Running Free Festival 2026 is on 28–29 August at Strinava camping near Dryanovo. A two-day underground metal camping festival, not a city-hall bill. Tickets and schedule: running-free.bg.

Why this festival matters

The format is camping, not a branded city weekend with three headliners. Metal Force treat it as a meeting point for a scene that rarely shares one field in Bulgaria.

The bill stays underground: Aura Noir, The Troops of Doom, Massacre, Cruel Force, Flames, Concrete, Poltergeist and Pyracanda. You go for specific strains — black, death, speed — not a metal greatest-hits package.

Two days change how you attend. You do not drop in for 90 minutes. You stay between sets, bands and tents. Weekends like this are scarce here and usually draw a denser crowd than an arena date.

What to expect

Raw sound, early and late sets, less production than a city stage. Aura Noir and Cruel Force pull toward black/speed. Massacre and The Troops of Doom cover classic death. Poltergeist and Pyracanda bring an older European edge.

The running order moves. Do not lock the weekend to one name. If a band is the reason you are going, check the official schedule in the days before.

Practical information

28–29 August 2026, Strinava camping, Dryanovo. Prices live on running-free.bg — do not trust an old calendar line.

Bring shelter, water, shoes and a plan for the night. Friday afternoon jams the gate and parking. If you come for one evening only, still leave time for the road back to Sofia or Veliko Tarnovo.