Competition Opportunity - 2026 Wacken Metal Battle Canada
Deadline: November 30, 2025
One band to rule them all! Wacken Metal Battle Canada returns for 2026 battles across the country to send one independent metal band to play at Wacken Open Air, one of the world's most prestigious and largest metal festivals.
Band submissions for Canada end on November 30th.
Canadian bands interested in participating can apply at https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/ (please select Canada as your country)
The national final for 2026 battles will be held in Montreal, QC.
Canadian Battle Cities:
- Vancouver, BC
- Vancouver Island, BC
- BC Interior
- Edmonton, AB
- Toronto, ON
- Hamilton, ON
- Ottawa, ON
- Montreal, QC
- Quebec City, QC
Watch - Wacken Metal Battle 2025 - Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? - https://youtu.be/nCulXiLlaSw
The 2026 WMBC champion will receive the following:
- A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival.
- Full professional backline provided.
- $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany.
- VIP camping at the festival.
Wacken Metal Battle Canada is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries' champions, and represent Canada in an international battle of the bands at the world's largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.
How it works:
Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the Canadian national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of other participating countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
Rules for participation: https://www.metal-battle.com/rules/
