On Saturday night, the 32nd Wacken Open Air concluded with triumphant performances by Iron Maiden, Helloween, Doro, Heaven Shall Burn, and over 200 other bands across nine stages, including the long-awaited return of Lemmy Kilmister to W:O:A. This year marked a significant change, as Wednesday became a full festival day with programs on the main stages.
Despite a challenging start due to extreme rainfall, the festival saw 61,000 devoted fans coming together to celebrate the grandest metal party of the year. Sadly, the festival had to operate at reduced capacity, resulting in some metal enthusiasts being unable to attend. Organizer Holger Hübner expressed his regret, acknowledging the true heroes and heroines who had to stay at home.
Co-organizer Thomas Jensen added that despite the setbacks, the Wacken Open Air 2023 turned into a remarkable experience, filled with unforgettable moments, extraordinary concerts, and a strong sense of unity in the metal community. Those who couldn’t make it to W:O:A 2023 will be eligible for ticket refunds and have the opportunity to secure tickets for Wacken Open Air 2024.
During a press conference on the final day, the police, rescue services, fire department, and public order office commended the festival for maintaining a low number of incidents and deployments.
Scorpions
As the festivities came to a close, the eagerly awaited lineup and date for Wacken Open Air 2024 was revealed. Leading the charge are German hard rock legends Scorpions and Viking metallers Amon Amarth from Sweden. Other notable acts include In Extremo, Blind Guardian, Mayhem, Pain, Beast In Black, Watain, Bury Tomorrow, Blues Pills, Knorkator, Sonata Arctica, Motionless In White, and many more. A total of 33 bands have already been confirmed for the 33rd edition of Wacken Open Air 2024, July 31 to August 3, 2024.
Amon Amarth
Next year’s festival will enchant attendees with the theme “Witches & Warlocks” in honor of the mystical number 33, influencing the overall ambiance, artistic performances, and program content.
Presale for Wacken Open Air 2024 begins on Sunday, August 6, at 8 pm on metaltix.com. The limited 10,000 Fast Tickets will come with an exclusive special shirt, followed by the release of hard tickets once the Fast Tickets are sold out. Further information on ticket purchasing details can be found on metaltix.com and wacken.com from Sunday noon.
Readers can delve into exclusive interviews with the 2024 headliners, Klaus Meine of Scorpions and Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian, in the latest issue of “Festival Today,” the official newspaper of Wacken Open Air. The publication also offers numerous interviews and information about the 2023 festival, available for download in both German and English at www.wacken.com.”
First Bands Announced for Wacken Open Air 2024
