VANCOUVER — Vancouver’s Hyperspace Metal Festival, one of Canada’s best-known niche heavy music events, has announced the full lineup for its 2026 edition, marking what organizers say could be the festival’s final outing for the foreseeable future.
The three-day event, branded as Hyperspace Metal Festival VII, will take place April 16 and 17 at The Cobalt, followed by a closing night on April 18 at the Rickshaw Theatre. The 2026 lineup features a mix of Canadian and international acts spanning melodic death metal, power metal, progressive metal and symphonic metal, including Sanctuary, Edge of Paradise, Atavistia, Voidchaser, Owlbear, and Artificial Language, among others.
Founded in Vancouver, Hyperspace Metal Fest has grown over six editions into a destination event for fans of melodic and technical metal subgenres on Canada’s West Coast. Organizers say the 2026 edition builds on that legacy, while also serving as a potential farewell.
“The full lineup for Hyperspace Metal Festival VII is here! Sanctuary will be performing a Canadian exclusive performance of Into The Mirror Black in its entirety! Atavistia will be headlining night 1, which will have a heavy emphasis on melodic death metal. Night two headliner Edge of Paradise will cap off a night of epic symphonic and melodic power metal! After this year, the festival will be going on indefinite hiatus, so if you’ve been wanting to make it to Hyperspace, this could be your last chance. Let’s rage together at the Rickshaw and the Cobalt one last time!” said Joey Hockin of Journeyman Productions, the festival’s organizer.
Sanctuary’s appearance is expected to be a marquee moment of the weekend. The Seattle band will make an exclusive Canadian appearance by performing its 1990 album Into the Mirror Black in full on the festival’s final night. Formed in 1985, Sanctuary became a key figure in the Pacific Northwest metal scene before disbanding in the early 1990s and later reuniting in 2011. The band has since returned to major international festivals and is currently working on new material.
The festival opens April 16 with Canadian symphonic melodic death metal act Atavistia headlining a bill focused on heavier melodic death metal. Atavistia has developed a strong international following through European touring and releases that blend orchestral elements with aggressive riffing.
April 17 will be led by Los Angeles-based Edge of Paradise, who arrive in Vancouver following extensive North American touring with Delain, Xandria and Lovebites. The band is touring in support of its 2025 Napalm Records release Prophecy, which expands its sci-fi-inspired conceptual universe and introduces new musical elements, including extended-range guitars and cinematic production.
The closing night on April 18 features Sanctuary alongside several notable Canadian debuts. Owlbear and Artificial Language will both make their first Canadian appearances, while progressive metal act Voidchaser continues to build momentum following international touring and streaming success tied to its concept album Solace.
The festival’s supporting lineup highlights the breadth of Canada’s metal scene, including Ottawa-based acts Lycanthro, The Scepter and veteran heavy metal band Witchkiller, as well as Vancouver-area performers Ophelia Falling, Ravensun and Kayas. Edmonton’s Valley of Despair, Montreal-Stockholm progressive project Voidchaser, and U.S.-based acts such as Inpathos and Hyperstrike round out the bill.
Over its six previous editions, Hyperspace Metal Festival has hosted bands from across Europe and North America, positioning Vancouver as a regional hub for power, progressive and melodic metal. Past performers have included Týr, Flotsam and Jetsam, Enforcer, Riot City and Into Eternity.
One-day and three-day passes for Hyperspace Metal Festival VII are currently available through Eventbrite. Organizers say further updates will be shared through the festival’s official social media channels as the April dates approach.
