Dark Troll Festival 2027 – Folk & Black Metal Germany

What to expect in 2027

Dark Troll Festival 2027 will bring three days of Pagan Metal, Folk Metal, Black Metal and atmospheric extreme metal to the historic Schweinsburg castle ruins in Bornstedt, Saxony-Anhalt. The festival is known for combining underground metal performances with a medieval castle setting, camping and a close-knit festival atmosphere. The 2027 edition is scheduled for 6–8 May 2027, with the official festival site already listing a substantial group of confirmed bands.

The confirmed 2027 lineup currently includes Alraunen, Asagraum, Avertat, Bedrängnis, Dordeduh, Grimner, Harakiri for the Sky, Midnight Odyssey, Munarheim and Saor. The lineup represents several strands of the wider extreme-metal scene, ranging from atmospheric and post-black metal to folk, pagan and symphonic styles. The organizer continues to announce artists, so the final billing and running order may expand before the festival.

A major attraction is the setting itself. Instead of a conventional festival field, performances take place at the Schweinsburg site, where historic ruins, wooded surroundings and the elevated castle landscape create a distinctive backdrop for the music. The festival has traditionally maintained a relatively intimate scale, with external festival guides placing capacity at around 1,200 visitors.

The 2027 edition should therefore appeal particularly to visitors looking for a smaller metal festival experience rather than a large commercial open-air event. Camping, merchandise, food, drinks, showers and shuttle services form part of the practical festival infrastructure, while the organizers emphasize respectful behaviour and an awareness concept designed to support a safe environment.

Event dates

Dark Troll Festival 2027 is scheduled for 6–8 May 2027 in Bornstedt, Germany.

The festival normally operates across three days, with camping opening before the main festival period. The official information page states that the campsites open from Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m., giving weekend visitors the opportunity to arrive before the main performances.

There is currently a date discrepancy across festival-related sources: the festival listings show 6–8 May 2027, while the In Fiction Entertainment website currently displays 5–7 May 2027 for its Dark Troll Festival concert listing. Because the official Dark Troll Festival website is the primary source for visitor information, travelers should check the final ticket confirmation and running order before booking transport.

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Venue & festival site

Dark Troll Festival takes place at Schweinsburg – Bornstedt, on the historic castle site at:

Schlossberg
06295 Bornstedt
Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

The official arrival page identifies Schweinsburg in Bornstedt as the event location.

The castle ruins are one of the defining characteristics of the festival. The elevated location provides an unusual open-air environment surrounded by trees and countryside, while the remaining historic structures give the festival its medieval atmosphere. Previous reports have described the performance area as being integrated into the castle ruins rather than built as a conventional large-scale festival complex.

Because the festival site is relatively compact, visitors should expect short distances between major areas but also uneven and elevated terrain around parts of the castle grounds. Comfortable footwear is recommended, particularly for visitors moving between the camping areas, parking facilities and festival entrance.

Full lineup

The confirmed Dark Troll Festival 2027 lineup currently includes:

• Alraunen
• Asagraum
• Avertat
• Bedrängnis
• Dordeduh
• Grimner
• Harakiri for the Sky
• Midnight Odyssey
• Munarheim
• Saor

The official festival website lists these artists as the current 2027 bands, while the organizer’s In Fiction Entertainment website also lists the same group of artists for the 2027 event.

The final lineup may contain additional acts. The official festival information currently states that the running order will be published in good time before the festival, meaning individual performance days and exact set times should not be treated as confirmed until the organizer releases the schedule.

Headliners & featured artists

The 2027 billing has several prominent names that are likely to attract visitors from across the European extreme-metal scene.

Harakiri for the Sky bring their Austrian post-black-metal sound to the festival. The organizer announced their return after a long absence from Dark Troll, noting that the band had previously appeared at the castle in connection with Fimbul in 2020. Their atmospheric approach should fit naturally with the darker side of the festival’s musical identity.

Saor represent the atmospheric and folk-influenced side of black metal. Their music combines expansive black-metal structures with folk elements and is particularly suited to an outdoor setting surrounded by woodland and historic ruins.

Midnight Odyssey return to the festival after appearing at the castle in 2024. The Australian atmospheric black-metal project is led by Dis Pater and is known for expansive themes involving mythology, spirituality, outer space and death.

Munarheim will return after a long absence. The organizer notes that the German black-symphonic-folk-metal band was founded in 2007 and is scheduled to celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2027 festival.

Grimner are another returning folk-metal name. The Swedish band was announced for 2027 following the release of its album Stormvingar, with the organizers highlighting the band’s dynamic live performances and folk-metal character.

