Michael Schenker is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in hard rock. A virtuoso who, back in the 1970s, wrote anthems with the Scorpions and later with UFO that still resonate today. His melodic solos, unmistakable sound, and knack for big hooks made songs like Doctor Doctor, Rock Bottom, and Lights Out immortal. With the program My Years With UFO, Schenker travels back to that era when he ignited the British band with his German fire and left a defining mark on their music. This nostalgic trip is not just about the classics, but also about the story of a young guitar genius who took the rock world by storm. At Wacken, fans can look forward to a master reliving his own legends in full brilliance.
For 45 years, Grave Digger have stood like a rock in the surf of German heavy metal. Founded in 1980 by Chris Boltendahl, the Teutonic metallers have made history with albums like "Heavy Metal Breakdown" and "Tunes of War" and continue to perform tirelessly to this day. Their songs sound like battle cries full of pathos, power, and unmistakable riff violence. For their 45th anniversary, they bring the full load of Grave Digger myth to Wacken: a journey through almost half a century of metal, featuring all the anthems that have shaped generations. On the hallowed ground, they celebrate themselves – loudly, proudly, uncompromisingly – and demonstrate that true heavy metal is timeless and hasn't slowed down one bit.
Mickey Mouse's 100th anniversary is on the way, and the celebration starts in Japan! His best friends, pop duo King & Prince, are releasing "What We Got (Japanese Version)," a new official theme song. This special includes the full music video starring King & Prince alongside Mickey & Friends, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and a candid interview with the duo.
He was the greatest talent of his generation. The story of a man who lived too intensely. The film story of Karol Duchoň begins during the filming of a New Year's Eve program on television in 1984, and the man, who until recently had the world at his feet, literally has his entire life pass before his eyes in one night. We see how a boy from a country band got the opportunity to play in clubs in the West and also how, after his return, thanks to a single song, he became a real pop icon of the time overnight. The most renowned composers and lyricists in Slovakia wrote for him, he won prizes at the most important competitions and many foreign tours came. However, the enormous success also begins to awaken his inner demons... And we will be able to observe all this accompanied by his greatest hits.
From Fall to Spring are a breath of fresh air in German metalcore: twin brothers Philipp and Lukas Wilhelm, hailing from the Palatinate region, create rousing anthems that blend post-rock atmosphere, brutal breakdowns, and hip-hop beats. Setlist includes: "TAKE THE PAIN AWAY", "COME ALIVE", "DRAW THE LINE", "In the End", "CONTROL", "I WON’T BACK DOWN"
Performed live at Wacken on July 30th, 2025. Founded by vocalist Nastassja Giulia and guitarist Evan K, the band has quickly made a name for itself with its atmospheric style and high-energy live performances. Setlist: "Venom", "Should Have Known Better", "Sayonara", "Angel's Suicide", "Dirt on my Name", "In My Blood", "Crystallize", "Alien", "Don't Call Me an Angel", "Innocent", "Fuck That Party", "Release Me", "What We Used to Be", "Falling Away", "Phoenix"
Recorded live at Wacken, July 30th 2025. Apocalyptica began in 1993 as four students playing Metallica songs on their cellos for fun, creating a completely new sound that irrevocably fused classical and metal. Setlist: "Ride the Lightning", "Enter Sandman", "Creeping Death", "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "St. Anger", "The Four Horsemen", "Blackened", "Master of Puppets", "Nothing Else Matters", "Seek & Destroy", "One"
Hanabie is like a kaleidoscopic storm. Colorful, loud, and unpredictable. The young women from Tokyo blend metalcore with J-pop melodies, rap, and kawaii aesthetics to create a sound that oscillates between sweet comic-book worlds and brute sonic power. Live, this mixture explodes in a wild firework of colors, fast breakdowns, and irresistible hooks. Hanabie. represent boundless energy, nonconformity, and the freedom to rain glitter even on the hardest metal. At Wacken, Japanese pop culture and Western hardcore collide, and the result is a show that overwhelms all the senses.
Within just a few years, Beyond the Black have catapulted themselves from newcomers to the forefront of modern symphonic metal. Driven by Jennifer Haben's powerful voice, they combine orchestral elegance with hard riffing and anthemic choruses that immediately catch the ear. Their songs speak of inner strength, longing, and the power to continually reinvent themselves. Live, they radiate an energy that inspires both dancing and dreaming—a perfect blend of metal thunderstorm and magical storytelling. Beyond the Black prove that big emotions and grand gestures still have a place in metal today.
Wind Rose let the thunder of dwarven hammers roll across the festival grounds. Joined by Alea (Saltatio Mortis) for "Diggy Diggy Hole". The Italian power metallers stand out with their Tolkien-inspired lyrics and monumental melodies – they sound as if they'd set the mountains themselves to music. With their viral earworm "Diggy Diggy Hole" and anthemic albums like "Trollslayer," they've enriched the genre with a healthy dose of dwarven epic. Live, they transform the stage into a glittering mine full of folk influences and orchestral power. Anyone who sees them quickly realizes: Wind Rose isn't just about music, but about the pure desire for stories, adventures, and the indomitable power of friends who go into battle together.