Gig and Festival Reports

From Wacken to the world - 35 shows in 35 countries on 1 day, this is the global metal apocalypse

19/2/2026

"“On this day, it’s the other way around: the world welcomes Wacken — and together we celebrate a global heavy metal party.” -
Holger Hübner

On 18 April, 35 Wacken warm-up concerts will rock the globe! Almost 24 hours will pass between the first show in Japan and the last in Mexico – all of them fuelled by the best heavy metal music with celebrating fans coming together for this special event. A live experience carried by the legendary Wacken spirit.

The worldwide party is being organized by various promoters from the global community of the Wacken Metal Battle, the festival’s own band competition, which now includes 102 participating nations. Promoters from 35 of these countries have joined forces for the Wacken anniversary to celebrate the worldwide warm-up party. "The core idea is to bring the world together and unite it through what we love most: music! That’s what the Metal Battle community stands for, that’s what we stand for, and that’s what Wacken Open Air has represented since day one,” emphasizes festival founder Thomas Jensen.

In Germany, the warm-up will be celebrated at Hamburg’s Betty club starting at 8 p.m. The Boston-based band Lansdowne will bring their hook-driven, energetic rock to the Hanseatic city. The international event “One World One Stage” is being organized by Salman U. Syed, who is responsible for the Metal Battle at W:O:A and has been shaping the global networking of the scene for years. “The sense of unity within the metal scene is strong worldwide, and bands as well as promoters in the individual countries immediately threw themselves into setting a powerful sign of unity while celebrating 35 years of Wacken Open Air together with us!” The event in Hamburg on April 18 therefore seamlessly joins the global chain of parties. The event stands for unity, passion, and heavy metal without borders.

Tickets and further information about the warm-up parties are available here.

Additionally, impressions from the shows in all participating countries will be shared during the day via the social media channels of the Wacken Open Air. #oneworldonestage

Each country will present bands in a club selected by the local Metal Battle promoters. In Tokyo, for example, Phantom Excaliver will perform alongside three other Japanese bands. The musicians won the Wacken Metal Battle in 2023 and joyfully accepted their prize — after their singer briefly fainted. “The line-up at our warm-up party brings together the history, present, and future of the Japanese metal scene,” says Yutaro Shindo, Japan’s Metal Battle promoter.

Organizer Raúl Saavreda from Bogotá is also eagerly anticipating the event in his hometown: “Our warm-up party will be insane! With Tribute2Wacken, the first tribute band dedicated to a festival will perform — playing only songs devoted to the Wacken Open Air.” Additional tribute bands will perform highlights of British Heavy Metal. Saavreda is also the founder of Wacken Latinos, an association of Latin American fans who visit the Holy Ground in northern Germany every year. “A year without W:O:A is unimaginable for me,” he states. “When I first went there in 2019, Wacken changed my life. On the fields, I recharge my batteries — it’s a special time when I reunite with friends and fully devote myself to metal. The festival is my religion.”

Stjepan Juras from Zagreb confirms that most globally active promoters share similarly close ties to W:O:A. The respected music manager, author, and Iron Maiden expert represents Wacken Open Air and Metal Battle in his native Croatia, where he also organizes the warm-up party. “Wacken is not just a festival. The spirit and the community set it apart from other festivals. That’s also thanks to founders Thomas Jensen and Holger Hübner, who celebrate among their fans, maintain close contact with visitors, and are truly part of the scene.”

Since the very beginning, the motto of both W:O:A organizers has been “By fans for fans!” — and that naturally applies to the 35 warm-up shows on April 18, 2026 as well. “Normally, Wacken welcomes the world,” says founder Holger Hübner. “On this day, it’s the other way around: the world welcomes Wacken — and together we celebrate a global heavy metal party.”

Tickets for the Wacken Open Air are available here.

"“On this day, it’s the other way around: the world welcomes Wacken — and together we celebrate a global heavy metal party.” - ​Holger Hübner

﻿© 2011-2026 Global Metal Apocalypse﻿​​

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"“On this day, it’s the other way around: the world welcomes Wacken — and together we celebrate a global heavy metal party.” -
Holger Hübner

© 2011-2026 Global Metal Apocalypse