Wacken Metal Battle Returns to the Czech Republic After 15 Years — Bands to Compete for a Slot at Legendary Wacken Open Air 2025

After a 15-year hiatus, the prestigious Wacken Metal Battle is returning to the Czech Republic. Competing bands will have the chance to win a spot on the lineup of the iconic Wacken Open Air 2025, sharing the stage with giants like Guns N' Roses, Machine Head, Gojira, Papa Roach, Within Temptation, and many more.

A professional jury, led by Slovak music journalist and Headbanger_FM host Rudi Rus, along with Jan Korej Roman from Metalshop TV, will select six bands and two alternates based on submitted material. These finalists will perform live at the grand final concert on May 31, 2025, held at Palác Akropolis in Prague, where both the jury and fans will witness the battle for Wacken glory.

The only previous edition of the Czech Wacken Metal Battle took place in 2010, when the jury chose Dymytry to represent the country at Wacken. Who will follow in their footsteps? We’ll find out at the end of May.