Thirty-five acts have been unveiled ahead of ticket sales
Producers of Wacken Open Air (WOA) have announced the first details for next year’s 35th anniversary celebration. Def Leppard, In Flames, Powerwolf, and Savatage are among the performers for the 2026 edition, taking place from July 29th through August 1, 2026, in Wacken, a small municipality in northern Germany.
As of press time, 35 bands have been announced for 2026. Additional acts include Any Given Day, Europe, Lamb of God, Sepultura’s final Germany festival show, with Blood Fire Death and The Gathering performing their only German shows in 2026.
Presales start on Sunday, August 3rd at 8 pm local time via Metaltix.
Wacken is one of the biggest heavy metal music festivals in the world. Wacken is known for its unique community and cultural experience. It’s more than just music. It’s a place where fans from different backgrounds come together. The festival also supports a charitable organization, the Wacken Foundation, which helps up-and-coming bands in the metal and hard rock scene.
The festival began in 1990 as a small local event with about 800 attendees. It has since grown into a massive international event, attracting tens of thousands of “metalheads” from around the globe.
The festival grounds cover almost 600 acres with multiple stages. It is a temporary “metal mecca” that effectively transforms the small village of Wacken into a massive city of music fans.
To handle the massive crowds, the festival has a significant infrastructure, including a famous “beer pipeline” that ensures the drinks keep flowing.
