This year, KILKIM ŽAIBU has prepared a truly special gift for connoisseurs of folk metal: one of the genre’s pioneers, the legendary SKYCLAD, are coming to the festival. Back when it still seemed impossible, they were among the first to fuse sharp-edged metal with traditional folk music.
SKYCLAD’s appearance at the festival will be not only a rare opportunity to witness a band that has inspired countless followers, but also a deeply personal moment for the festival’s organizers. It was SKYCLAD who, back in the dark days of the 1990s, opened the door for them to the spiritual world of folk metal.
It is quite possible that without SKYCLAD, the KILKIM ŽAIBU festival would look very different today. We fully understand that for some of today’s attendees this name may be unfamiliar or even completely unknown. But that changes nothing. This name has always lived within us — like a secret, cozy room into which you invite only your closest and dearest. Today’s folk metal idols grew up inspired by SKYCLAD, and now all of you are invited to enter this world of folk metal forefathers, whatever it may look like after all these years.
This year’s program will also be enriched by Swedish melodic death/thrash metal veterans THE CROWN, who have been active for 30 years and released 14 studio albums. They will be visiting Lithuania for the first and last time: the band has announced that they will disband this year, and their performance at KŽ will be part of their farewell tour.
These bands, which have left a deep mark on the metal scene, will join a host of other legends set to appear this year in the Ukmergė district, at the estate of President Antanas Smetona: the world-class, star-studded project BLOOD FIRE DEATH, paying tribute to the legacy of BATHORY, as well as CARCASS, POSSESSED, IMPALED NAZARENE, and SAMAEL.
All of these acts are pioneers of their respective genres. All of them are legends. For this reason, this year’s KILKIM ŽAIBU festival can quite rightly be called a festival of legends even before it begins.
KILKIM ŽAIBU 2026 will take place on June 25–27, 2026, in the Ukmergė district, at the estate of President Antanas Smetona, on the shores of Lake Lėnas.
