Wacken's Mud Festival nears its climax in the final sprint of the music festival
Wacken Open Air 2025: A Successful and Memorable Festival
The 2025 Wacken Open Air heavy metal festival, held from July 29 to August 2 in Wacken, Germany, was a resounding success, attracting over 85,000 metalheads and offering an extensive and diverse lineup of performances.
The festival kicked off amidst heavy rain, transforming large parts of the area into mud and sludge. However, event director Daniel Schlatter stated that the arrival was relaxed, and they were well-equipped to handle such conditions.
Organizers brought in 3,500 cubic meters of wood chips to stabilize the surfaces, ensuring the festival could continue despite the muddy conditions. The performances were widely praised for their energy and variety, offering something for fans of alternative metal, black metal, power metal, and more.
Headliners for the 2025 event included Guns N' Roses, who offered a three-hour concert, the longest in the festival's history. The performance sparked different reactions, with organizer Holger Hübner stating "we were happy" and Jensen noting that it depends on the viewer's perspective.
A poignant moment came during the tribute to the late rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in 2021. A drone show featured the projections "Ozzy we love you", the Osbourne song "Mama, I'm Coming Home", and the Black Sabbath number "Paranoid".
In addition to Guns N' Roses, the lineup featured a host of other bands, including Papa Roach, Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Apocalyptica, BAP, and Michael Schenker. Doro Pesch also made a guest appearance with Dirkschneider during the festival.
The festival's organizers are known for their strong environmental initiatives and efficient clean-up operations. However, information on the post-festival clean-up efforts for 2025 is not available at this time.
Despite the increase in attendance, there was a slight increase in around 150 cases of other incidents, including confused people. The rescue service reported 10 to 15 percent fewer deployments than in 2024, with around 2,800 people cared for and 150 fans taken to a hospital.
From the police's point of view, the deployment was successful, with a decrease in recorded offenses from 86 in 2024 to 68.
For those who secured one of the first 10,000 tickets on-site, there was a benefit: the 16-euro price increase for food was credited. Ticket prices for the 2026 event are yet to be announced, but there will be a slight increase from 333 to 349 euros.
As the festival wraps up, fans can look back on a memorable event filled with energy, variety, and tributes to the legends of heavy metal. The organizers will announce the lineup for the 2026 event in the evening of 8:30 PM.
Fans were able to enjoy a range of entertainment options apart from music, as the 2025 Wacken Open Air festival featured various sports events, adding another layer to the overall experience. The transport system, designed to accommodate the large crowd, ensured an efficient and smooth flow for visitors, enriching their festival journey with comfort.
