Ozzfest returns to Villa Park

Sharon Osbourne has confirmed Ozzfest will return to Villa Park in Birmingham next year. For fans this is more than a hometown one-off: the festival helped break major rock and metal acts and the relaunch is being positioned as a platform for young talent, a core part of Ozzfest's identity.

The Osbournes created Ozzfest in 1996 as a travelling two-day showcase after Ozzy Osbourne was denied a spot at Lollapalooza. Over the years the bill helped introduce bands such as Slipknot, Limp Bizkit and System Of A Down at pivotal early moments in their careers. The festival later expanded internationally before going quiet; its last full incarnation was a single show in Inglewood, California, in 2018.

Sharon, 73, has said the revived Ozzfest will run for one or two days depending on fan interest and is already in talks with potential performers and headliners. She told Billboard: "It was something Ozzy was very passionate about: giving young talent a stage in front of a lot of people." That promise — a mix of established names and fresh acts — is the key sell for music fans who want first looks at bands that could be the next big thing.

The venue choice is charged: Villa Park hosted Ozzy's Back To The Beginning retirement show on July 5 last year. Ozzy died on July 22, just 17 days after the gig, following a heart attack at his home in Buckinghamshire; he was 76. The Villa Park event was streamed to millions and featured a heavyweight support list including Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Tool, Gojira, Anthrax and Mastodon, with proceeds sent to charities including Cure Parkinson’s and Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

Sharon has also indicated ambitions beyond the UK, saying she wants to bring Ozzfest back to the United States as well. She has been candid about why the festival stopped before — pointing to commercial pressure from managers and agents — but insists the festival’s original spirit, of a "baby stage" for emerging bands, is central to any return.

For fans and industry watchers, Ozzfest’s comeback is worth watching: it could revive a major springboard for new metal and rock talent while saluting Ozzy’s legacy. Sharon has promised "more info on everything coming soon," and a Back To The Beginning concert film will hit cinema screens later this year.