Summer Breeze Open Air

One of Germany's biggest metal festivals

Founded in 1997, Summer Breeze Open Air is now, alongside Wacken Open Air and Rock am Ring, one of the definitive German festivals in its genre. Around 45,000 metal fans from all over Europe gather annually at the Flugplatz Aeroclub Dinkelsbühl (Dinkelsbühl Aeroclub Airfield) for four days of live music from all subgenres — Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Death Metal, Black Metal, Hardcore, Industrial, Folk Metal, and Stoner Rock.

2026 Edition — Over 130 Confirmed Bands

The 2026 edition runs from August 12th to 15th and features over 130 confirmed acts across multiple stages. 33 more bands were announced in February 2026 — the lineup is now considered almost complete.

Headliners and Top Acts 2026

• Helloween — Hamburg power metal legends with the "Pumpkins United" lineup
• In Flames — Swedish pioneers of Melodic Death Metal
• Lamb of God — US groove metal heavyweights
• Airbourne — Australian hard rock revivalists
• Arch Enemy — Swedish Melodic Death Metal with frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz
• Eisbrecher — German Industrial Metal from Munich
• Saxon — British Heavy Metal veterans (NWoBHM)
• Lamb of God, The Ghost Inside, Hatebreed — Hardcore and Metalcore
• Soulfly — Comeback in Dinkelsbühl after a 19-year break (last seen in 2007)
• Skindred, Paradise Lost, Kadavar, Fit For An Autopsy, Decapitated, Eivør, Wolves In The Throne Room and many more

Festival Grounds and Stages

The festival area at Dinkelsbühl Aeroclub Airfield is an open airfield with several stages running concurrently. Main Stage, T-Stage, Wera Tool Rebel Stage, and a dedicated Camp Stage. Camping is an integral part of the festival experience — four nights with its own sanitary facilities, supply tents, and festival market.

"LESS TRASH – MORE THRASH"

For years, the festival has promoted ecological responsibility at its location with the campaign "LESS TRASH – MORE THRASH". The concept includes a reusable deposit system, waste separation, cleaning of camping areas after the festival, and raising awareness among the festival crowd.

Travel and Logistics

Dinkelsbühl, one of Southern Germany's most beautiful preserved Renaissance towns, is located on the "Romantic Road" in the district of Ansbach. For festival-goers, there are organized shuttle services from the train stations, dedicated public transport lines for festival week tickets, and designated arrival slots with staggered travel fares. A dedicated app and detailed festival maps for accessible access complement the logistics.