Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Today, the official social media channels for ‘Ozzfest’ hinted at the possible revival of the once prominent summer metal and rock festival in 2027, as per theprp. Although no formal announcement has been made about its comeback, founder Sharon Osbourne recently shared with Billboard her hope to reinstate the event in the future. It was also mentioned that the festival is likely to be reintroduced in a manner similar to its earlier touring format rather than the destination event style it adopted before concluding in 2018.
Previous iterations of ‘Ozzfest’ significantly boosted the careers of bands like Slipknot and System Of A Down, among others. It seems that Sharon is eager to continue this practice of highlighting emerging talents, as she communicated to the previously mentioned publication that she has been searching for fresh artists. She also expressed a desire to “diversify the genres” for the potential revival if it happens. If this iconic festival were to return, it would probably also serve as a homage to its founder, Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July 2025.
Ozzfest was a yearly music festival tour that took place in the United States and, at times, in Europe and later Japan, showcasing performances from numerous heavy metal and hard rock bands. The event was established by Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy Osbourne, who together with their son Jack Osbourne coordinated each annual tour. This festival occurred nearly every year from 1996 until 2018. The Ozzfest tour included bands from various styles within heavy metal and hard rock, such as alternative metal, thrash metal, industrial metal, metalcore, hardcore punk, deathcore, nu metal, death metal, post-hardcore, gothic metal, and black metal. Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath were featured in the tour multiple times throughout the years.
The inaugural Ozzfest was not framed as a nationwide tour; instead, it took the form of a two-day festival occurring in Phoenix, Arizona, and Devore, California, on October 25 and 26, 1996, respectively. A collection titled Ozzfest Live, consisting of ten live recordings made during this festival, was made available on April 29, 1997. In the year 1997, significant demonstrations took place outside the festival advocating for the cancellation of Marilyn Manson’s set. Despite this, all scheduled performances went ahead as planned. Similar protests happened in 2001 after the Columbine High School shooting, with some groups attributing blame to Marilyn Manson.
In 1998, Ozzfest expanded internationally for the first time, taking place in the United Kingdom with a unique lineup of artists. The festival subsequently returned to the UK in both 2001 and 2002. The Ozzfest website was introduced during the 1998 U. S. tour, marking its first appearance. Photos were captured throughout the tour using an early Sony Mavica FD-7 digital camera, which were uploaded each night after performances, alongside a travel journal documenting the journey. The concert on July 18, 1998, at Float Rite Park became part of the Warped Tour 1998. Approximately 39,000 attendees enjoyed the 12-hour event, featuring six stages and 48 bands.
