Mangata Festival 2026 – The Big Review
In a short amount of time (for us at least), Mangata Festival has become one of the most unmissable events in our festival calendar. Having moved from July to September, it had been a long 14 months to wait for the 2026 edition to come around, but we are. Soaking in the post-festival glow of an incredible event. One that ended up being sold out but was so well organised, you’d never know it.
The best Mangata to date? It might very well have been.
Taking place on Saturday the 5th of September in the heart of Nottingham city centre, Mangata Festival 2026 saw an incredible lineup of bands take over five stages all within throwing distance of each other. The Rescue Rooms, the Red Rooms upstairs, Stealth downstairs (also in the same area), around the corner, Rock City Beta and a minute or two away from that, The Tap ‘n’ Tumbler.
Carl – Across the entire day, I managed to visit each venue and, for the most part, had no trouble getting in and seeing a band play, even when the stages were at their busiest. The excellent management of these stages meant there were no significant delays, no notable issues, and no obvious sound problems for the bands I saw. However, what really made it special were the people. Not a single frowning face was seen all day, with everyone being super friendly, even as the night got hazier and hazier.
It really was an excellent day and night and well worth coming up to London for it. Especially when you consider how many fantastic bands I saw.
Brendan – Wolves Don’t Sleep were the first band I caught and they were a great way to start the day. They had loads of energy from the off and were really engaging to watch, with a set packed with strong songs and plenty of movement. I really enjoyed the bouncy, modern metalcore feel they brought, balancing catchy moments with plenty of heaviness. It was an energetic and enjoyable watch that set the tone for the day and immediately put me in the right mood for the festival.
Carl – A busy morning catching up with people, doing a few small interviews, and generally getting my bearings meant the first band I saw was Syncolima in the Red Rooms. A packed Red Rooms as the three-piece riff machine were on fine form, in great spirits, and sounding louder than ever. They’re a great live band and never disappoint.
Brendan – I’ve seen Syncolima a few times now and they never fail to impress. Those huge riffs sounded even bigger on the tiny Red Rooms stage, creating an oppressive, almost claustrophobic feeling that really suited their sound. Their powerful groove adds more layers to it all, drawing you deep into the music and making it impossible not to bang your head and get your body moving. It’s heavy, immersive and wonderfully hypnotic, and once again they delivered a brilliant set.
Carl – Downstairs in the Rescue Rooms, Scordatura were up next for me, delivering a raucous showcase of violent and vitriolic death metal. Their early intensity is a bit much for some as the crowd seems a little shell-shocked at first, but slowly, things start to come to life. Head banging ferocity that impressed.
Brendan – Confyde were good. Catchy songs, plenty of energy and an alternative edge that brought plenty of quirky/non-standard metal elements into the mix. This just made them even more interesting to watch. They impressed me even more what with having to fight against a pretty challenging venue. The Stealth Downstairs stage really didn’t do much to help bands. Poor lines of sight and a cavernous room made everything sound a touch echoey. That’s not on the band though – they put on a great performance.
Carl – It was then over to Rock City Beta for Ward XVI, who packed out the room for one of the most impressive shows of the day. Most bands with their kind of theatrical show, and with just thirty minutes to play, would strip things back a bit, but not Ward XVI who put on a refined show that continues to showcase the strength of the band’s current sound and style. They have become a machine, and I can’t wait to see what comes next from them.
Brendan – Ward XVI were so impressive. There is so much effort put into their stage craft and it really shows, while the new members look like they have been part of the band forever. The shorter set means we don’t get the full story side of things, but you can’t fault these guys. They sound great, the songs are energetic, catchy and creative, and they always put 100% into everything they do. They deserve bigger stages and bigger slots, but wherever they play, they give it everything and that is impossible not to appreciate them and enjoy their performance.
Carl – Back at the Rescue Rooms, Confessions of a Traitor’s metalcore goes down an absolute treat as they are a band made for stages like this. Delivering music that touches the soul, music with life, and music that compels you to move. The sight of vocalist Stephen causally leaping over the front barrier to get closer to people was quite something.
