Judas Priest Documentary to Premiere at 2026 Hot Docs Festival

The film chronicles the band's five-decade career and features interviews with the band and other rock icons.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 2:00am

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The new Judas Priest documentary, "The Ballad of Judas Priest," is set to have its Canadian premiere at the 2026 Hot Docs Festival in Toronto. The film, co-directed by Sam Dunn and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, includes interviews with the band and previously unpublished footage from their personal archives, as well as appearances from fellow rockers Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Jack Black.

Why it matters

Judas Priest is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of heavy metal music, and this documentary promises to provide an in-depth look at the band's influential career and impact on the genre. The Hot Docs Festival is a prestigious platform for the film's Canadian debut, further highlighting the cultural significance of Judas Priest's story.

The details

The film had its world premiere in February at the Berlin International Film Festival, with Morello, Dunn, and Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford in attendance. The first clip of the film was shared on YouTube ahead of the Berlin premiere. Morello has described Judas Priest as "culturally really the creators of heavy metal, co-creators of it musically with Black Sabbath."

  • The film had its world premiere in February at the Berlin International Film Festival.
  • The Hot Docs Festival will be held in Toronto from April 23 to May 3, 2026.

The players

Judas Priest

A British heavy metal band that is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the genre.

Tom Morello

The guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, who co-directed the Judas Priest documentary.

Sam Dunn

The co-director of the Judas Priest documentary.

Rob Halford

The frontman of Judas Priest, who attended the world premiere of the documentary in Berlin.

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What they’re saying

“Heavy metal music is the music that made me love music, and Judas Priest are culturally really the creators of heavy metal, co-creators of it musically with Black Sabbath. But as far as a cultural force, creating a community that is metal, that is Judas Priest.”

— Tom Morello, Rage Against the Machine guitarist

What’s next

The Judas Priest documentary, "The Ballad of Judas Priest," will have its Canadian premiere at the 2026 Hot Docs Festival in Toronto from April 23 to May 3.

The takeaway

This documentary promises to provide an in-depth and authoritative look at the influential career and cultural impact of Judas Priest, one of the pioneering bands of the heavy metal genre. The film's premiere at the prestigious Hot Docs Festival further underscores the band's enduring significance in the world of music.