South of Heaven Open Air 2026

South of Heaven Open Air is a metal festival held in the grounds of a former quarry in Zbytiny near Prachatice. Its fourth edition will take place on 3–4 July 2026 with a two-day programme of heavy music. The festival is known for its underground atmosphere and friendly open-air environment.

The 2026 line-up includes confirmed bands Tortharry, Lautr, Shatterheart, Alžběta, Crystallion (power metal from Germany), When Nothing Remains (Sweden), Boum Patat, Electric Lady, Mindpatrol, Odraedir, Reverber, and Sarkonia. In collaboration with Metalshop.cz, the festival offers two bands the opportunity to open Friday and Saturday on the "METALSHOP WELCOME STAGE".

Two-day tickets are available in pre-sale for 800 CZK (limited edition) directly through the festival website. The ticket also serves as a wristband allowing free movement throughout the grounds and beyond – if the wristband is lost, re-entry is not permitted. The grounds feature free camping and parking, both included in the ticket price. Visitors are advised to bring warmer clothing for the evenings, as nights in the Šumava region can be cold even in summer.

The venue is accessible by car (GPS: 48.938218960495156N, 13.96714495827369E), by train at Zbytiny station (approximately 1 km walk), or by bus from Prachatice to Zbytiny. Connections can be found at www.idos.cz.