Sharon Osbourne has confirmed that Ozzfest is set to return after several years away, telling industry attendees at MIDEM 2026 that the long-running metal festival is coming back.
The event last appeared as a standalone show in 2018 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. A separate New Year’s Eve edition followed in 2019. During the conference appearance, Sharon confirmed plans are moving forward.
“Yes, absolutely. We’re gonna do it.”
Conversations with Ozzy about bringing Ozzfest back
Sharon said she and Ozzy Osbourne had discussed whether the festival could continue without him performing after his health issues affected touring plans.
“The last one we did was 2018. It was just a month before Ozzy got sick, and that was at the Forum in L.A. And there [were] no plans to stop it. We were still gonna do it, but Ozzy couldn’t. And Ozzy and I would talk about it, and he’d say, ‘Do you think Ozzfest would work without me?’ And I’m, like, ‘Yeah, it’s a brand. It will work without you.’ And he said, ‘We should do it.’”
The official Ozzfest Instagram account has also been hinting at a comeback, recently asking followers whether the festival could return in 2027.
Talks with Live Nation and plans for a broader lineup
Sharon confirmed early discussions have taken place with Live Nation about bringing the travelling festival back and potentially expanding it internationally again.
Speaking to Billboard, she reflected on how Ozzfest originally positioned itself within the live music scene and its role in helping new artists break through.
“We really started metal festivals in this country.
“It was never done with the spirit of what ours was, because ours was a place for new talent. It was like summer camp for kids.”
She also suggested a future edition could include a wider mix of genres to reflect how audiences listen to music today.
A festival that shaped metal touring
Ozzfest was launched by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne in 1996 as a two-day event before expanding into a full touring festival the following year. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, it became one of the most influential metal tours, introducing emerging acts while also featuring established names.
The most recent edition in 2018 was a single-night show in Inglewood featuring Ozzy Osbourne alongside Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson and Korn’s Jonathan Davis.
