Last-minute preparations for the Mud Festival in Wacken
The Wacken Open Air festival, set to celebrate its 35th anniversary next year, has announced its first 35 bands for the event scheduled from July 2 to August 1, 2026, in Wacken, Germany. Among the key headliners confirmed so far are Def Leppard, In Flames, Powerwolf, Savatage, Nevermore, Lamb of God, and Sepultura, who will be performing their final German festival show.
Other notable performers include Emperor, Running Wild, The Gathering (exclusive German appearance), Tryptikon (special best-of set with world premieres), and Blood Fire Death (Bathory tribute, Germany exclusive). The initial announcement comprises 35 bands, with more to be revealed later.
Tickets for the 2026 event went on presale starting August 3, 2025, available via Metaltix.com and the official Wacken website. In line with festival policy, no single-day or VIP passes will be offered. Those who secure one of the first 10,000 cards on-site will have the 16 euro price increase for consumption credited.
The upcoming festival marks a significant milestone, with ticket prices increasing from 333 to 349 euros. Despite the price hike, festival founder and organizer Thomas Jensen expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I was very enthusiastic."
The 2025 edition of the festival faced heavy rain, turning large parts of the festival area into mud and slush. Organizer Holger Hübner commented, "we were happy," despite around 2,800 people being cared for by the rescue service, and 150 fans being taken to a hospital.
To pay tribute to the late rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, the organizers put on a drone show, projecting "Ozzy we love you" over the main stages and showing parallel images of Osbourne on the large screens. Metal queen Doro Pesch had a guest appearance with Dirkschneider.
The festival's atmosphere was praised by Jensen, who commended the metal fans for creating a great atmosphere in the mud and slush. Notable performers at the 2025 event included Papa Roach, Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Apocalyptica, BAP, Michael Schenker, and Doro Pesch.
Guns N' Roses were the headliners in Wacken and offered the longest concert in the festival's history at three hours. The Wacken Open Air was officially sold out with 85,000 fans.
To mitigate the impact on the fields, 3,500 cubic meters of wood chips were brought in to stabilize the areas. For the departure of the fans, 30 tractors were ready, but self-help forces of the fans were relied upon to avoid further damaging the fields.
Around 150 cases of other incidents, including confused people, increased during the festival. However, the number of recorded offenses by the police decreased compared to 2024, from 86 to 68.
As the countdown to the 35th anniversary of the Wacken Open Air festival begins, fans are eagerly anticipating the announcements of more performers scheduled for 2026. The organizers will announce who will perform in 2026 in the evening (8:30 PM). Stay tuned for more updates!
In the spirit of celebrating various forms of entertainment, a diverse lineup of music, sports, and theater performances are expected to captivate attendees at the upcoming Wacken Open Air festival. Additionally, the weather forecast for the event in Wacken, Germany, from July 2 to August 1, 2026, will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the festival experience.
