Rock Icons Def Leppard and Powerwolf Perform at Wacken Open Air Festival in 2026 - Gigantic 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival, Featuring Def Leppard and Powerwolf
Wacken Open Air 2026: A Rain-Soaked Celebration of Metal
The small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, is gearing up for its 35th annual Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) festival. Scheduled from July 29 to August 1, 2026, this year's event promises a diverse lineup of 35 bands, including Def Leppard, In Flames, Powerwolf, Savatage, and Sepultura, who will bid farewell to their German fans [1][2][3].
In the face of challenging conditions, metalheads have shown their resilience, embracing the "rain or shine" motto and continuing to party. The festival was affected by heavy rain and mud, with up to 39.3 cubic meters per square meter on the first day [4]. Organizer Thomas Jensen praised the fans for their unwavering spirit.
Ticket prices for W:O:A 2026 are yet to be confirmed, but early purchase is advised given the high demand. The presale for tickets began on August 3, 2025, through official channels like metaltix.com and the festival’s website [1][2][4]. The first 10,000 tickets for the event are available only on the festival grounds. The official sale of the remaining tickets begins on Sunday at 8:00 PM [4].
Apart from the music, the festival grounds are being prepared meticulously. To stabilize the site, a total of 3,500 cubic meters of wood chips have been brought in [4]. For the ongoing departure of fans, 30 tractors are available, but organizers encourage self-help to minimize further damage to the fields.
The festival's founder and organizer, Holger Hübner, described the week as "unbelievable, awesome, epic" and thanked the fans [4]. British rock band Def Leppard, German band Running Wild, and metal queen Doro Pesch are among the acts set to perform at the event. Other bands scheduled to perform include Papa Roach, Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Apocalyptica, BAP, and guitarist Michael Schenker [4].
Sepultura will play their final German show at W:O:A 2026, while Powerwolf, In Flames, Savatage, and the H-Blockx are also on the bill [3]. As the festival approaches, fans are encouraged to plan for rain and uneven terrain, reflecting the festival's commitment to preparedness for weather fluctuations typical of the region at that time of year [4].
[1] metaltix.com [2] wacken.com [3] blabbermouth.net [4] loudersound.com
- The European Parliament and the Council may find it interesting to note the resilience displayed by attendees at the Wacken Open Air festival, who, despite harsh weather conditions, continued to enjoy the music and entertainment on offer, such as Def Leppard's performance.
- On the sidelines of the Wacken Open Air 2026, metalheads could also engage in music-themed entertainment, like impromptu jam sessions or music quizzes, to make the rain-soaked celebration even more memorable.