Carl – Only at Mangata could you go from theatrical rock and metal to emotional metalcore to atmospheric black metal, as up next for me was Ofnus. A band I’d not seen since their lineup change with Brendan Coles now on vocals. He was brilliant and it took one song for me to completely forget about the past, especially as this was a powerful set from the band. Heavy and intense, but mournfully beautiful. It was a shame to not see guitarist Alyn though, who was unable to play (and for very good reasons – congrats!).
Brendan – Ofnus were superb. Possibly the only black metal band at the festival, at least from those I saw, and they brought something very different to the day. Their atmospheric sound suited the stage perfectly, especially with everyone gathered around in a semi-circle, almost like some sort of ritual. It made the whole performance feel really immersive, with the music creating this dark and absorbing atmosphere that pulled me right into it. The vocals were amazing too and really added to the overall impact. Superb stuff and one of the best sets of the whole day.
Carl – Following a short break, I then headed into Stealth Downstairs to catch a bit of A-Tota-So to find it absolutely rammed. Great for the noisy alternative rockers, not so great for me, as the way that stage was set up meant I was stuck on the fringes and couldn’t see much or really feel the might of their sound. I really dig them though, and I could feel the electricity in the air even from where I was.
Carl – After taking a food break, and dropping my equipment back at my hotel room, it was back to the Rescue Rooms for, arguably, the set of the day. Who am I talking about? Red Method of course, who caused an impressive amount of energetic carnage and delivered a destructive showcase of modern metal. Red Method on record is one thing, but Red Method live is another. This version of the band is easily the strongest, filled with chemistry and playing like it’s their last show and the world is ending directly afterwards. Special mention has to go to vocalist/frontman Jeremy, who is as terrifying to watch as he is captivating, a truly outstanding performer.
Brendan – Red Method were, for me, the best of the day. Visually spectacular, aggressive and intense, this was a band that completely took over the space. They spent as much time in the crowd as they did on stage, making the whole thing feel chaotic and unpredictable in the best possible way. It’s not just about the visuals though. They have a strong catalogue of music behind them now too and their songs are excellent brining immense power, aggression and intensity from the first note to the last. For me, these guys could, and maybe should, be headlining festivals like this.
Carl – A break was well and truly needed, especially as I wanted to make sure I was in Stealth Downstairs early so I could get up close for Tayne. The industrial noise and pop rock band were up against it, seeing as the ever popular Raised by Owls were playing the Rescue Rooms at the same time, but they pulled in a respectable crowd and delivered one of my favourite shows of the day. Not only that, thanks to the sound in room which really allowed the layers in their sound to come out, I’d say this was one of my favourite Tayne shows to date. Even with my loops, my ear (I’m already deaf in the other) was ringing afterwards.
Brendan – I’ve seen Raised by Owls a lot now, so you’d think the jokes might start wearing thin, but somehow they never do. Within seconds I’m hooked back in, laughing along and enjoying the ridiculousness of what they do. Humour is obviously a huge part of the show, but it’s easy to forget just how good they are musically because of it. These guys bring serious heaviness and slamming brutality, and they can go from making you laugh to absolutely hammering you with their music without missing a beat. The best part is that they clearly enjoy it as much as everyone watching does, and that comes across in everything they do. It’s a ridiculous amount of fun, but there’s a genuinely good metal band underneath all the madness.
Carl – Done? Not even close. As I took the opportunity afterwards to head over to the Tap N Tumbler for the first time hoping to catch the latter part of Maatkare’s set. Alas, while I did hear plenty, I didn’t see much as it was packed (unsurprisingly) and I ended up hanging at the back, but they sounded great.
Brendan – Maatkare sounded great. I would love to say they looked great on stage too, but the chances of arriving late and seeing the band at the Tap N Tumbler are slim to none. From the back, where I spent most of the set staring at the back of other people’s heads, you could still feel the energy and intensity they were bringing. There was clearly a lot going on up there, and I really enjoyed what I could hear, but it would have been nice to see them properly as well. A bigger stage, or at least one where you have a fighting chance of seeing the band, would have been great but I did very much enjoy what I heard.
