Following Sharon Osbourne’s interest in reviving the iconic event in honor of her late husband, the Ozzy Osbourne OzzFest official Instagram page penned “Will Ozzfest return in 2027??”
Though the long-running metal music fest last took place as a standalone event in 2018, with a one-off New Year’s Eve edition in 2019, Ozzy’s wife believes the appetite for a full-scale return has grown enough that Sharon’s already in early conversations with promoters Live Nation about bringing the traveling metal institution back to life.
In an interview with Billboard, Mrs Osbourne said “It was something Ozzy was very passionate about: giving young talent a stage in front of a lot of people. We really started metal festivals in this country. It was [replicated but] never done with the spirit of what ours was, because ours was a place for new talent. It was like summer camp for kids.”
Hinting at a more eclectic lineup that combines metal with adjacent genres to reflect how fans listen to today’s music, Sharon is keen to evolve the brand for a new generation, adding “I’d like to mix up the genres.”
Echoing its late-’90s and early-2000s heyday when it became a rite of passage for rising bands and a powerhouse showcase for established acts, should plans move forward, Ozzfest would, once again tour internationally.
Having previously spoken on The Osbournes Podcast prior to his July 2025 passing at the age of 76, when asked if it could return, Sharon said: “Yeah, sure. Of course.”
After daughter Kelly Osbourne stated that artist managers have to start being “realistic” with booking fees, her mother replied: “Why is it when it comes to us that everybody thinks that we are trillionaires, and so that every manager who wants their band on our festival wants one of the trillions they think we’ve got to put on the festival?”
Created by Ozzy and Sharon in 1996 as a two-day festival, the following year marked the start of the touring dates, although by the time the 2018 edition rolled around, it became a one night at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Alistair McMillan