Last week, the Czech Republic’s Rock for People (RFP) festival brought over 200 musical acts to an audience of over 50,000 people each day from June 10 through June 14 for its 31st year.
After a record-breaking year in 2025, we didn’t think the festival could get much bigger or better, but the organizers proved us wrong. Melodic Magazine got to experience the festival from start to finish, taking in incredible music and camaraderie alongside passionate fans for the full five days. The weather may not have always been on our side, but fans slogged through the mud in rain boots and ponchos to see their favorite bands.
The festival grounds were expanded this year and included a few additions alongside the mainstay attractions. The Ferris wheel and multiple Rock for People signs for festivalgoers to sign were, of course, prominently placed near the festival entrance.
New this year was the Mastercard Tower, which offered professional photography, a relaxation zone with beanbag chairs, and a birdseye view of the grounds, and the EcoFlow Zone, which focused on sustainable food and energy. The VIP Lounge was also moved to the opposite site of the main stage, allowing space for the new Tribune seating area.
The Music
Rock for People’s 2026 lineup came in hot and heavy on Wednesday afternoon with We Came As Romans kicking things off just before 1pm on the Rock for People Stage. Throughout the day, sensational acts like Bloodywood, The Pretty Reckless, Magnolia Park, and The Wombats would play the Rock for People stage and the main Mastercard Stage.
Electric Callboy arguably drew one of the biggest crowds of the night at the Rock for People stage, their show complete with confetti, fireworks, and lots of silly outfits to hype up the crowd. Gorillaz was Wednesday’s headliner, ending the day on a high note. Fans of heavier music, though, were able to escape to side stages like the ČT Art Stage to mosh with metalcore bands like Boundaries.
1/24
Thursday’s lineup started early with rising Australian metal band Thornhill kicking things off around noon on the Rock for People Stage. The day started off dry, but Mother Nature had other things in mind for Set It Off’s set on the Mastercard Stage not long after. This didn’t deter fans, though — they sang their hearts out even through the rain.
The schedule for Thursday had most fans running back and forth between these two stages for rock icons like Breaking Benjamin and emo mainstays All Time Low, the latter sadly missing the lovable Jack Barakat but still putting on an exceptional show. Breaking Benjamin was certainly a moment for us; they don’t often make their way to Europe. Lead vocalist Benjamin Burnley explained to the audience that he took a ship to get there, and we sure are glad he did.
Rising punk rock band Destroy Boys dominated the (covered, thankfully) Europa 2 (E2) Stage, and the weather cleared up just in time for legendary nu-metal band Limp Bizkit’s headlining set. Shortly into their set, Fred Durst pulled up some photographers from the front of the crowd in a surprise stunt. Fans were also surprised to hear the hit “Break Stuff” so early into their set, but not to worry: they added it in a second time at the end.
Another highlight of the night was The All-American Rejects on the E2 Stage. Lead vocalist Tyson Ritter joked around with the crowd, relating that he loved how relaxed Czechs seemed to be about certain topics that Americans are much more uptight about. He then launched into all the hits the band has ever made: “Move Along,” “Gives You Hell,” “It Ends Tonight,” and many more. If you were looking for some 2000s nostalgia, this was the set for you.
1/15
By the time Friday rolled around, the crowds were getting noticeably thicker and the energy was more palpable. Things kicked off around midday on the E2 Stage with rising Brazilian band Ego Kill Talent, whose lead vocalist Emmily Barreto seriously brought the energy.
South Arcade rocked the Rock for People Stage before Basement brought their signature brand of emo rock to the Mastercard Stage. The Mastercard Stage crowd, in particular, was packed throughout the day as fans camped out for the upcoming performances of A Day To Remember and headliner Bring Me The Horizon.
The side stages were also filled to the brim on Friday with pop punk mainstays Trash Boat taking over E2 amid some heavy moshing. Perhaps one of the highlights for Czech fans was Ben Cristavao’s set on the Mastercard Stage — his poppy sound was a bit different than what we’d seen at RFP so far, but loyal fans sang every word back to him. He even received a birthday cake at the barricade.
Dying Wish kept things going at E2 before guitar legend Tom Morello took the Mastercard Stage in the drizzle alongside his son, who clearly inherited his father’s talent as he demonstrated by playing the guitar behind his head.