Stages & performance areas

Dark Troll is centered around the performance area within the Schweinsburg castle ruins rather than operating as a large multi-stage festival complex.

Castle performance area: The principal concerts take place within the historic castle environment, allowing the stone ruins and surrounding landscape to form part of the visual atmosphere.

Festival courtyard and surrounding grounds: Areas around the performance space provide room for visitors to gather between concerts, visit merchandise and trader stands, and experience the castle setting.

Camping areas: Campsites A, B, C and additional camping areas provide separate accommodation arrangements. Camping A is located near the castle, while B and C are below the castle in the village and are particularly relevant to caravans and motorhomes.

The compact layout means visitors can focus on the music without navigating a huge festival complex. However, the hilltop location makes walking between the castle, parking and some camping areas more demanding than at a flat festival site.

Stage-by-stage schedule

The detailed 2027 running order has not yet been published. The official festival information states that the running order will be made available in good time before the event.

For planning purposes, the 2027 programme can currently be understood as a three-day sequence of black-metal, folk-metal, pagan-metal and atmospheric performances, with the final schedule expected to divide the confirmed bands between the festival days.

The current confirmed artists include:

• Alraunen
• Asagraum
• Avertat
• Bedrängnis
• Dordeduh
• Grimner
• Harakiri for the Sky
• Midnight Odyssey
• Munarheim
• Saor

Visitors should wait for the official running order before planning exact artist clashes, arrival times or preferred headline sets.

Set times

Exact 2027 set times have not yet been released. Dark Troll traditionally publishes its running order closer to the festival, and the official website specifically directs visitors to the Running Order section for the final schedule.

Previous editions show that the programme can begin during the afternoon and continue into the evening, with major performances occupying later slots. In 2026, for example, individual performances were scheduled throughout the afternoon and evening, demonstrating the festival’s progression from earlier acts into later headline performances.

Once the 2027 running order is published, visitors should check it before arrival because set times can change and festival schedules may be adjusted for production or artist requirements.

Ticket types

The 2027 ticket structure should be checked through the official ticket channels because the final ticket categories and current prices can change.

The festival’s information pages identify several ticket arrangements used for Dark Troll, including:

• Weekend festival ticket
• Camping ticket
• Caravan or motorhome ticket
• Day ticket, where offered
• Online ticket
• Hard ticket

The official website currently links visitors toward Eventbrite and the In Fiction Shop for ticket purchasing.

For a previous-edition pricing reference, the 2026 festival was listed by external festival sources at approximately $116–$141 for ticket levels around €99–€120, using an approximate EUR-to-USD conversion. A separate 2027 festival listing currently places the festival ticket at approximately $143 based on a listed €122.32 ticket price. These figures should be treated as reference pricing rather than a guaranteed final 2027 price.

VIP & premium options

Dark Troll is designed around a compact underground festival format rather than a large commercial VIP model. There is no clearly advertised 2027 VIP lounge, VIP viewing platform or premium hospitality package on the official festival information currently available.

The main upgrade-style options are practical rather than luxury-oriented. Visitors can choose camping arrangements, including facilities for caravans and motorhomes, depending on the available ticket categories.

For visitors wanting a more comfortable experience, arriving early and choosing the most convenient camping arrangement may be more relevant than looking for a conventional VIP ticket.

Event rules

Dark Troll maintains several rules covering safety, camping, recordings, pets and visitor conduct.

Respect and awareness: The organizers operate an awareness concept focused on respectful behaviour and opposition to violence, discrimination and racism. Visitors who need assistance can approach the awareness team or festival crew.

Weapons: Weapons and dangerous objects are strictly prohibited and can result in immediate exclusion from the festival.

Glass: Mobile glass containers are prohibited throughout the festival area, camping and parking areas because of safety concerns.

Animals: Pets are not permitted on the festival grounds. Dogs are subject to additional restrictions if brought to camping areas.

Open fire: Open fires are prohibited. Barbecuing is only permitted at designated areas on the campsites.

Noise: Loud music is prohibited at the campsites between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. to protect the small camping environment and allow visitors to sleep.

Recording: The official rules prohibit visitors from making video, image or sound recordings with mobile phones, cameras or other recording devices.

How to get there

The festival site is located at Schweinsburg, Schlossberg, 06295 Bornstedt, Saxony-Anhalt.

By car: Drivers should use the official festival destination rather than attempting to park along local roads. Bornstedt is reached through regional roads, with the castle located above the village.

From Sangerhausen: Sangerhausen is a useful regional transport point for visitors approaching the Südharz area. Previous festival information has identified the Sangerhausen area as an access point, with the festival approximately 10–15 kilometres away depending on the route.

