Race to the Muddy Spectacle at Wacken Mud Festival
Wacken Open Air 2025: A Successful Edition Celebrating Heavy Metal
The small village of Wacken, Germany, was transformed into a heavy metal haven last week as the Wacken Open Air festival took place from Wednesday to Sunday, attracting 85,000 fans from around the world. Despite the heavy rain that turned large parts of the area into mud and sludge, the festival was a resounding success.
The event kicked off with a heartfelt tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who was unable to attend due to health reasons. A drone show was held on the night before Saturday, with the projection "Ozzy we love you" displayed over the main stages, accompanied by Osbourne's song "Mama, I'm Coming Home" and Black Sabbath's "Paranoid."
The festival was officially sold out, with fans flocking to see headliners like Guns N' Roses, who offered the longest concert in the history of the festival, lasting three hours. Other notable performances included Def Leppard, making their first appearance at Wacken Open Air, and Metal queen Doro Pesch's guest appearance with Dirkschneider.
Bands like In Flames, Powerwolf, Savatage, Nevermore, Lamb of God, Emperor, Sepultura, The Gathering, Europe, Airbourne, Any Given Day, Blood Command, Blood Fire Death (a tribute to Bathory), Broken by the Scream, Einherjer, Faun, Future Palace, Gutalax, Grand Magus, Insanity Alert, H-Blockx, Kupfergold, Luna Kills, Mantar, Orbit Culture, Paleface Swiss, Pig Destroyer, Running Wild, Ten56, The Hardkiss, Thundermother, Thrown, Tryptikon, and Allt also graced the stages.
The traffic concept worked well, despite the muddy conditions, and around 1,000 helpers, including 700 volunteers, ensured the smooth running of the festival. The rescue service reported 10 to 15 percent fewer deployments than in 2024, with only around 2,800 people treated during the festival, and 150 fans being taken to a hospital.
The head of the Itzehoe police directorate, Frank Matthiesen, stated that the deployment was successful, and Volker Böhm, the rescue service director, noted that when the rain came on Wednesday, no one was worried anymore, thanks to the effective measures taken by the organizers.
Organizers brought in 3,500 cubic meters of wood chips to stabilize the surfaces, and the number of recorded offenses decreased compared to the previous year, from 86 to 68. Jensen, the festival's organizer, confirmed that they have time when asked about Metallica as the potential successor for the 2026 festival.
Ticket prices for next year's festival will increase from 333 to 349 euros, but those who secure one of the first 10,000 tickets on-site will have the 16 euro price increase for food credited. The successor for the 2026 festival will be announced at 10:30 PM.
The Wacken Open Air 2026 music festival, celebrating its 35th anniversary from July 29 to August 1, will feature major acts such as Def Leppard, In Flames, Powerwolf, Savatage, Nevermore (returning for a rare reunion), Lamb of God, Emperor, and Sepultura (performing their final show in Germany). More bands will be announced later.
[1] Wacken Open Air Official Website [2] Wacken Open Air News [3] Metal Hammer [4] Blabbermouth.net [5] Loudwire
Fans seeking a diverse range of entertainment beyond heavy metal might find sports events at the Wacken Sports Arena, located nearby. (1) After a day of headbanging, one could engage in friendly sports competitions or watch professional matches, further enhancing the festival experience. (2) With the success of Wacken Open Air 2025, organizers could consider incorporating sports events into the festival program in future editions, catering to the interests of a broader audience.
