Dinkelsbühl, August 15, 2026 – SUMMER BREEZE Open Air 2026 is drawing to a close. Four days packed with riffs and amazing artists, fueled by the incredible spirit of the metal community. Every day, 50,000 fans celebrated together at the festival, which had been sold out for months. 138 bands from 21 countries performed on the stages.

Summer Breeze has now been held in Dinkelsbühl for 20 years. This year, under a blanket of sunshine, it was easy to see why the festival and the town are such a perfect match. And the highlights weren’t limited to the music: On Wednesday, from the infield, spectators could not only enjoy the concerts but also witness a partial solar eclipse and a meteor shower.

“It was a blast,” says festival founder and CEO Achim Ostertag. “A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the fans, artists and of course our amazing crew, to the city of Dinkelsbühl and the surrounding communities. Without you, none of this would be possible. Summer Breeze thrives on its community – and this year was no exception.”

Besides internationally renowned acts like Helloween, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Saxon, Lamb of God, Eisbrecher, and surprise guests Saltatio Mortis, numerous up-and-coming bands also provided memorable moments. It’s quite possible that in a few years, people will still vividly remember Paleface Swiss leading mosh pits, Castle Rat wielding their sword, the Japanese band Broken By The Scream tearing down the T-Stage, and local heroes Skeleton Pit taking the next step in their career.

Supporting young talent is a key aspect of the organizers’ philosophy. “Almost every band that performs here started out small. As a festival, we want to actively contribute to building up the scene and fostering it,” says Alex Härtel (Head of Marketing & PR). “It’s entirely possible that a regional band could break through and become the next headliner. The same applies to bands as to fans: we build a strong connection.”

The same principle applies in front of the stages: After the “New Blood” concept proved so popular in previous years, young people aged 13 to 19 were once again invited to get a free taste of the festival atmosphere on Thursday in 2026. This year, the young festival-goers – like all other visitors – could also participate in a “Harsh Vocals” masterclass with Britta Görtz, meet Misfits legend Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein and Alissa White-Gluz at a joint signing session, or play at the Ultimate Guard Magic: The Gathering booth.

“Even after all these years, our ambition remains unchanged: We want to offer our visitors a festival experience that sets new standards,” says CEO Jonas Medinger. “The fact that so many fans remain loyal to us year after year is anything but a given. This trust motivates us to continuously develop Summer Breeze and move into the future together with our community.”