Overview

• Over 85,000 metal fans attended the 34th Wacken Open Air, with Deutsche Telekom providing a free live stream of multiple stages.
• Persistent rain turned camping zones into deep mud, prompting hundreds of tractor-assisted vehicle recoveries during departure.
• A 200-meter test of Moorgras mats is under review to assess natural materials for future ground stabilization.
• Less than 24 hours after the festival ended, organizers unveiled Def Leppard, In Flames, Powerwolf and other acts as headliners for Wacken 2026.
• Attendee reactions were mixed, with many lauding infrastructure upgrades and the ‘Rain or Shine’ ethos while others criticized mud conditions, prices and sound quality.