Heavy Weekend 2026 - Day 2 [Live Report]

The first day of Heavy Week-End had been packed with excitement and held great promise for the rest of the festival. We already thought we’d gotten our money’s worth, but that was before we experienced the second day, which would welcome around 12,000 people and feature a lineup that had drawn festivalgoers from all corners of France!

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos

As soon as the gates opened, we noticed a different crowd and one far larger than the day before. The booths were packed to the brim, and lines formed in front of the merchandise stands (though the wait was never interminable). Given the large turnout, we noticed not only the security team but also the gendarmerie, who were patrolling the entire perimeter of the event. And that’s undoubtedly one of Heavy Week-End’s greatest strengths: promising fun in a safe environment.

But even though festivalgoers enjoyed exploring the village and its attractions, they quickly made their way toward the stage for the arrival of the day’s first band.

Who else but Nova Twins to kick off this highly promising second day? The two musicians took the stage accompanied by Jake Woodward on drums, who has been playing with them for several years now.

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos

From the very first notes of Antagonist, the British duo immediately set the tone with a sound that was more intense than the day before - no doubt in preparation for the crowd expected that day. The vibrations echoed all the way to the back of the pit, drawing fans into singing and dancing from the very first songs, revealing an audience that was already fully engaged and ready to party.

The setlist consisted of just seven songs, but that was enough for Nova Twins to set the Nancy Open Air stage ablaze. Over the course of 40 minutes, Amy displayed unparalleled enthusiasm, belting out the lyrics and commanding the stage, while Georgia was as bubbly as ever, swinging both her bass and her hair in every direction (providing great photo opportunities).

But all good things must come to an end, and it was time to say goodbye to the butterfly speakers and turn toward another world, one primarily geared toward fans of old-school metal.

But if you’re craving a bit more British rock, Nova Twins-style, we’ll see you at the Accor Arena in Paris on September 17, 2026, where the band will be opening for Poppy and Evanescence!

At 6:30 p.m., a change of pace; we were about to see the Cavalera brothers for a one-hour show that drew festivalgoers from all over France. The stage design took shape before the musicians took the stage; the name “Cavalera” appeared on the big screen, flanked by a (fake) body wrapped in a sheet, suspended by ropes. A simple stage setup for musicians who came to play fast and loud.

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos

The atmosphere changed, too; the small dance circles turned into mosh pits and slams, and the singing turned into shouts of joy. Security was overwhelmed by so many crowd surfers, but did a brilliant job throughout the weekend (they deserve our utmost gratitude).

Max was on top form, delivering an impressive vocal performance and guitar playing that, despite a minor technical glitch at the start, remained flawless. And while we could, of course, recognize his brother on drums, the guitarist and bassist accompanying them also stood out due to their involvement in Nailbomb, another project by the singer. For most fans, this might have been their last chance to see the two brothers together on stage; the crowd knew it, and showed the quartet that they hadn’t come all that way for nothing.

The show ended to the applause of a captivated and delighted audience, who had been treated to an hour of nonstop music. But the day was still young, and the fans weren’t about to be disappointed by what was to come.

Next up on the schedule: Trivium. A band we’d been lucky enough to see at Motocultor last year, and one we were eager to see again! Always delivering relentless technical prowess, the band’s shows are meant to be observed and appreciated with a keen eye. Every detail counts ; every note, every strummed chord…

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

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  Photo : Eden Bisiot

Photos : Eden Bisiot // @bisiot.photos

That’s how The End Of Everything began, playing in the background and signaling the musicians’ imminent arrival on stage. The band members entered one by one, cheered on by the fans, before Matt Heafy appeared, smiling, tongue sticking out (as usual), and already radiating sheer joy at playing for us.

The sound was impeccable, and the musicians seemed completely absorbed, as if in a world of their own. The band was jumping all over the place, commanding the stage, and seemed even happier than the fans in the front row. The crowd, meanwhile, was calmer, less boisterous, but more attentive, as if spellbound by the performance unfolding before them. Trivium knows how to draw an entire audience into its world and certainly put its talents on full display in front of the 12,000 festivalgoers in attendance that day.

For 75 minutes, we were treated to classics from the American band such as Like Light to the Flies, Strife, and Until The World Goes Cold, ending on a high note with In Waves. 75 timeless minutes, paying close attention to every riff, every note, every strummed chord… And we weren’t disappointed!

The concerts had followed one another without a single lull, maintaining a constant intensity since the gates opened. It was now time to catch our breath before the headliner took the stage: Gojira.

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As night fell over the Nancy Open Air, the stands filled up, the mosh pit grew increasingly packed, and the anticipation was palpable. It must be said that the French quartet was practically playing on home turf and was the highlight of this 2026 edition of Heavy Week-End.

At 10:30 p.m., the lights went out and Gojira took the stage to a standing ovation befitting their stature. From the very first notes, the band’s signature power hit the crowd with full force. The sound was massive, the riffs were hard-hitting, and the crowd responded immediately. Mosh pits, slams, and chanting followed one after another in an electric atmosphere that hardly ever let up. Gojira proved once again that they needed almost nothing to win over a crowd: just a few notes were enough to remind everyone why the band had become a global metal icon.

The stage design, true to the band’s identity, perfectly complemented the performance. The lighting effects, projections, and numerous bursts of flame heightened the intensity of the concert, while the fireworks -visible only from the bleachers- highlighted the evening’s standout moments. Despite a minor sound issue at the start of the concert -which was quickly resolved by the technical crew- nothing seemed capable of dampening the festivalgoers’ enthusiasm.

Very close to his audience, Joe Duplantier took the time to interact with the crowd on several occasions. He also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Cavalera brothers before performing Love, a moment that was particularly appreciated by festivalgoers. A little later, Mario Duplantier’s traditional drum solo once again reminded everyone why he is considered one of the best drummers on the current metal scene.

After more than an hour and a half of a remarkably intense performance, Gojira gave a lengthy bow to the audience before handing out drumsticks and picks to those in the front rows.

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It was a fitting conclusion to this second day of Heavy Week-End, which brought together nearly 12,000 festivalgoers to see some of metal’s biggest names. The crowd left the Nancy Open Air with smiles on their faces, knowing they had witnessed a second day that will undoubtedly go down in the history of this third edition of Heavy Week-End.