After more than eight years away from American stages, Ozzfest is preparing to turn the amplifiers back up.
The long-running heavy music festival will officially return in 2027 with events planned for both the United States and United Kingdom. The announcement marks a major revival for a festival that became a defining destination for generations of hard rock and metal fans.
The U.K. edition already has a particularly meaningful destination. Ozzfest is heading to Villa Park in Birmingham, England, the hometown of Ozzy Osbourne.
Details surrounding the American edition remain considerably more mysterious. Organizers have not revealed which city will host the festival, and the lineup is also still under wraps. The festival is already encouraging fans to weigh in on where they would like Ozzfest to appear.
The comeback had been brewing for some time. Sharon and Jack Osbourne previously discussed plans to revive the festival with separate events in the U.K. and U.S. Jack Osbourne has also indicated that the new editions are expected to be one-day events rather than a return to the sprawling touring format associated with earlier eras of Ozzfest.
First launched 30 years ago, Ozzfest grew from a North American touring festival into one of heavy music’s most recognizable live events. Its stages became showcases for established stars as well as rising acts, with bands including System of a Down and Disturbed becoming part of its history.
Ozzfest last took the stage on December 31, 2018, with a one-day event in Inglewood, California. By the time the festival returns in 2027, more than eight years will have passed since that show.
For now, the biggest pieces of the comeback puzzle remain unanswered. Fans still need a U.S. city, a date and, perhaps most importantly for a festival carrying the Ozzfest name, a lineup.
After years of wondering whether Ozzfest would ever return, however, at least one question has finally been settled.
The festival is coming back.
