Wacken Metal Battle USA announces 2026 battle cities and bands

One Band To Conquer Them All! Wacken Metal Battle USA proudly unveils the 2026 battlegrounds across the nation, where one rising independent metal band will earn the chance to perform at Wacken Open Air, one of the globe’s most iconic and influential metal festivals.

Battles will be hosted in the following cities listed below. Please note that the national final will be held in San Diego, CA, on June 13, 2026.

The 2026 WMBU champion will receive the following:
– A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
– Full professional backline provided.
– $1,000 USD towards flights to Germany.
– VIP camping at the festival.

List of previous WMBU national winners: Mourning High (2025 – Southern California / Arizona), Cascade Effect (2024 – San Diego), Fadrait (2023 – San Diego), Mythraeum (2022 – San Diego), Monarch (2019 – San Diego), Voices of Ruin (2018 – Anaheim), and Corpse Hoarder (2017 – Philadelphia).

Watch – Wacken Metal Battle 2025 – Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCulXiLlaSw​

Wacken Battle Trailer Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjMugRXEc5g​

Battle Cities

Atlanta
​Jan 30 – Atlanta, GA – Star Bar (Round 1) – Esca, Vicki’s Dream, Death Rift, Endera, Valkyrie’s Fire, Disenthralled – https://www.freshtix.com/events/wackenmetalbattleatl
Jan 31 – Atlanta, GA – Star Bar (Round 2) – Jaeger, Red Hot Empty, Sugar Virus, Beast Mode, Dead Alive, Widow Anchor – https://www.freshtix.com/events/wackenmetalbattleatl
Feb 13 – Atlanta, GA – Star Bar (Atlanta Final)
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​Austin
​Feb 1 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live (Round 1)
March 15 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live (Texas Final)
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​Brooklyn – https://www.facebook.com/events/880819674913930​
​March 13 – Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch – Wood Shop (Round 1)
March 14 – Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch – Wood Shop (Round 2)
April 11 – Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch – Wood Shop (Brooklyn Final)
May 9 – Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch – Wood Shop (East Coast Final)
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​Baltimore
​Feb 7 – Catonsville, MD – Morsbergers Tavern (Round 1) – Tugboat, Casual Cruelty, Gods End, Corpse God, Reign, Ametropsa – https://www.facebook.com/events/2105141780021444/
Feb 28 – Catonsville, MD – Morsbergers Tavern (Round 2) – Eden of Fire, Illusion of Solace, Babies for Brunch, Diegression, Deadkind, Blood Zero – https://www.facebook.com/events/1530819171310018/
March 21 – Catonsville, MD – Morsbergers Tavern (Round 3)
April 11 – Catonsville, MD – Morsbergers Tavern (Catonsville Final)
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​Concord
​March 14 – Concord, CA – Vinnie’s (Round 1) – Embryonic Devourment, Sonus, Thares, Cardboard Ringo –https://www.facebook.com/events/2070524426817816/
March 28 – Concord, CA – Vinnie’s (Round 2)
April 18 – Concord, CA – Vinnie’s (NorCal Final)
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​Dallas
​Feb 7 – Dallas, TX – The Rail Club (Round 1)
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​Houston
​Feb 7 – Houston, TX – BFE Rock Club (Round 1)
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​Portland​
Feb 28 – Portland, OR – Dante’s (Round 1)
TBD – Portland, OR – Dante’s (Pacific Northwest Final)
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​Sacramento
​March 6 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides (Round 1)
March 20 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides (Round 2)
April 3 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides (Round 3)
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​San Antonio
​Feb 6 – San Antonio, TX – Rock Box (Round 1) – Aeternal Requiem, Cheese Grater Masturbation, Voltreus, Thunder Horse, Surge
Corpse Pile, Life Undone, Ariah Falls, Forever Silent, Bloodmoon, Immortal Execution, Overlay, Egregious
Glorious https://www.facebook.com/events/3331767850332917
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​San Diego
​March 13 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (Round 1) – https://www.facebook.com/events/1274721898034186/
March 14 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (Round 2) – https://www.facebook.com/events/4304692073075456/
April 25 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (San Diego Final)
May 23 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (California Final)
June 13 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (National Final)
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​Santa Ana
​Feb 28 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages (Round 1)
March 7 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages (Round 2)
April 4 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages (LA/OC Final)
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​Seattle
​Jan 16 Seattle, WA – The Funhouse (Round 1) – Trip The Wire, Ocean Ghost, Fate Defined, AC3, Serene, Wayward Shot – https://www.facebook.com/events/1182381040748946
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​Tampa Bay
​Feb 27 – Tampa, FL – The Brass Mug (Round 1) – Ramtha, Endurus, Roads End, Mind Virus, Parallel Motion, Coralines Collapse – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wacken-metal-battle-florida-round-1-tickets-1979192270359
Feb 28 – Tampa, FL – The Brass Mug (Round 2) – Announce The Apocalypse, Failure Protocol, Nocturnal Dawn, Precipice, Livekill, Nibiru – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wacken-metal-battle-florida-round-2-tickets-1979194475956
March 14 – Tampa, FL – The Brass Mug (Tampa Final)
April 18 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Metal Meeting (Southeast Final)
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​Wimington
​March 7 – Wilmington, DE – Bar XIII (Round 1)
March 20 – Wilmington, DE – Bar XIII (Round 2)
April 18 – Wilmington, DE – Bar XIII (Wilmington Final)