rockXplosion — 40th Warmbronner Open Air

40 Years of Rock Festival from Warmbronn

The Warmbronner Open Air – today mostly known by the name rockXplosion – was founded in 1985, making it one of Germany's oldest rock festivals. In 2026, the festival celebrates its 40th edition – an anniversary that holds a special place in the fast-paced German festival scene. The organizer is Warmbronner Open Air e.V., which organizes the festival entirely on a volunteer basis and finances it exclusively through donations, sponsoring, and voluntary contributions.

Free – and has been for 40 years

What makes rockXplosion a unique festival: Admission and camping are completely free. In an era where festival tickets cost triple-digit amounts and camping packages drive prices even higher, rockXplosion sticks to the original festival spirit: music for everyone, without economic barriers. The festival is financed by the sale of drinks, food, merchandise, and through sponsoring from local companies.

Over 30 Bands on Two Stages

The line-up includes over 30 bands from the following genres:

• Heavy Metal
• Rock
• Punk
• Ska and Ska-Punk
• Metalcore

Confirmed headliners for 2026 include Bluthund (German Metal) and Friends Don't Lie. Other acts come from the South German underground scene, the Stuttgart Metalcore scene, the punk scene, and complement the program with indie and crossover contributions. A band contest final determined additional festival slots.

Family Program and Activities

Despite its clear rock character, rockXplosion places great importance on family-friendliness:

• Face painting for children
• Play areas for the youngest visitors
• Metal Karaoke – Sing along to classics of metal history
• Awareness team for safety and visitor support

Organized by Volunteers

The entire festival is supported by volunteer work. Setup, logistics, backstage support, bar service, cleaning, medical services, awareness team – all handled by volunteers from Warmbronn, Leonberg, and the entire region. Bands, crew, vendors, and sponsors can apply via the official website.

Warmbronn — District of Leonberg

The district of Warmbronn belongs to the city of Leonberg in the district of Böblingen (state of Baden-Württemberg). With around 3,500 inhabitants, Warmbronn is a classic South German suburb – rural, with active club life, and well-connected to the greater Stuttgart area. The Alte Waldsportplatz is located on the outskirts, amidst forests and meadows – ideal for an open-air festival with camping.