Heated preparations for the Mud Festival in Wacken are underway
The Wacken Open Air heavy metal festival, currently underway and officially sold out with 85,000 fans, has been a successful event so far. According to event director Daniel Schlatter, the arrival of the fans was relaxed. However, the festival was affected by heavy rain, resulting in up to 39.3 liters of rain per square meter, turning large parts of the festival area into mud and slime.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, the organisers have managed to maintain a safe environment. The number of recorded offenses by the police has decreased compared to 2024, from 86 to 68. The rescue service also reported 10 to 15 percent fewer deployments than in 2024. However, around 150 cases of other incidents, including confused people, were reported, with an increase in their number.
As for the lineup for this year, the organisers have kept it under wraps. Similarly, for Wacken Open Air 2025, no specific headliners have been announced yet. However, for 2026, the ticket prices will increase from the current €333 to €349, but the first 10,000 tickets purchased on-site will have the price increase for consumption credited.
In terms of the 2025 festival, standard full festival tickets are priced around €333 including all fees, granting access from July 30 to August 2, 2025, plus camping from July 27 to August 3, 2025. Various ticket packages including accommodations are also available.
The organisers have not yet announced the lineup for 2026, but they have stated that they have time to do so. Guns N' Roses, the headliners for this year's festival, offered the longest concert in the history of the festival, lasting three hours. Other bands performing at the festival included Papa Roach, Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Apocalyptica, BAP, Michael Schenker, and Doro Pesch had a guest appearance with Dirkschneider.
In a touching tribute, the organisers paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died on July 22 at the age of 76, with a drone show and a performance of his songs "Mama, I'm Coming Home" and "Paranoid" at the Wacken Open Air heavy metal festival.
For the departure of the fans, 30 tractors were ready, but the organisers rely on the self-help forces of the fans. The organisers have not specified which bands will be performing in 2026.
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Next year, fans planning to attend the Wacken Open Air festival can expect to apply for tickets around the same time as in 2025. To make the event more enjoyable, organizers are considering offering a wider variety of entertainment options, including music, sports, and possibly weather forecasts for festival-goers.
