Major Heavy Metal Festival, Wacken Open Air 2026, to Feature Def Leppard and Powerwolf
In the heart of North Germany, the Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) festival is gearing up for another epic event in 2026. British rock legends Def Leppard will make their first appearance at this renowned metal extravaganza, joining a star-studded lineup that includes Papa Roach, Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Apocalyptica, BAP, and Michael Schenker.
Organizers announced the first bands for 2026 with a dramatic drone show and video messages from the musicians on large screens. The festival, which takes place from July 2 to August 1, will also feature acts such as Powerwolf, In Flames, Savatage, Sepultura, and H-Blockx.
Guns N' Roses, led by singer Axl Rose, headlined Wacken Open Air 2026 and performed the longest concert in the festival's history. Metal fans embraced the "Rain or shine" motto and continued to party despite the challenging weather conditions that the 2026 festival faced, with up to 39.3 liters of rain per square meter on the first day.
Def Leppard's performance at W:O:A 2026 marks a significant milestone in the band's career, but weather predictions, including sunshine, are unavailable. No guarantee of sunshine at any outdoor event can be made, and festival-goers are advised to prepare for all weather conditions.
Ticket prices for W:O:A 2026 will increase from 333 to 349 euros. The official sale of remaining tickets for the 2026 festival will begin on Sunday at 8:00 PM. The first 10,000 tickets are available only on the festival grounds.
Festival founder and organizer Holger Hübner expressed gratitude towards the fans, stating, "We had an incredible, amazing, epic week. Words can't describe it. Thank you." Organizers brought in 3,500 cubic meters of wood chips to stabilize the festival grounds, which is 600 more than the usual amount.
Metal queen Doro Pesch made a guest appearance with Dirkschneider at Wacken Open Air 2026, and German band Running Wild will return to Wacken Open Air in 2026, billed as "The Final Show." Thirty tractors are ready for the fans' departure from the Wacken Open Air festival, with organizers relying on fans' self-help efforts to minimize further damage to the fields.
All 85,000 tickets for W:O:A 2025 were sold out by the end of September 2024. Metal fans at the Wacken Open Air festival of 2026 are in for an unforgettable experience, with Def Leppard taking the stage alongside a diverse lineup of metal bands.
[1] Def Leppard to Headline Wacken Open Air 2026 [3] Def Leppard to Play Wacken Open Air 2026 [5] Wacken Open Air 2026 Ticket Prices
- Fans can look forward to Def Leppard's headlining performance at the Wacken Open Air 2026 festival, which will feature a diverse lineup of metal bands.
- Apart from the metal extravaganza, attendees of Wacken Open Air 2026 can also expect to enjoy a wide range of entertainment, including live music performances.
