Thirty-five Music Acts Celebrating Their 35-year Anniversary Milestone - Thirty-five books to commemorate thirty-five years of service
The much-anticipated Wacken Open Air 2026 is gearing up for an unforgettable edition, marking its 35th anniversary and promising a mix of legendary bands, exclusive appearances, and tribute sets. Scheduled from July 29 to August 1, 2026, in Wacken, Germany, the festival is set to attract over 85,000 metalheads from around the world.
Ticket sales for this momentous occasion have already begun, with regular tickets priced at €349. The presale started on August 3, 2025, at 8:00 PM local time, available via Metaltix.com. Notably, there are no single-day passes or VIP upgrades available, continuing the festival's policy for over two decades.
The lineup for Wacken Open Air 2026 is nothing short of spectacular. Headliners include Def Leppard, making their festival debut, along with Lamb of God, In Flames, Powerwolf, Savatage, and Sepultura, who will be playing their final show in Germany. Other confirmed acts include Running Wild (for their final German festival appearance), The Gathering (exclusive German appearance), Tryptikon (special best-of set with world premieres), and a Bathory tribute act called Blood Fire Death, among others.
The 2025 edition of the festival was also a resounding success, despite logistical challenges and weather fluctuations. The smooth operation was praised by NDR, with over 200 bands performing on nine stages at a sold-out venue in Schleswig-Holstein. A large model of an Ariane-6 carrier rocket by ESA was present at the festival grounds, adding to the space-themed celebration.
International acts like Guns N' Roses, Machine Head, Gojira, Within Temptation, Papa Roach, Saltatio Mortis, and BAP were among the performers at the 2025 event. Astronaut Alexander Gerst (49) and astronaut Rabea Rogge shared their space-related experiences, further enhancing the space theme.
Since its inception in 1990, Wacken Open Air has grown exponentially, with the number of attendees increasing from 800 to 85,000. The festival has become a significant event in the metal festival calendar, attracting metalheads from all corners of the globe.
Organizers and authorities have praised the event as a success, highlighting the enthusiasm of the fans and the perseverance of attendees who navigated challenging conditions. The 2025 edition was particularly special, as it marked the first time the festival was held as a digital event, known as "Wacken World Wide," due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the long-standing tradition, there was no regular in-person festival in 2020. However, the anticipation for the 2026 edition is palpable, with more band announcements expected as the event approaches. With such a stellar lineup and a space-themed celebration, Wacken Open Air 2026 is shaping up to be an unforgettable experience for metalheads worldwide.
[1] Metaltix.com [2] wacken.com [3] NDR [4] Blood Fire Death
- Following the success of the Wacken Open Air 2026 lineup announcement, metal fans might find the music from these bands on Metaltix.com, the official ticket sale platform for the festival.
- As a tribute to the Swedish heavy metal band Bathory, Blood Fire Death could be one of the entertainment acts performing at Wacken Open Air 2026, which is set to take place from July 29 to August 1, 2026, in Wacken, Germany.
