Wacken Open Air, the world’s largest heavy metal festival and widely regarded as the Mecca of Heavy Metal, will celebrate its 35th anniversary with an unprecedented Global Warm-Up Party on Saturday, April 18th, 2026. The event will take place simultaneously in 35 countries worldwide, uniting the global metal community in a single day of celebration.
In the United States, the official anniversary event will be hosted at The Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida, as part of the inaugural Tampa Metal Meeting, Florida’s newest metal festival.
The Tampa edition will feature a powerful lineup headlined by Florida death metal pioneers Malevolent Creation, alongside the long-awaited return of local underground favorites Psykotribe. In addition, the event will host the Wacken Metal Battle Southeast USA Regional Final, a key component of the globally renowned Wacken Metal Battle competition.
The Wacken Metal Battle is the world’s largest battle of the bands, currently involving 103 participating countries that host local, regional, and national finals. The ultimate World Final takes place at Wacken Open Air in Germany, offering winning bands extraordinary opportunities, including thousands of euros in prizes, professional gear from top brands, networking opportunities with major players in the industry, and confirmed bookings at European festivals, including Wacken Open Air, the following year.
The U.S. event is presented by Piox Promotions, a company with a long-standing relationship with Wacken Open Air. Piox Promotions serves as the Wacken Metal Battle promoter in the Caribbean and Southeast USA regions. It’s mission: to empower underground metal scenes by creating real opportunities for bands to grow beyond borders through Wacken Open Air initiatives
With its combination of legendary artists, emerging underground talent, and part of the official Wacken programming, the Wacken Open Air 35th Anniversary Global Warm-Up Party promises to be a historic gathering for metal fans and musicians alike.
Event Details:
- Event: Wacken Open Air 35th Anniversary Global Warm-Up Party
- Date: Saturday, April 18th, 2026
- Location: The Brass Mug – Tampa, Florida
- Host Event: Tampa Metal Meeting (Inaugural Edition)
- Ticket Info: https://tmm2026.eventbrite.com/