The first edition since Ozzy Osbourne’s death will be curated by Sharon and Jack Osbourne and will mark the festival’s debut in Mexico City

Ozzfest is back. The festival created by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne in 1996 has announced its return in 2027, with three shows: one in the United Kingdom, one in the United States and one in Mexico, where the event will take place for the first time. It will be the first edition since Ozzy’s death on July 22, 2025, seventeen days after Back to the Beginning, his farewell to the stage in Birmingham.

Dates and venues

  • July 10, 2027: National Bowl, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
  • September 11, 2027: Glen Helen Amphitheater, San Bernardino, California, United States.
  • September 18, 2027: Estadio GNP Seguros, Mexico City, Mexico.

Each date will be a one-day festival. The choice of venues carries symbolic weight. Glen Helen Amphitheater hosted the first Ozzfest in 1996, while the National Bowl welcomed the festival’s UK debut in 1998, as well as its 2001 edition. Mexico City, meanwhile, marks Ozzfest’s first appearance in Latin America.

Why not Birmingham

The original plan was to hold the British edition at Villa Park in Birmingham, Ozzy’s hometown and the setting for Back to the Beginning. But according to Sharon Osbourne, construction work at Aston Villa’s stadium will not be finished in time to host concerts during the European summer of 2027. The organizers had to choose between postponing the festival for a year or moving it, and decided to take Ozzfest back to Milton Keynes.

The lineup

The acts have not yet been announced, with names expected over the coming months. Sharon Osbourne is curating the lineup with help from her son, Jack Osbourne, who has said a headliner should be revealed soon. Live Nation is producing the event.

Sharon has said she wants to mix genres and go beyond traditional rock and metal, while keeping one of the festival’s trademarks: giving new bands a platform. That was how acts such as Disturbed, Slipknot and System of a Down gained exposure, and Jack said there should even be room for at least one unsigned artist. Sharon also mentioned that she would like to see Rob Halford at the festival, fueling speculation about a Judas Priest appearance.

Tickets

The advance ticket presale began on November 6 through Live Nation in the United Kingdom and Ticketmaster in Mexico, where the offer was named Early Bat, a reference to Ozzy’s famous bat. Prices and general sale dates have not yet been announced.

Ozzy’s legacy

Launched in 1996, Ozzfest was the first touring festival in the United States dedicated to heavy rock and became one of the genre’s most important events, touring the country for years and also reaching the United Kingdom. The last edition took place on December 31, 2018, at a New Year’s Eve show at the Forum in Los Angeles, with Ozzy headlining alongside Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson and Body Count. Sharon has explained that the festival stopped because it was no longer financially viable, with artist fees growing ever higher.

According to Sharon, Ozzy himself once asked whether Ozzfest would work without him, and wanted the festival to continue. To her, the event will always be an important part of her husband’s legacy, with the atmosphere of a summer camp for the metal family. She has also spoken about plans to take the festival to more places in 2028 if there is demand. For now, Brazil is not on the itinerary, but the Mexico debut leaves a door open for Latin America.

Artwork: Ozzfest publicity