Carl – It was then back to the Rescue Rooms for my band of the day, The Hara. A band that I am convinced is the future of alternative metal having had a year like no other. Since releasing their debut album (The Fallout) in January, they’ve not stopped, and their popularity is simply soaring. I don’t go out of my way to see them, but this show was the fourth time I’d seen them, three of which have come at festivals. It was also my favourite time (aside from their London album release show) as they are made for stages of this size. Bigger and bolder, sounding more confident, adapting to crowds, and still putting on a show regardless of reaction, they’ve already come so far, and I just can’t see anything stopping them. The Hara will take over the world; it’s just a matter of time and shows like this are the proof.
Brendan – The Hara are a band I’ve never really managed to get into, although I’ve always appreciated that they have plenty of talent. I gave them another listen before heading to the festival, enjoying a few songs on record, so I was genuinely interested to see if catching them live might finally change my mind. It didn’t, unfortunately. They were good, there was plenty of energy and they are clearly a talented bunch with the potential to go a long way, but there’s just something missing for me, something that isn’t quite clicking. I’m sure everyone who stayed had a great time, but rather than force myself to stick around, I decided to leave early and go check out someone else.
Brendan – I left The Hara early and rushed back over to the Tap N Tumbler to catch the end of Cober Mouth‘s set, making it in for the last couple of songs. Late arriving again, I saw absolutely nothing, but I enjoyed what I heard. Their metalcore sound was filling the pub nicely and had exactly the kind of energy I needed, re-energising me after a long day of running around between venues. I only heard maybe two songs, so it’s hard to judge fairly either way but I enjoyed what I did manage to catch.
Carl – I won’t deny that I had an absolute blast watching ten56., but my legs were pretty achy by this point and my brain was beginning to feel a bit fuzzy. That being said, they were the Rescue Room headliners for a reason, and their deathcore/metalcore sound brought in a huge crowd and some of the wildest pits of the day. I did pop in to watch a little bit of Giant Walker in Stealth Downstairs, but unsurprisingly, it was rammed (and for good reason). I was more than satisfied to wrap up my Mangata Festival with ten56. though.
Brendan – ten56. headlined and you can certainly see why they are at the top of the bill. Heavy, intense and clearly talented, with great vocals, huge breakdowns and a sizeable crowd, they had everything in place for what should have been the perfect ending to a wonderful day. But, in truth, I didn’t love it. I never felt fully immersed in the set. Maybe that’s down to tiredness, too much alcohol or simply the fact that something wasn’t clicking with me. Who knows? I appreciated it, I enjoyed plenty of what they were doing, but I never quite got fully dragged into it. That’s just how it goes sometimes, and it shouldn’t take away from what was clearly a strong headline performance.
Carl – I did pop to The Mist, the new space that the Mangata team has acquired for one last drink, and can see the potential of that place going forward. Before calling it a night, staggering into Popeyes for some late-night chicken, and finding my way back to our hotel room. I suffered for it the next day, but a full heart made up for sore legs and a hangover. Roll on September 4th, 2027.
Brendan – I really love this festival. It is a superb one dayer with so many positives. The bands, all that I saw were excellent and I’m sad I didn’t catch many more of them. I really like the main Rescue Rooms, Red Rooms complex generally. The bars are good, with the Moon Wizard IPA going down a treat across the festival. The sound in most stages is great, the merch area in the main bar worked well. People are friendly and the festival has a community vibe to it and being where it is in Nottingham, even if you don’t like the minor food options available, there are tons of other options yards down the road.
There are faults though. I didn’t really enjoy the Rock City Beta venue. It was okay, but the weird semi-circle shape meant you kind of crowded in on the door side, and struggled to get out, or get to the toilet if you needed to. It wasn’t the worst, but I didn’t love it. The Tap n Tumbler has always been a challenge when it comes to seeing bands but I kind of don’t mind it because I like the pub and it’s almost become part of its niche really, going there to see a band but not see them.
I really didn’t like Stealth Downstairs though. A huge room, with the stage parked round the corner meant it felt cavernous, the sound echoed and the pillars caused issues with line of sight. With a space that big, you wonder if there is some other layout, or other way of using the space rather than it feeling empty with a band playing over in the corner.
A festival this good shouldn’t have my thoughts end with any form of negative though – it’s fantastic and really sets the bar for one dayers. Packed full of talented bands, with a positive and inviting community vibe, it is an essential, not to be missed event every year in our calendars now.
