Sharon Osbourne Confirms Ozzfest Revival at MIDEM 2026

Sharon Osbourne has confirmed that Ozzfest will absolutely return, with Ozzy Osbourne’s blessing, after addressing the news at MIDEM 2026 in Cannes. “Yes, absolutely. We’re gonna do it,” she said, signaling a new chapter for the hard rock and metal festival that she and Ozzy launched three decades ago. The last edition took place in 2018 at the Forum in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve, a show that occurred just a month before Ozzy fell ill. She noted that there were no plans to stop the festival before that health setback, and that Ozzy and she would often discuss the possibility of continuing the brand beyond the singer’s onstage presence. He told her, and she recalls, that the festival could work without him, and she agreed that the brand has enduring power.

Ozzfest began as a two-day event in October 1996, later evolving into a touring spectacle before settling into a single-day format from 2008 onward. Its mission has always been to give young talent a platform in front of big crowds, a spirit Sharon likened to a “summer camp for kids.” While nothing has been officially locked in yet, she hinted that reviving the festival could come as soon as 2027, with room to adjust plans as the project develops. The Cannes moment underscored a shift from rumor to intent and highlighted the Osbournes’ belief that the festival can evolve while staying true to its roots.

If Ozzfest makes a comeback, it would arrive at a time when metal festivals remain a magnet for fans around the world and when new generations seek gateways into the scene. Sharon’s comments emphasize a mission beyond nostalgia: to honor the festival’s core ethos and to champion the next wave of performers who will carry the torch forward, all while offering a renewed platform for discovery and big-stage collaboration.

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