One of Friday’s highlights for us, however, was Bilmuri’s set on the Rock for People Stage. Frontman Johnny Franck’s down-to-earth and eclectic stage presence wins the crowd over every time, and the Rock for People Stage was no exception. Of course, the saxophone solos by Gabi Rose were absolutely perfect throughout. Bilmuri also had a surprise for the crowd: finishing just a few minutes before A Day To Remember were set to take the Mastercard Stage, Franck called Jeremy McKinnon onto the stage to perform their collab song “ALWAYS LET YOU DOWN.”
As soon as the set ended, fans rushed over to Mastercard for ADTR’s set, complete with pyrotechnics and an impressive headline-level light and smoke show. Crowdsurfers immediately appeared atop the audience while mosh pits opened across the floor, and it was clear these fans would be staying put all night in anticipation of Bring Me The Horizon’s set.
The crowd for Bring Me The Horizon rivaled that of last year’s crowds for Linkin Park, with people packed all the way down the pavement leading away from the screens of the main stage. The band truly put on a show, with each element of the experience carefully curated to immerse fans into the world they’ve been creating with their newest releases.
After the headlining set, Three Days Grace kept the energy up on the Rock for People Stage before DJs and afterparties brought the night to a close.
1/31
Saturday is usually the biggest day of the festival, but the day got off to an admittedly slow start thanks to the rainy weather. Luckily, some of the earlier sets were on covered stages, with Calva Louise kicking things off at E2 and Westside Cowboy packing out the tent at the Petr Svoboda Stage.
Even though people were slipping in the mud, fans showed up and showed out for Saturday afternoon. The merch hangar was packed, lines at the food stalls were long, and rock fans camped at the Rock for People Stage for most of the day while the pop girlies showed up for Alessi Rose on the Mastercard Stage.
The highlight of the day for us was Don Broco’s set on the Mastercard Stage. Their danceable yet heavy songs were the perfect salute to the emerging sun. Frontman Rob Damiani succeeded in getting people to shed their rain gear and get moving, hyping fans up for the evening to come.
Sadly, blackbear had cancelled his Saturday appearance just after the start of the festival, but Swiss alt rock band Comastatic stepped in at the E2 Stage at the last minute. Having had opening slots for other bands in Prague twice over the last year and having played Prague Music Week, they’re already loved by Czech fans. While we were sad to miss blackbear, we can’t deny that Comastatic was a great replacement.
And then came the headliner not only of Saturday but of the entire festival: Halsey. She was a controversial choice for the headlining slot of a traditionally heavy festival, but Halsey clearly took this to heart and made the set her own. After performing a few hits from Badlands amid impressive stage production, she told the crowd about the connection she forged with the Czech Republic while working on her album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power with Nine Inch Nails.
She then acknowledged the controversy around her appearance at the festival: “I know some of you were confused to see my name on the lineup, but by the end of this set, I’m going to make sure you’re not confused anymore.” Her performance consisted mostly of heavier versions of her hits, and we felt very privileged to have witnessed this set that was very clearly tailored to this specific festival’s demographic.
Halsey is also known to be a mosh pit lover, having been seen in pits for The Story So Far and other similar bands. “I saw what you guys did for Bring Me The Horizon last night,” she said before demanding the audience open up the biggest circle pit the festival had seen thus far. The crowd obliged, and we were absolutely floored. We knew Halsey could do heavy, but the way she screamed and the circle pit that opened exceeded our expectations, making this one of the best sets of the entire festival.
And of course, it was Saturday: the party must go on. Within Temptation put on a show at the Rock for People Stage shortly after Halsey finished, with frontwoman Sharon Den Adel carrying a Ukrainian flag onto the stage, followed by electronic rock duo ALT BLK ERA’s set on the Petr Svoboda Stage.
Both electro and emo afterparties raged late into the night on Saturday despite the rain and the mud, making for a perfect last festival day for those not staying for the special Iron Maiden show.
