The iconic British heavy metal band Iron Maiden will return to Germany's premier twin rock festivals, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, in 2026 after more than a decade-long absence. According to festival organizers, these will be the only festival appearances Iron Maiden will make in the coming year. The band last performed at these events in 2014, making their 2026 return highly anticipated by metal fans across Europe.

Danish metal band Volbeat has also been confirmed for both festivals, with organizers noting these will be the band's only German shows in 2026. They join previously announced headliner Linkin Park, creating a powerful trio of main attractions for the twin festivals scheduled for June 5-7, 2026. The festivals, which run simultaneously at the Nürburgring in the Eifel region and in Nuremberg, have already generated significant early interest from music enthusiasts.

Ticket sales for the 2026 events have broken records, with 70,000 weekend tickets already sold for Rock am Ring and 40,000 for Rock im Park at this early stage. Matt Schwarz, CEO of PRK DreamHaus and organizer of both festivals, described the response as "simply overwhelming." Both festivals sold out completely in 2025 with approximately 90,000 attendees each, indicating strong momentum carrying into the following year.

The festival lineup currently includes 20 confirmed acts, featuring prominent names such as The Offspring, Marteria, Papa Roach, Electric Callboy, and Limp Bizkit. For the Nuremberg event, daily tickets are now available for €139, while Rock am Ring continues to offer weekend tickets only. The early ticket sales success suggests that rock and metal festivals continue to maintain strong appeal among European music fans, with the 2026 events poised to continue the sold-out tradition established in previous years.