From Leipzig or Halle: Travelers coming from larger German cities can connect toward the Südharz region by rail and continue by regional transport, taxi or the festival shuttle where available.

Public transport & parking

The official festival arrival page provides regional bus and rail timetable information through the VGS Südharzline network.

Parking is strictly controlled. The official information states that festival parking is available in a dedicated parking area below the castle. Visitors are asked not to park randomly in Bornstedt or along country roads because vehicles obstructing emergency services, fire access or delivery routes may be towed.

The road toward the castle is also closed during the main festival period. According to the festival information, access to the castle road is restricted from Thursday midday until Sunday morning, after which visitors use the shuttle service from the parking and camping areas.

A shuttle service operates between the parking area, camping areas and festival site during specified daytime and evening periods. The currently published reference rate is approximately $2.34 per trip, based on the stated €2 fare.

Accommodation areas

Camping is an important part of the Dark Troll experience, with several designated areas around Bornstedt.

Camping A: Located near the castle and traditionally the most convenient camping area for access to the festival site. The official information confirms that camping A opens from Wednesday morning.

Camping B and C: Located below the castle in the village. These areas are specifically used for caravans and motorhomes because vehicles cannot be accommodated on the castle hill.

Camping D and E: These areas are also referenced in the festival’s shower and camping information and provide additional accommodation capacity.

Showers are available at Camping A and at the gym facilities associated with Camping B.

Visitors who do not want to camp can consider accommodation in Bornstedt, Eisleben, Sangerhausen and the surrounding Südharz area, although staying farther away means arranging daily transport to and from the castle.

Food & drink

Dark Troll provides food and drink facilities within the festival environment, alongside merchandise and trader areas. Previous editions have included food stands offering festival-style meals and refreshments, with the castle surroundings adding to the informal atmosphere.

Visitors staying at the campsites can also make use of permitted barbecue areas. Open fires are prohibited, and cooking or grilling must follow the designated camping rules.

The festival also provides a cash withdrawal facility at the office. The currently published information states that visitors can withdraw cash using an EC card, subject to a service fee.

Accessibility

Dark Troll provides specific arrangements for visitors with disabilities. People with a disability level above 50% can bring an accompanying person free of admission when they provide the required disability documentation. Free camping is excluded from this arrangement.

The organizers also provide a free parking space close to the festival site for visitors with disabilities who have walking difficulties.

Because the festival is held around historic castle ruins on a hill, visitors with mobility requirements should contact the organizers before travelling to confirm the practical accessibility of the specific areas they intend to use. Terrain, slopes and historic structures can present challenges even where dedicated arrangements are available.

Best days to attend

Thursday: The opening day is suitable for visitors who want to settle into the festival atmosphere early, explore the castle, set up camp and experience the beginning of the programme without rushing.

Friday: Friday is likely to provide a strong balance of daytime and evening performances as the full festival atmosphere develops. It is a useful choice for visitors interested in seeing several different styles across the confirmed lineup.

Saturday: Saturday is the final major festival day and should be particularly attractive to visitors who want to stay through the closing performances. Later sets can provide an especially atmospheric experience against the castle surroundings.

For the complete experience, a weekend ticket is the most practical option because the 2027 running order has not yet established which artists will play on which days.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2026 edition marked Dark Troll’s 15th anniversary and featured a broad lineup of Pagan, Folk and Black Metal acts. Artists included Arkona, Wolfheart, Skyforger, Naglfar, Fejd, Heimdalls Wacht, Vanaheim, Enisum, Groza, Obscurity and several other acts.

The 2026 programme also included a special Falkenbach tribute performance under the name Gjallar, while the festival continued its established combination of metal performances, camping and the historic castle setting.

Previous editions demonstrate how the festival uses the castle surroundings as an important part of the experience. Reports from earlier years describe the stage being integrated into the historic structure, with wooded camping areas, food stands, merchandise and medieval-themed elements contributing to the atmosphere.

The 2027 edition continues that established format while introducing a new selection of international and German-speaking extreme-metal artists.

Official tickets

Tickets for Dark Troll Festival 2027 are linked through the official festival website, which currently directs visitors toward Eventbrite and the In Fiction Shop. The official festival information should be checked for the latest ticket categories, availability, camping options and any changes to the event schedule.

The festival’s limited site capacity means visitors should avoid relying on unofficial resale listings when official tickets are available. Festival guides have historically described the capacity as approximately 1,200 visitors, making Dark Troll considerably smaller than major German metal festivals.