1/16
Sunday got off to a late start, thanks to both the late-night afterparties on Saturday and the mass exodus of many fans who had to get back to work on Monday. The day started off with The Molotovs shortly after 1pm on the E2 Stage, and even then there was a fan lying on the floor a few feet away from the crowd, finding the perfect balance between enjoying the music and getting some rest.
Loathe picked things up on the Mastercard Stage, and by the time Knocked Loose took the Rock for People Stage mid-afternoon, the crowd was starting to fill up again. The band demanded crowd surfing and circle pits, and fans were happy to oblige.
The festival grounds were soon packed with a very different type of crowd than we had seen for the last 4 days. Fans of all ages decked out in Iron Maiden gear roamed the grounds, watching legendary bands like Saxon and Alter Bridge before making a mad dash for food and beer and camping out until Iron Maiden.
For those who didn’t want to camp at the barricade, Germany’s Vianova put on an incredible and cheeky show at ČT Art before The Hara, replacing Alexisonfire after their last-minute cancellation, took the E2 Stage.
Finally, it was time for Iron Maiden. Fans had been restlessly milling around the Mastercard Stage all day waiting for this moment. The heavy metal band may have started late, but they were soon forgiven by the crowd as their sound was absolutely immaculate. They put on a true show, with characters in costume chasing band members around the stage and their guitar solos ringing throughout the entire festival grounds. It was a perfect cap to the perfect festival week.
1/19
The Food & Bev
Once again, Rock for People succeeded in providing festivalgoers with a wide range of food options for all tastes. From Indian and Mongolian food to burgers, stone oven-baked pizza, and langoš, fans wanted for nothing during the festival. Our favorites in particular were Pizza Buona and the Indian street food stand that served vegetarian and vegan options.
Rock for People did away with the Veggie Zone from last year, in which all the vegan and vegetarian options were grouped together in one area. That meant that this year, you had to search a little harder for veggie and vegan options, but once you found them, you were not disappointed.
The festival also brought back the festival store, although this year it was not sponsored by Tesco so the offerings were noticeably less varied. Still, fresh pastries, fruit, bread, sandwich ingredients, and pre-made sandwiches and salads were available for purchase at a lower price than you could get at the food stands, offering a cheaper alternative for fans not wanting to spend an arm and a leg eating out all the time.
There were also plenty of drink zones where festivalgoers could refresh themselves. The Budvar Craft Beer Stage hangar was back, offering rotating taps of craft beer alongside a non-alcoholic option. The Hospoda Clock beer hangar was also present, along with tents for craft beer bands Rampusak, Madcat, and many, many more.
The Heineken zone not only offered their famous beer, but also beanbag chairs and a large screen where fans could chill out and watch sports for a while, while the neighboring Finlandia Vodka tent offered lawn chairs and umbrellas. Jack Daniels also had a zone where fans could relax, play some instruments, and take photos. For non-alcoholic options, Kofola tents were placed around the premises.
1/9
The Activities
As always, Rock for People also offered many activities to keep fans entertained throughout the day. The NOTINO Makeup Atelier was a hit with those wanting to get their festival hair and makeup done, while the Playstation hangar returned allowing fans to chill out, drink some Red Bull, and play their favorite PS5 titles while they waited for their favorite bands.
The Fashion Arena was also back with plenty of workshops and fashion shows focusing on up-and-coming designers and sustainable style. The beloved signing tent was set up near the Mastercard Stage, with announcements about surprise signings and meet-and-greet competitions coming through the RFP 2026 app each day.
Some of the smaller stages also showed documentaries and held discussions on a number of different topics each day, while the Karaoke Stage was alive and well in the camp just outside the entrance for fans who wanted to take the stage themselves.
1/8
Rock for People’s 31st edition once again exceeded our expectations. Even though the weather was less than ideal, fans were still as energetic and eager as ever to see their favorite bands. The music was a diverse lineup that catered to all tastes and it brought some unforgettable moments, from the circle pit at the Halsey show to the electrifying performance of Bring Me the Horizon and everything in between.
Our shoes and rain jackets might be ruined, but it was worth it for 5 days of nonstop music, energy, laughs, and memories we’ll keep looking back on while we look forward to next year’s edition of Central Europe’s biggest (and in our opinion, best) music festival.
Follow Rock for People: Website // Facebook // X // Instagram // YouTube
