron Bay. Parkway Drive will headline, joined by The Amity Affliction, Northlane, Alpha Wolf, and Story of the Year.