2026 is a time for serious music lovers: some of the biggest concerts and festivals of the year are delivering plenty of star power. One in particular is the 2026 Metalverse Festival, a two-day heavy music festival that will take over Kuala Lumpur’s Mega Star Arena on 30 April and 1 May. Organised by Vox Nation Live, the festival was built specifically to address the absence of a dedicated, large-scale platform for heavy music in Malaysia—managing to maintain an intimate feel, a close-knit community and a lasting culture code.

Unlike sprawling outdoor festivals that chase mass appeal, Metalverse operates on a different logic: precision, acoustics, and cultural credibility that speak directly to subculture rather than spectacle. The 2026 lineup reflects this approach. International acts, including Of Mice & Men, Blessthefall, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and A Skylit Drive, will share the stage with Malaysian artists, creating a lineup that balances nostalgia with contemporary relevance. So, expect to hear snippets of emo-tinged alternative rock that defined a generation’s angst and metalcore intensity tempered by melodic sensibility, and more. These aren’t just stadium acts—they’re bands with devoted followings.