In news that’s not surprising but is disappointing regardless, Wacken Open Air, the premier festival event on the metal calendar, has been cancelled for 2020. The full statement from the festival officials reads as follows: Yesterday, the German government decided that due to the Coronavirus pandemic, no mass gatherings will be allowed until August 31st, 2020. The fest, which sold out in less than one day, was set to take place between July 30 and Aug. 1, featuring over 100 bands including Slipknot, Judas Priest, Amon Amarth, Mercyful Fate, Devin Townsend, At the Gates, Lacuna Coil and more. One of the biggest heavy metal festivals in the world, Germany’s Wacken Open Air, has canceled its 2020 edition due to the coronavirus pandemic. This administrative order affects us heavily and we will need some time to process the bad news. In 2020, the festival was scheduled to take place from 30 July to 1 August, but was canceled due to a ban on large public events in Germany due to the COVID-19 pandemic History Background. The idea for Wacken Open Air was conceived in 1989 when Thomas Jensen and Holger Hübner visited a restaurant together. Wacken Open Air joins such other massive European metal and hard rock festivals as the UK’s Download and France’s Hellfest in cancelling its 2020 edition. Your health and safety have always been and always will be our top priority. We thank you for your trust during times which are unparalleled for all of us. Stephen King Fans Are Dying to Get These Masks. Posted on 16th April 2020 by Michel 16th April 2020. With regard to all other open questions such as W:O:A 2021 and the options concerning the already purchased tickets, we will return with another statement as soon as possible and kindly ask for a little patience. 2020 Wacken Open Air Festival Canceled Due to Coronavirus Pandemic Slipknot, Judas Priest, and more were set to play Germany's massive metal fest Statement of organisation of Wacken: “Yesterday, the German government decided that due to the Coronavirus pandemic, no mass gatherings will be allowed until August, 31st 2020. Read the complete message, which was shared on Facebook, below. The festival had sold out all 75,000 tickets within 24 hours after going on sale a year in advance. Our whole team has been working intensively on the festival these last months and the more all of us are bitterly disappointed that we are not allowed to celebrate a Wacken Open Air with you. Your health and safety have always been and always will be our top priority. We are facing an unprecedented situation in our 30 years: It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce that there will be no Wacken Open Air this year. Nevertheless, we support the decision of the German government in this difficult situation for the whole world. We as promoters are therefore bound to take an even greater responsibility and have to follow the instructions of the experts.”. Wacken 2020 was set to be headlined by Amon Amarth, Slipknot and Judas Priest (who were set to perform a 50th-anniversary set). Concerning Wacken Open Air 2021 and options for your already bought tickets, we will reach out to you ASAP but ask for a little bit of patience whilst we work through this.