Return of a Legend: Ozzfest Confirms U.S. Comeback in 2027
The iconic hard rock festival Ozzfest is set to make a grand return, announcing events in the U.K. and its first U.S. comeback in nearly a decade in 2027. Spearheaded by Sharon Osbourne after Ozzy's passing, the festival aims to reignite its legacy of showcasing new talent and celebrating metal music.
Ozzfest, the iconic hard rock festival, has announced its much-anticipated return, with plans to touch down in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Following an announcement for a U.K. event in late founder Ozzy Osbourne’s hometown of Birmingham, the festival revealed via Instagram on Monday, September 21st, that it will also return to the U.S. in 2027, marking its first appearance there in nearly a decade. While the Instagram post teased, “More Info Coming Soon!!! Where are you hoping Ozzfest 2027 will pop up?”, concrete details regarding cities, dates, or lineups for the U.S. reboot are yet to be disclosed.
The U.K. leg of Ozzfest is scheduled to take place at Villa Park, Birmingham, a 42,000-capacity stadium that previously hosted Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell show, “Back to the Beginning,” in July 2025. Dates and specific lineup information for the Villa Park event have not yet been shared with the public.
Ozzfest was originally conceived in 1996 by Ozzy’s wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne. Her initiative came after facing difficulties in booking Ozzy for the Lollapalooza festival. The festival quickly evolved into a highly popular annual touring event, bringing a day of hard rock music to audiences across the U.S. and Europe until 2008. Since then, Ozzfest has been held sporadically, with its most recent iteration being a one-day event in 2018 at The Forum in Inglewood, California, featuring a lineup that included Rob Zombie, Body Count, and Marilyn Manson, among others.
The revival of Ozzfest comes after Ozzy Osbourne’s passing in 2025, just weeks after his “Back to the Beginning” show. Sharon Osbourne has frequently expressed her desire to bring the festival back as a tribute to Ozzy’s legacy. In an earlier interview with Billboard this year, Sharon confirmed ongoing negotiations with Live Nation, outlining plans for the 2027 return. She emphasized Ozzy's deep passion for providing a platform for young talent, stating, “It was something Ozzy was very passionate about: giving young talent a stage in front of a lot of people.” Sharon also highlighted Ozzfest’s pioneering role, adding, “We really started metal festivals in this country. It was [replicated but] never done with the spirit of what ours was, because ours was a place for new talent. It was like summer camp for kids.” The hard rock community eagerly awaits further announcements regarding the highly anticipated return of Ozzfest.