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Sharon Osbourne has confirmed that the iconic heavy metal festival Ozzfest is set to return in 2027.
While speaking at a panel during the MIDEM conference in Cannes, France, Osbourne said plans are officially underway to revive the longtime festival. “Yes, absolutely. Yeah, we’re gonna do it,” she said when asked about the event’s comeback.
The last Ozzfest took place in 2018 at the Forum in Los Angeles. According to Osbourne, there had been no intention of ending the festival, but Ozzy Osbourne’s health issues forced organizers to pause future events.
She said the couple had discussed whether the festival could continue without Ozzy as its centerpiece. “Ozzy would ask me, ‘Do you think Ozzfest would work without me?’” she recalled. “And I told him, ‘Yeah, it’s a brand. It will work without you.’”
Earlier this year, Osbourne had already hinted that the festival might return. In a previous interview, she said she had been speaking with Live Nation about bringing Ozzfest back, noting that Ozzy had always been passionate about using the event to showcase new talent.
“It was a place for young bands to get in front of huge audiences,” Osbourne explained, adding that the festival helped introduce many emerging artists to metal fans.
Ozzfest was originally launched in 1996 after Ozzy Osbourne was turned down for a spot on the Lollapalooza tour. Sharon responded by creating her own festival focused on heavy music.
The event quickly grew into one of the most influential metal festivals in the world, featuring a mix of established acts and rising artists. Over the years, the festival expanded internationally and even experimented with new formats, including a free-ticket model in 2007 supported by sponsors.
In later years, Ozzfest shifted away from full touring runs and instead became occasional destination events. The final edition was held on New Year’s Eve in 2018 and featured performances from Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie, Jonathan Davis, Body Count, Zakk Sabbath, DevilDriver and Wednesday 13.
Osbourne has also acknowledged that rising costs and industry demands contributed to the festival slowing down in its later years.
While the 2027 revival has now been confirmed, details about the lineup, dates and locations have not yet been announced.
SOURCE: Loudwire