Heavy Weekend 2026 - Day 1 [Live Report]
- Jul 22
- 6 min read
The Earama team was thrilled to set foot on the Heavy Week-End grounds again, and we weren’t disappointed! An eclectic and delightful lineup awaited us, along with a very warm welcome. So we arrived on the first day of Heavy Week-End 2026, ready to enjoy three exceptional days!
Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot
Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos
Upon arrival, we immediately noticed a few changes: cashless wristbands, a larger festival village than last year, and a press area just as welcoming as the one from the previous edition. And even though the festival village -which now stretches all the way to the other side of the Nancy Open Air stage, hosting more exhibitors and even tattoo artists- offered a truly pleasant setting, it was time for the opening act to take the stage.
Around 5:30 p.m., the first fans began gathering in the pit and throughout much of the bleachers. The first day didn’t set any attendance records for the HWE, but it still promised to draw a little over 6,000 people. And it was in this warm, almost family-like atmosphere -one the festival is so good at creating- that Dominum took the stage for a 40-minute set.
Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot
Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos
The German band kicks things off with Danger Danger, a track from their debut album Hey Living People (2023), but they’ll mix things up with hits like Don’t Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones and The Dead Don’t Die, from their self-titled album (about which we had the chance to chat with Dr. Dead - you can read that conversation here), as well as the first singles from their upcoming album: Night Is Calling, set for release just a month later. We were even treated to the delightful surprise of a flawlessly executed cover of the famous Thriller in Dominum’s own style, which -as we didn’t know at the time- would appear on their next album!
The stage design was meticulously crafted, creating a performance that lived up to the band’s reputation for live shows, featuring lyrics and visuals from their second album. The frontman addressed the audience numerous times and never gave them a moment to catch their breath! Opening a festival is no easy feat, but Dominum pulled it off with flying colors, sweeping the crowd into a festive atmosphere, especially with The Circus Is In Town, which resonated like a true anthem carried by hundreds of voices.
A quick note from Delphine, from the editorial team: “I’d never seen them before, and now I can’t wait to see them again.”
And if you missed them at Heavy Week-End or if you, too, have fallen for the “Dominum effect,” see you on November 24 at La Machine du Moulin Rouge!
And while the German band’s grand opening had left a lasting impression on us, it was time to welcome their compatriots: Avantasia. A project led primarily by Tobias Sammet, who enjoys bringing together a large number of musicians. So we were expecting a spectacular show with unique guest performers for this 60-minute set.
Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot
Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos
At 6:30 p.m., the musicians took their places and the show began. We caught a glimpse of the day’s first pyrotechnics and musicians brimming with energy. Tobias commanded the stage, moving about and encouraging the musicians accompanying him to do the same. It all kicked off with an initial lineup to get things rolling with Creepshow. But nearly every song that followed featured a special guest. Kenny Leckremo, Tommy Karevik, Bob Catley, and Chiara Tricarico took the stage one by one to deliver an exceptional and vibrant performance.
While the show may have resonated most with longtime fans, Tobias and his band perfectly adapted the performance to include even the least familiar members of the crowd, drawing them into the unique world of Avantasia. The show will wrap up with all the guests joining in for one final song, bringing to a close a rather rare performance that left its mark on this third edition of Heavy WeekEnd.
During the show, some members of the editorial staff even went for a walk through the festival village to check out the broadcast on the giant screen near the food stands and shops. This was a real bonus for the festival, offering an alternative with great sound quality so you wouldn’t miss a thing (even while shopping away from the crowd).
The next band to take the stage was none other than Savatage. Long-awaited on the French music scene, their return was a major highlight of this first day of Heavy Week-End!
Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot
Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos
At 8 p.m., Zachary Stevens and his bandmates took the stage at Nancy Open Air to the cheers of a crowd that seemed a bit less packed, likely due to the timing. In fact, throughout the concert, you could see spectators returning from the festival village, beer and fries in hand.
Kicking off with Dead Winter Dead, Savatage faced a few technical glitches but didn’t let it get them down and kept the show going, with the technical crew masterfully handling any unexpected issues that might have disrupted the evening. The setlist featured 13 tracks spanning their various albums, offering us the band’s very best. But the highlight of the performance came during Believe. As Jon Oliva appears on screen, alone at the piano, Savatage pays him a poignant tribute, before honoring the memory of his brother Criss Oliva, who passed away in 1993. It’s a moment suspended in time, filled with emotion, that plunges Heavy Weekend into an almost religious silence before the audience joins the band in chorus. It’s easy to spot the biggest fans in the front rows, clearly moved and singing along throughout the performance.
In front of us, the stage design is certainly simpler than that of the first two bands, but just as effective! Even though the giant screen at the back of the stage seems to display only the band’s name, it contains a few subtle details that didn’t go unnoticed by some in the audience. And I think that’s ultimately how we could describe Savatage’s 75-minute set: simple, but effective. The band indeed ditched the frills to focus on the technical skill of their performance. They thanked us before saying goodbye with Hall of the Mountain King.
45 minutes passed between Savatage’s departure and Sabaton’s arrival. During those 45 minutes, the crowd doubled in size, and you could feel the tension rising, the excitement of an audience waiting for just one thing: the appearance of their favorite band on stage.
Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot
Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos
As 10:00 p.m. approached, the crowd was going wild in front of Sabaton’s massive tank. But the crowd really went wild at the first notes of Ghost Division, letting loose to the heavy, driving riffs. Everyone seemed to be overjoyed to be on the Heavy Week-End stage, but it was Joakim Brodén who radiated energy and a contagious smile throughout the performance.
Flames, fireworks, a lavish stage design… Everything was done to blow us away! These effects left a lasting impression on more than a few spectators. Especially during Great War, when jets of flame accompanied every “Hey!” shouted in unison by the band and the fans, turning up the heat on what was already a sunny day.
A quick note from Eden, the team’s photographer: “I think they were trying to grill the photographers.”
The band interacted with the audience constantly, making them an integral part of the show. No moshing on the agenda, but a festive atmosphere, with fans just as happy to be there as the musicians. More than just a performance, it was a genuine exchange ; a moment that could have lasted until the end of the night. And Sabaton sensed that, treating us to a set that ran closer to two hours than an hour and a half, much to everyone’s delight.
And during this spectacular evening, we were even treated to a visit from a historical figure: Napoleon. Indeed, since Sabaton’s world revolves around war, the band was particularly enthusiastic about playing in a country with such a rich history. Napoleon appeared on stage to kick off I, Emperor, from their latest album, Legends (about which we had the chance to chat with Thorbjörn Englund - check out that interview here!).
Napoleon spoke to us in French, made us laugh, got us singing… and even waved a huge French flag during the grand finale!
We could tell you a lot about this performance, but to be honest, it’s more of an experience to be lived than to be described. Sabaton has clearly built its reputation on its unparalleled and flawless live performances! Even those least familiar with the band left with smiles on their faces and heads full of memories.
Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot Photo : Eden Bisiot
Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos
And so ends this first day of Heavy Week-End 2026, which kicked off with a bang for this third edition and holds great promise for the two remaining days. Dominum showed us the best way to kick off a festival, Avantasia made us reflect on the importance of sharing in music, Savatage moved us, and Sabaton blew us away.
After so many emotions, it was time for the Earama team to head back to HQ and get ready for the rest of the festivities.
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