The 2026 festival season is underway, and one of the smaller events that has steadily been making an impressive impact on the international festival circuit is Croatia’s Bear Stone Festival. Situated near Slunj on the banks of the Mrežnica River, it boasts one of the most beautiful festival settings imaginable. Combined with the warmth of a Balkan summer, the stunning scenery creates an exceptionally relaxed atmosphere.
Adding to the appeal is the complete lack of mobile phone coverage across the festival site, making Bear Stone the perfect excuse to disconnect for a few days in the Croatian wilderness. Festivalgoers can spend their time enjoying some of the finest international acts from the stoner, psych, and doom scenes, alongside a strong lineup of emerging bands from Croatia and neighbouring countries, all eager to showcase their talent to an enthusiastic crowd. During the daytime programme, many attendees can be found watching performances while floating on the crystal-clear waters of the Mrežnica River, adding yet another uniquely memorable dimension to the Bear Stone experience.
This year’s edition follows much the same formula as previous years. The festival’s main stage is only in operation on Friday and Saturday, while Thursday is dedicated primarily to smaller acts and emerging artists performing on the festival’s secondary stages. Both of these stages also host a daytime programme on Friday and Saturday, ensuring that music is taking place throughout the day. One of Bear Stone’s defining features remains its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. The organisers are determined to avoid timetable clashes, meaning festivalgoers can, in theory, watch virtually every performance across the weekend without having to choose between competing sets. The most notable change this year is the absence of scheduled band performances on Sunday. Instead, the festival will close with the return of the ever-popular Sviraj! Jam, which will also, fittingly, serve as the festival’s unofficial opening act on Thursday at the aptly named Jam Stage. This bookending of the weekend with communal jam sessions reinforces the relaxed, community-focused spirit that has become a hallmark of the Bear Stone experience.
Let’s start with the “big” names, who will need little introduction to seasoned members of the Bear Stone family. For those not yet converted, however, here is a brief overview of what to expect.
Friday’s main stage is headlined by Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, an ideal choice to bring the day to a close. Blending stoner rock, proto-metal, and a distinctly 1970s psychedelic aesthetic, the band have carved out a unique niche for themselves and are widely regarded as one of the leading forces behind the modern revival of vintage heavy rock.
Before Uncle Acid take the stage, festivalgoers will be treated to three very different interpretations of heavy stoner rock. Germany’s Daevar will bring their doom-laden riffs and hypnotic grooves, followed by Greece’s Planet of Zeus, whose high-energy brand of hard-driving stoner rock has made them festival favourites across Europe. Completing the run-up to the headline performance are fellow Germans My Sleeping Karma, masters of immersive instrumental psychedelia and one of the most beloved acts on the scene. Taken together, it makes for a mouth-watering Friday main stage line-up and a compelling showcase of the diversity that exists within the stoner rock spectrum.
Saturday’s main stage is equally impressive, culminating with a headline performance from Dutch psychedelic rock favourites Altin Gün. Although based in the Netherlands, the band draw heavily on Turkish musical traditions, incorporating traditional instrumentation and Turkish-language vocals into their vibrant psychedelic sound. Their latest album, Garip, pays tribute to Turkish folk legend Neşet Ertaş and presents a somewhat more restrained side of the band. However, anyone who has seen Altin Gün perform live, or spent even a few minutes watching footage online, will know that subtlety rarely lasts for long. Their live shows are joyous, energetic affairs, and Bear Stone seems the perfect setting for the psychedelic dance party they are almost certain to deliver.
Before that, attendees will have already been treated to a set from Elder, who recently released their outstanding new album Through Zero. Veterans of the international heavy psych scene, Elder have built a formidable reputation as a live act, with their expansive, progressive compositions taking on an even greater dimension in a festival environment. Few bands are as capable of drawing an audience into a prolonged, hypnotic musical journey.
Rounding out the Saturday main stage programme are Greek stoner rock veterans Nightstalker, whose groove-heavy sound has made them one of the genre’s most enduring names, and Mexico’s Austin TV. The latter are a new discovery for me, but after exploring some of their material, they promise to bring an intriguing post-rock flavour to the festival. Their inclusion adds another layer of variety to the bill and introduces a style that has rarely been represented at Bear Stone in previous years.
Of course, these are only the headline attractions. As has become tradition, Bear Stone uses its two secondary stages, the Jam Stage and the Mill Stage, to showcase a diverse mix of emerging regional talent alongside a number of more established underground acts.
Among the standout names are Belgian psychedelic doom outfit Wyatt E, whose immersive, ritualistic soundscapes have earned them a devoted following, and Ungraven, the crushing industrial doom project led by Jon Davis, best known for his work with Bear Stone alumni Conan. Portugal’s Travo will bring their garage rock-infused take on heavy psychedelia, adding another flavour to an already eclectic programme.
One of the most intriguing bookings this year is undoubtedly Denmark’s Smag På Dig Selv. Performing as a trio built around drums and woodwind instruments such as saxophones, they dispense entirely with conventional rock instrumentation to create what they describe as “acoustic techno”. It is an unusual proposition on paper, but one that seems perfectly suited to Bear Stone’s adventurous spirit and should provide one of the weekend’s most memorable, and danceable, sets.
Elsewhere, Norwegian power trio Saint Karloff will deliver their trademark blend of seventies-inspired heavy rock, packed with fuzzy riffs and irresistible grooves. Italy’s Upupayāma offer a more introspective journey through psychedelic and acid-folk territories, while Icelandic trio Volcanova arrive with a growing reputation for explosive live performances, combining huge riffs, boundless energy, and enough volume to ensure they leave a lasting impression.
Adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the programme are US experimental heavy trio Stinking Lizaveta, whose sound shifts effortlessly between crushing doom-laden passages, jazz-inflected improvisation, and sudden bursts of frenetic energy. Their inclusion feels particularly well suited to Bear Stone’s ethos, sitting comfortably between heaviness and experimentation while offering something entirely distinct from most of the surrounding acts.
As always, part of the appeal of Bear Stone lies in these discoveries. While the headliners may draw festivalgoers through the gates, it is often the performances on the Jam and Mill stages that provide the weekend’s biggest surprises and create the memories that linger long after the final notes have faded across the Mrežnica River.
Beyond these highlights, there are still a dozen or so additional bands drawn largely from the Croatian and wider regional underground scenes, all of whom bring their own distinct character to the festival. These acts are very much part of what gives Bear Stone its identity, offering the chance to stumble across unexpected gems and potentially discover a new favourite band along the way. The full line-up and stage breakdown can be explored via the official Bear Stone Festival website.
As always, part of the appeal of Bear Stone lies in these discoveries. While the headliners may draw festivalgoers through the gates, it is often the performances on the Jam and Mill stages that provide the weekend’s biggest surprises and create the memories that linger long after the final notes have faded across the Mrežnica River.
