Bulgaria 
Greece 
Turkey 
Romania 
Serbia 
N. Macedonia 
🎸 On the first day of Hills of Rock 2026, we saw the legendary Sex Pistols with vocalist Frank Carter, who grabbed the microphone from the very start and jumped into the crowd, where thousands of fans sang along with him and the first circle pit of the evening formed in seconds.
Before them on the Main Stage, P.O.D. rocked the crowd, and the first two bands were Malevolence and Vended – young artists proving that to be a good musician and loved by the audience, age doesn't matter.
The „Na T'mno“ and Power Stages didn't fall behind with punk rockers The Toy Dolls, P.I.F., Innerglow, Neshto Tsvetno, KhanЪ and many others.
🔥 Real fire ignited with Malevolence, who literally „unlocked“ the festival spirit by provoking the first massive mosh pits of the day. The fans at the front „split open“, preparing the ground for what was to come. Right after them, P.O.D. took over the stage. Their energy was infectious, managing to transfer the good vibes to the entire crowd, despite the gray clouds over the hills. The punk legends Sex Pistols also didn't hold back – their presence gathered a sea of listeners who sang, danced and enjoyed the pure, unadulterated energy of the band.
🖤 Shortly before 11 PM, the atmosphere in front of the main stage resembled an „electric prayer“ – a low, ominous rumble that surged and built tension. When Marilyn Manson appeared on stage, he instantly established control, proving he is half rock star, half dark theater. His voice, strikingly clean and controlled, shifted from a low growl to a high scream in an instant. He commanded the stage with that specific presence of a „preacher and predator“ that is his trademark.
Although he spoke rarely to the audience in Plovdiv, he repeatedly and energetically said „Bulgaria, I fuckin love you“. Despite this, his connection with the audience was almost hypnotic. Every strong grimace, gesture or provocative look was part of a „dark carnival“ that captivated even those who don't consider themselves die-hard fans.
The instruments sounded in perfect sync, and the heavy industrial riffs clashed with new synthesizer layers that literally shook the ground beneath the fans' feet. The crowd erupted on the opening chords of „Nod If You Understand“ and „Disposable Teens“.
🌟 The peak emotional moment came when thousands of mobile phone lights illuminated the night sky of Plovdiv under the sounds of „Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)“. At that moment, the audience sang in one voice. The rain predicted by the forecast fit magnificently into the entire performance – the drops intersecting with the spotlight beams, creating a sense of surreal theater.
The setlist went through powerful tracks like „The Dope Show“, „mOBSCENE“ and the explosive „The Beautiful People“, where the fans sang in unison. The real surprise came at the end. After minutes of thunderous applause, Manson appeared unexpectedly, towering on two-meter stilts and leaning on crutches. This impressive acrobatic skill, demonstrated during the performance, left fans amazed.
🤘 Social commitment: The Hills of Rock 2026 program features sign language interpretation, providing people with hearing impairments full access to what's happening on stage.
📅 Today, July 25, promises to be no less charged, as the audience awaits fan favorites Godsmack on stage. Along with them on the main stage are Black Label Society, Skindred, House Of Protection and Karen Dio.
📸 Photo: RockLive archive / Hills of Rock 2026