Image: Official Wacken 2025 Poster
The Wacken Open Air is making the holiday season even sweeter with a flood of musical highlights. As the Advent season kicks off, new bands for the 2025 line-up have been announced. Fans can look forward to more big names every Sunday until the fourth Advent—a true gift for all metalheads!
First Advent: The New Wave Brings Variety
The iconic festival, already sold out for 2025, started the Advent season with a bang. On the first Advent, the following bands were confirmed:
Callejon, Amenra, Prong, Dirkschneider, Nailbomb, Kylesa, Enemy Inside, Rauhbein, and Lilac.
This mix leaves nothing to be desired—from metal legends to rising newcomers.
Second Advent: Even More Highlights for the Line-Up
The second Advent brought another wave of great bands to fuel the excitement:
Lakeview, Lake Malice, DevilDriver, Forbidden, Lita Ford, Victory, Iotunn, Party Canon, Schandmaul, and Walls Of Jericho.
Whether it’s classic metal anthems, modern influences, or high-energy live performances, the variety appeals to both traditional fans and lovers of new metal trends.
Guns N’ Roses Announced as Headliner
An extra surprise thrilled fans when none other than Guns N’ Roses was announced as the next headliner in the festival’s Advent calendar!
Holger Hübner, co-founder of W:O:A, expressed his excitement:
"Having Guns N’ Roses play at Wacken is a dream come true. Almost 40 years ago, Thomas and I first heard the band in the basement of our buddy Gösy. In the early ’90s, we were standing front row as fans in Hanover and Bremen. Now, we’re announcing them at our own festival. It doesn’t get any better than this."
Thomas Jensen, also co-founder of the festival, added:
"We’re proud to bring Guns N’ Roses to Wacken as an absolute highlight. For us, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Simply sensational."
Third Advent: Metalcore and More!
Once again, the Wacken Open Air’s Heavy Xmas calendar delivers the goods this weekend – with ten new bands joining the line-up! This time, two of the hottest metalcore acts take center stage, alongside a diverse selection that has something for everyone.
Here’s the full list of new additions:
Annisokay, Landmvrks, Master Boot Record, Avralize, Dope, Cypecore, Katatonia, Smoke Blow, Nyktophobia, and Warkings.
With this mix of modern sounds, heavy anthems, and dark atmospheres, the Wacken line-up continues to grow, building even more excitement for 2025!
Fourth Advent: The Final Band Announcement of the Year?
As the fourth Advent rolls in, Wacken Open Air delivers one more surprise: ten new bands have been added to the already impressive 2025 line-up! This might also mark the last band announcement of 2024, making it a perfect finale for all fans.
Here are the latest additions:
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Majestica, Ugly Kid Joe, Fight The Fight, Lost Society, Deine Cousine, Soen, SETYØURSAILS, The Butcher Sisters, and W.A.S.P
