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King of the Monsters 2026: the hardcore punk festival in Mesa, Arizona

Held at the Rosetta Room, an intimate venue in Mesa, Arizona, King of the Monsters has established itself as an essential gathering for the hardcore punk and extreme metal scene in the United States. This festival showcases the most radical forms of punk and metal, attracting a passionate community of extreme music fans for two days of intensive concerts.

The 2026 edition brings together 12 artists led by legends of the genre. Headlining, Dropdead embodies pure powerviolence, while Portraits Of Past explores emoviolence territories. febuary and I Prevail complete the lineup with their modern approach to alternative metal.

The programming explores all facets of hardcore and extreme metal, from crust punk and d-beat carried by Violencia to the screamo and post-hardcore of Reversal of Man. Fans of thrashcore and metalcore will also find what they're looking for with Dry Socket and several discoveries to watch.

On May 22-23, 2026, Mesa becomes the epicenter of American hardcore. An essential event for extreme music lovers seeking authenticity and raw intensity.