Race to the Wacken Mud Festival's finishing line
The Wacken Open Air Heavy Metal Festival, held in Schleswig-Holstein's Wacken, braved challenging weather conditions in 2025, with up to 39.3 liters of rain per square meter at the start. Despite the muddy conditions, the event was officially sold out with 85,000 fans.
In 2025, the festival featured major metal bands such as Guns N' Roses, Machine Head, Mastodon, and many more, along with finalists of the Metal Battle competition. Notable performances included the longest concert in the festival's history by Guns N' Roses, lasting three hours.
The organisers took measures to stabilise the surfaces, bringing in 3,500 cubic meters of wood chips. Large parts of the area turned into mud and sludge, but the traffic concept worked well, and the arrival was relaxed, according to event director Daniel Schlatter. For the departure of the fans, 30 tractors were ready, but self-help efforts of the fans were relied upon to avoid further damaging the fields.
A total of 150 fans were taken to a hospital, according to the rescue service director Volker Böhm. However, the number of recorded offenses decreased compared to 2024, from 86 to 68. The rescue service reported 10 to 15 percent fewer deployments than in the previous year.
Notable performances included the drone show on Saturday night, held in memory of Ozzy Osbourne. The show featured the Osbourne song "Mama, I'm Coming Home" and then the Black Sabbath number "Paranoid". Metal queen Doro Pesch also had a guest appearance with Dirkschneider.
Looking ahead to 2026, the first 35 acts have been announced, with headliners like Def Leppard, In Flames, Powerwolf, and Savatage confirmed. Other notable bands include Nevermore, Emperor, Sepultura (in their last German festival show), Lamb of God, The Gathering (exclusive German appearance), and several tribute and special performance sets such as Blood Fire Death (a Bathory tribute). The festival will run from July 29 to August 1, 2026.
Ticket prices for the coming year will increase from 333 to 349 euros. Those who secure one of the first 10,000 tickets on-site will have the 16 euro price increase credited for food.
In summary, the Wacken Open Air Heavy Metal Festival in 2025 and 2026 promises to be a metal extravaganza, with a diverse lineup of bands and a commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for fans, despite the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions.
Fans seeking entertainment beyond music might be interested in exploring sports-betting opportunities, as the thrill of such activities could add an additional layer to the excitement of witnessing their favorite metal bands like Def Leppard and Machine Head live at the Wacken Open Air Heavy Metal Festival. Sports enthusiasts could further engage with the event ambience by enjoying a game of football or other sports during breaks in the concert schedule.
