Image: Summer Breeze Open Air Live [Jonas Tellkamp, @bookings_always_closed]
Summer Breeze Open Air has long established itself as one of Germany's biggest and most popular metal festivals. Every year, thousands of fans make the pilgrimage to Dinkelsbühl, Bavaria, to celebrate four days of heavy music in all its forms. From classic heavy metal and melodic death metal to hardcore, metalcore, and deathcore, there's something here for almost every metal fan. And in 2026, Summer Breeze is once again set to be one of the highlights of festival season.
To help you get ready, we've rounded up all the essential information about Summer Breeze Open Air 2026.
When and where is Summer Breeze Open Air 2026?
Summer Breeze Open Air takes place from August 12 to August 15, 2026, at the festival grounds in Dinkelsbühl, Bavaria. The site has become one of Germany's most modern festival locations, offering multiple stages, extensive camping areas, shopping stalls, food vendors, and plenty of places to relax between sets.
Where to get tickets
Festival passes, including camping, are still available, along with a range of optional add-ons. As always, ticket availability becomes more limited the closer the festival gets. Weekend passes have already sold out, but day tickets are still available. You can find the latest overview of ticket categories, prices, and availability here.
Line-up and timetable
Musically, Summer Breeze stays true to its roots by combining legendary metal acts with some of the scene's most exciting modern bands. This year's biggest names include Helloween, In Flames, and Arch Enemy. Fans looking for something heavier can also look forward to Hatebreed, Imminence, Thy Art Is Murder, The Ghost Inside, Paleface Swiss, Paradise Lost, and Fit For An Autopsy.
This balance is exactly what makes Summer Breeze so special. While iconic bands headline the main stages, modern metalcore, hardcore, and deathcore acts also get plenty of well-deserved attention.
The full timetable has already been released, so now's the perfect time to start planning your festival schedule. Check out when and where your favorite bands are playing so you can avoid unnecessary walks across the site—and maybe even fit in an extra show or two.
Camping, travel, and parking
Camping is just as much a part of the Summer Breeze experience as the music itself. Your festival ticket includes access to the regular camping areas, while various comfort options and upgrades are also available, subject to availability. You can find a full overview here.
You can travel to the festival by car, camper van, or public transport. The organizers also provide detailed information on parking, shuttle services, and the different camping areas to help make your arrival as smooth as possible.
If you're driving, it's worth checking the official travel information beforehand, as different parking lots and camping areas have separate access routes. You can find everything you need to know about getting there, parking, and shuttle services in the official guide.
Food, drinks, and cashless payments
You definitely won't go hungry at Summer Breeze. The festival offers a wide selection of food vendors, ranging from classic festival favorites to vegetarian and vegan options. You can find all food locations on the festival map.
Payments throughout the festival are handled via the festival's cashless system, making purchases quick and convenient so you can focus on what really matters—the music. You can find more information about the cashless system here.
Anything else I should know?
Before heading to the festival, it's always worth checking the official visitor information or the festival A–Z guide. There you'll find everything from permitted and prohibited items to camping regulations, safety information, and other practical details to help your stay go as smoothly as possible.
Ready for Summer Breeze 2026?
There's a reason Summer Breeze Open Air remains one of Europe's favorite metal festivals. Its welcoming atmosphere, exceptionally well-organized site, and line-up spanning everything from heavy metal and melodic death metal to metalcore, hardcore, and deathcore make it an essential stop for metal fans every summer.
And if you're still putting together the perfect festival outfit, don't forget the essentials: band shirts, shorts, weatherproof layers, plenty of sunscreen—and just in case, a rain jacket. You can find merch from this year's line-up right here!
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