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WACKEN OPEN AIR 2026 Is Officially Sold Out
Wacken Open Air 2026 has officially sold out, with all 85,000 tickets snapped up for the festival's 35th anniversary edition, taking place from 29 July to 1 August in northern Germany. Festival founders Thomas Jensen and Holger Hübner expressed gratitude to fans and said preparations were continuing at full pace ahead of what they billed as a milestone celebration for the metal community. The sell-out underlines Wacken's enduring status as the world's biggest festival of its kind, having grown from an audience of fewer than 800 people at its first edition in 1990.
This year's headliners include Judas Priest, Sabaton, Def Leppard and Powerwolf, with arrivals beginning on 26 July and the main Infield Opening on 29 July. Around 30% of attendees travel from abroad, and organisers have confirmed an extensive supporting programme across the Welcome To The Jungle stage, Wasteland and Wackinger Village, featuring podcasts, book presentations, panel discussions, sword-fighting demonstrations and a kids' safe zone. Fans with unusable tickets are being directed to the official resale platform, while the festival, which paused for two years during the coronavirus pandemic, typically sells out within hours of tickets going on sale without pre-announcing headliners.
In short
- Wacken Open Air 2026 sells out all 85,000 tickets
- 35th anniversary festival runs 29 July–1 August in Germany
- Headliners: Judas Priest, Sabaton, Def Leppard, Powerwolf
Explained simply
Wacken Open Air is one of the world's largest heavy metal festivals, held annually in northern Germany. Beginning in 1990 with fewer than 800 attendees, it has grown into a major gathering that now attracts around 85,000 people each year from across the globe.
The festival has become a defining fixture in the heavy metal community, renowned for how quickly its tickets sell out each year. This year's edition marks the festival's 35th anniversary and will feature performances from major acts within the genre, alongside extensive entertainment beyond live music.
Approximately 30% of attendees travel from overseas, reflecting Wacken's significance as a key event on the international touring calendar. The festival suspended operations during the coronavirus pandemic but has since returned to its position as one of the metal community's most important annual gatherings.