Rockstadt Extreme Fest 2026
The twelfth edition of REF brought many changes. Last year, much to the audience’s disappointment, the festival decided to move to Ghimbav, a place not far from Brașov. Many were skeptical about how it would all turn out. Many gave up on attending the festival further. The author of this text also had quite a few doubts about how everything would look in its new form.
The organizers didn’t reveal much about the preparations. Only a few weeks before the festival did selected clips start circulating, showing the beginning and progress of the work. That was actually the first time we got to see how everything would look. Old and loyal fans had mixed reactions and doubts about the festival’s quality. Mostly, people said that the environment in Râșnov simply couldn’t be replaced. That is true, as it’s really a beautiful place. However, a festival of this scale needs to grow, and Râșnov isn’t a place that can provide everything such a festival requires.
As usual, I arrived in Brașov a day earlier. Rest before the five-day festival is necessary, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone to go straight from the car into the festival. My route took me through Timișoara and, this time, I decided to visit Alba Iulia and Sighișoara. Romania really has a lot to show tourists, so my recommendation is to also check out some of the many spots that are accessible along the way or nearby. It’s a bit tiring, but you won’t regret it, and it’s another bonus to the festival.
When you’re already in Brașov or some other nearby place, it’s relatively easy to get to the festival. Much easier than in previous years. The city bus lines go to the Municipal station, from where two lines go to Ghimbav. From the station in Ghimbav, there’s a 500m easy walk to the festival. Another option is Bolt, Uber, or other carriers. I’ve used this transport a few times, and on average, the price to Brașov was €10. On the way back, the organizers arranged for a bus to depart every 3-5 minutes to the Municipal station, from where you can catch further transport. Kudos to the organizers because everything works flawlessly, and I happily used all types of transport.
The first time I entered the festival, I was in disbelief at how big everything is now and how much space there is. I quickly handled the formalities at the entrance. The organizers are really excellent regarding that part, and there are no queues at the festival entrance. After getting the wristband, I headed to the place to top up the payment chip. Throughout the entire festival, around ten top up points were working, and I didn’t see any huge queues. Maybe you will have to wait a little, but everything moves quickly. The staff really deserve praise. They’re always friendly and smiling, just like all the employees at the festival, even though they’re on their feet all day and working hard.
This time, the food and drink stands were set up on the borders of the festival area. The layout was evenly done, so everyone could get food or drinks without big queues. The bars were quite far from the stages, which avoided the problem from previous years when crowds would form in front of the bar. Back then people who were watching the band were mixed with the others who were waiting for food or drink. Passing through was out of the question back then, and now it’s much easier.
Many people wondered if there would be mud. The organizers placed protection on the critical parts, so there was no mud or holes. In front of the stages, there was a 25-meter belt of modular panels to walk on. I have to admit, a very interesting solution. Of course, most of the festival area itself was either dirt or gravel, which they spread before the festival. There were some oversights there, though, as the construction companies didn’t perfectly level the spread surfaces, so in some areas you could walk on larger stones or trip over some bigger pieces. There’s definitely room for improvement, especially if there’s heavier rain in the coming years.
From what I could estimate with my friends, there were roughly 20,000 people per day at the festival. That’s significantly more than in previous years, where the maximum attendance in a single day was, I think, around 15,000 people. Many visitors like to hang out under the tents, waiting for their favorite band or grabbing some food from the offerings. The most seating places was in front of the third stage (Andrei Calmuc Stage). There, pretty much all the seats were taken most of the day because it has a lot of shade and the most spots. In other locations, people moved around to find cover from the sun and heat. They often set on the ground. The covers at the main location (near the Adrian Rugina and Brasov stages) were more like tent canopies, so the sun came in from all sides, and it’s questionable how effective this kind of shelter would be in case of rain.
The sound and performances were perfect. The lighting was just right. The audience had the chance to enjoy top-notch musical performances suited for everyone’s taste. Several times I sat at the back and could hear everything on stage perfectly. More often, I was in the front rows and didn’t need to wear earplugs or deal with ringing in my ears afterward. Simply put, this year the technical side of the festival was taken to a higher level. There were some overlaps with performances on two stages, but only when there was a break between songs on one or when you were in a spot that was equally distant. In any case, with this year’s experience, I’m sure next time the situation will be better.
What we have to emphasize is that any move to a new „home“ comes with its challenges. Also, we’ve learned that the organizers are very aware of the criticisms directed at them. Every edition at the old location had some complaints, and the organizers always tried to fix them. We can’t wait for the next edition to se those improvements. Support from the city of Ghimbav, as far as I’ve seen, is not lacking, so there will surely be many improvements in the coming years.
I have a lot of respect for the organizers of this festival. Also, for the audience who supports and attends this festival in such great numbers. Lots of smiling and friendly faces, many new friendships, and wonderful moments make this festival special. The festival isn’t just about the music, the atmosphere, the drinks, or the food—it’s about the people you spend time with at the festival and the new friendships you get there. That’s why I gladly return every year. See you again at Rockstadt Fest!
Review and photos: Igor Dešić
Translated from Serbian using Microsoft Translate.