Inline image


Germany’s colossal metal gathering, Wacken Open Air 2026, continues to unveil new names for its 2026 edition. In the latest wave of announcements shared by the festival organizers, a wide spectrum of artists has been added to the bill, ranging from black metal acts and rock bands to DJ performances and Metal Battle contenders.

Leading the newly announced additions is Norwegian black metal outfit Vreid. Known for their dark atmosphere and crushing riff work, the band looks set to further reinforce the festival’s extreme metal backbone. Another notable addition to the roster is the Thomas Nicholas Band. Fronted by Thomas Ian Nicholas — widely recognized for his role in the American Pie series — the group is preparing to bring an energetic performance to the Holy Ground stage.

The festival’s traditional entertainment side has not been overlooked either. Mambo Kurt’s late-night show, now considered one of the classic staples for Wacken regulars, has once again been added to the program, while Hamburg-based Ballroom DJ Team and Cowgirls From Hell, carrying strong British heavy metal influences, are also among the names set to ignite the festival atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the first ten bands competing in the festival’s international Metal Battle competition have also been revealed. Acts from across the globe — including Force from Chile, Midhaven from India, Given By The Flames from Japan, and Goodnight Greatness from Sweden — will have the opportunity to showcase themselves on the Wacken stage.

The festival organization has also confirmed that President and Nothing More will not be part of this year’s program.

As one of the biggest open-air festivals in the metal world, Wacken Open Air appears poised to continue unveiling new additions to its line-up in the coming months.

www.wacken.com