The ruckus and commotion of Wacken 2025 have become a thing of the past
Wacken Open Air 2026: Early Bird Tickets Sold Out, Festival Theme Announced
The 35th edition of the Wacken Open Air, one of the world's largest and most renowned metal festivals, is set to return in 2026. The four-day event, which will take place in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, will feature a theme of "space" and promises an exciting lineup of performances.
Tickets for the early sale for returning customers, known as the Holy Ground Tickets, were made available and sold out immediately. These tickets cost 349 euros. The advance sales for the general public will start on Sunday evening.
Last year's festival, held in 2025, attracted around 85,000 metal fans from over 80 countries. The event ran smoothly despite logistical challenges and weather caprices, with the annual "Metal Battle" competition taking place and Expellow from Switzerland being crowned the winners.
The festival's central theme for 2026 will be a celebration of space exploration. Astronauts Alexander Gerst and Rabea Rogge will share their experiences, and a large model of an Ariane-6 launch vehicle from the ESA will be displayed.
The police, fire, and rescue services have agreed that Wacken 2026 is expected to be a quiet festival, following the success of the joint traffic concept and optimized arrival concept implemented in 2022. The number of crimes at the festival is also expected to decrease compared to previous years.
Since its inception in 1990, the Wacken Open Air has grown from 800 to 85,000 visitors. The festival's reputation as a pinnacle of metal festivals worldwide continues to grow, with international bands such as Guns N' Roses, Machine Head, Gojira, Within Temptation, Papa Roach, Saltatio Mortis, and BAP set to perform.
The 2026 edition of the festival is shaping up to be another unforgettable event for metal fans around the world. Stay tuned for more updates on the lineup and other exciting developments.
People attending Wacken Open Air 2026 can expect a diverse array of entertainment, including outdoor activities, festivals, and rock music performances. Aside from metal concerts, the event will also feature notable guests like astronauts Alexander Gerst and Rabea Rogge, who will share their experiences about space exploration.
