OZZFEST WILL RETURN TO VILLA PARK IN 2027 — WITH A FULL TOUR PLANNED FOR 2028

Ozzfest is officially coming back

Sharon and Jack Osbourne have confirmed that the legendary rock and metal festival will return in 2027, beginning with two days at Villa Park in Birmingham — the same ground that hosted Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s historic Back To The Beginning farewell in July 2025.

The plan is then to take Ozzfest across the Atlantic for a further two-day event somewhere in North America. No exact dates, line-up or American location have yet been announced, but Sharon has already invited fans to suggest where the festival should go.

“Ozzfest is coming back!” she confirmed during a new episode of The Osbournes Podcast.

“We want to do two days in Aston Villa and then come to America.”

However, this appears to be only the beginning. Sharon explained that the limited 2027 edition is intended to test the appetite for Ozzfest before bringing it back as a touring festival in 2028.

The announcement transforms Villa Park into something close to sacred ground for heavy metal. It was there, on 5 July 2025, that Ozzy performed for the final time before being joined by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for one last Black Sabbath set.

The four original members played War Pigs, N.I.B., Iron Man and Paranoid together, marking their first full appearance as a quartet in two decades. Just 17 days later, Ozzy died at the age of 76.

Now, Ozzfest will return to the place where the Prince of Darkness said his final goodbye.

Sharon has revealed that she discussed reviving the festival with Ozzy before his death. He reportedly wondered whether Ozzfest could survive without him, but ultimately agreed that its identity had grown beyond any single performer.

That legacy will remain at the heart of its return, particularly through the discovery of younger bands. Ozzfest’s second stage famously provided an early platform for artists including Slipknot, System Of A Down, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Disturbed and many others before they became arena and festival headliners.

“That’s what Ozzfest was all about,” Jack explained.

“That second stage was the incubator that so many guys came out of.”

One major name has already entered the conversation. Sharon said that she wants Rob Halford at the Birmingham event, potentially opening the door for Judas Priest to appear after scheduling commitments prevented them from participating in Back To The Beginning. It should be stressed, however, that Priest have not yet been officially confirmed.

The original Ozzfest was created by Sharon Osbourne in 1996 after Lollapalooza declined to book Ozzy. What began with events in Phoenix and San Bernardino became one of the most important touring institutions in heavy music, hosting everyone from Black Sabbath, Metallica and Slayer to Pantera, Korn, Rob Zombie, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

Its final edition took place at The Forum in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve 2018, with a bill featuring Ozzy, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Jonathan Davis, Body Count, Zakk Sabbath, DevilDriver and Wednesday 13.

There are still plenty of unanswered questions surrounding its rebirth. We do not yet have dates, ticket information or a confirmed line-up, while the location of the North American edition remains undecided.

But the essential detail is now official: Ozzfest will rise again in 2027. Birmingham comes first, North America follows — and in 2028, the travelling metal circus could finally return to the road.

Ozzy may no longer be there to stand at its centre, but the festival built in his name is preparing to carry his spirit into a new generation.

The Riff Collective