Reeperbahn! When the international music industry gathers at the Reeperbahn Festival from September 16 to 19, 2026 , Wacken Open Air will be right in the thick of it. As the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken brings its energy, its network, and above all, the next generation of international metal acts to Hamburg.
Wacken and the Reeperbahn have more in common than Hamburg’s geographical proximity to Schleswig-Holstein. Both represent a music scene that thinks without boundaries, discovers new artists, and builds networks. While Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) brings fans and bands from all over the world to a small village in the north every year, the Reeperbahn Festival transforms Hamburg into an international meeting place for music for four days.
On Thursday, September 17, Wacken Open Air will take over Bahnhof Pauli with its own showcase, presenting four promising acts from Germany and Hungary. This event combines W:O:A’s roles as an international talent incubator and the hub of a young, dynamic, and globally connected music community. This spirit will continue on the Reeperbahn in the heart of Hamburg: Faster, Harder, Louder!
The Wacken Open Air festival will be represented at the Morecore Music Awards at Uebel & Gefährlich on the eve of the main event, September 16 , presenting the Best German Band category. The award will be presented by W:O:A founder Thomas Jensen and Seven Blood singer Azaria Nasiri.
