Ozzfest to return in 2027 with two nights at Villa Park
Sharon and Jack Osbourne have confirmed the huge news
Last updated 20 hours ago
Ozzfest will return in 2027 with two nights at Aston Villa’s stadium Villa Park, the location of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s historic Back to the Beginning concert in July 2025.
Last month, Ozzfest’s social media channels sparked into life and began teasing the legendary rock and metal event’s return in 2027.
Ozzy’s wife and manager Sharon Osbourne has since confirmed that plans are afoot for an Ozzfest renaissance, and in the new episode of the Osbournes podcast, Sharon and Jack shed more light on the plans.
"Ozzfest is coming back!," Sharon enthused. "We can’t (take it everywhere initially) as now you have to plan these things two years in advance. But 2027, Aston Villa! We wanna do two days in Aston Villa and then come to America, and we wanna hear from everyone where we should go in America.
"Also, we've got to find a lot of young, new talent, because that's what your dad would want."
Concurring, Jack added: "That’s what Ozzfest was all about. That second stage was the incubator that so many guys came out of."
Returning to the subject of Ozzfest later in the one-hour episode, Jack said: "So Ozzfest 2027. It will be two days at the Villa and then two days in North America somewhere."
Sharon went on: "Yeah, then see how it does and if people want it, we’ll be there the following years. Not a (touring festival) in 2027, (it will be) in 2028."
When Jack asked "Why not? We did it better than anyone," Sharon detailed what made Ozzfest unique: "It was more fun. When you go to other festivals, everybody's so uptight. But that was always the thing about our festival. There was never anybody jockeying for position or thought they were better than anyone else. It was summer camp."
Referencing in the infamous Iron Maiden onstage egging and sabotage in 2005, Jack: "Well there was one year that that happened…"
Sharon responded: "Iron Maiden? Yeah but, y’know, bless them.”
Revealing that Judas Priest are one of the likely performers in Birmingham after they missed out on Back to the Beginning due to a scheduling conflict, Sharon then said: “I wanna see Rob Halford there. Do you follow him? He comes up with the best lines. He’s just the best."
Speaking at MIDEM 2026 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France on 6th February, Sharon said she discussed the return of Ozzfest with Ozzy before his death.
She said: “Ozzy and I would talk about it, and he'd say, 'Do you think Ozzfest would work without me?' And I'm, like, 'Yeah, it's a brand. It will work without you.' And he said, 'We should do it.'"
Sharon Osbourne created Ozzfest in 1996 in response to Ozzy being knocked back from the Lollapalooza line-up.
Initially a two-day event in Arizona and California, due to its huge success Ozzfest became a North American touring event with a UK festival taking place in 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2010.
Artists who performed at the event love the decades include Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Slipknot, Mötley Crüe, Pantera, Evanescence, Jane’s Addiction, Korn, Rob Zombie, Incubus, Linkin Park, System of a Down, Papa Roach and Disturbed to name but a few.
The last Ozzfest took place on 31st December 2018 at The Forum in Los Angeles with Ozzy Osbourne hosting, and Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Jonathan Davis, Body Count, Zakk Sabbath, DevilDriver and Wednesday 13 on the bill.
Iron Maiden co-headlined the Ozzfest tour with Black Sabbath in the summer of 2005, however Sharon Osbourne allegedly sabotaged Maiden's final performance at the Hyundai Pavilion in San Bernardino over comments Bruce Dickinson is purported to have made.
During opener 'Murders in the Rue Morgue', Maiden were pelted with eggs, cups and bottle caps from a specific area of the pit, and a man invaded the stage during 'The Trooper' clutching an American flag.
A result of the fiasco, Sharon and Bruce traded harsh words numerous times over the ensuing years, however Bruce recently admitted it was all a “storm in a teacup”.
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning concert in photos:
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
A giant inflatable Ozzy greeted fans arriving at Holte End of Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning host Jason Momoa and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler pose in an empty Villa Park as gates open.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Atlanta, Georgia metal monoliths Mastodon were the first band to take to the Back to the Beginning stage.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Thrash legends Anthrax pose in front of the Villa Park crowd after their performance at Back to the Beginning. Wearing matching 'Sabbath Bloody Anthrax' T-shirts, Anthrax played their own song 'Indians' and a fiery cover of Black Sabbath's 'Into the Void'.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, wearing a 'Sabbath Bloody Anthrax' T-shirt with 'Iommi 666' on the back, at the Back to the Beginning concert.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Yungblud belts out Black Sabbath's 'Changes' at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park. Performing as part of Supergroup A, Yungblud dedicated the track to late Liverpool player Diogo Jota.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler performed as part of 'Supergroup B', singing on 'The Train Kept A-Rollin'' and 'Walk This Way / Whole Lotta Love'
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning musical director Tom Morello with Steven Tyler at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
An inflatable Ozzy Osbourne ball in Aston Villa colours bounces in the crowd at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Although he didn't appear at Villa Park, Tenacious D's Jack Black performed Ozzy Osbourne's 'Mr. Crowley' on the screens with a young band that included Scott Ian's son, Revel.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Tom Morello wore a Randy Rhoads T-shirt with 'Sabbath Rules' taped to the back of his guitar.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
In character as Papa V Perpetua, Ghost leader Tobias Forge sang 'Bark at the Moon ' with Vernon Reid, Nuno Bettencourt, Adam Wakeman, Rudy Sarzo and Travis Barker.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
One of the surprise performers, The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood played on The Train Kept A-Rollin' as part of Supergroup B.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Metallica's James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo in front of the glorious Villa Park crowd at Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning concert on Saturday 5th July.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Metallica's Lars Ulrich at Back to the Beginning. The metal titans' six-song set included covers of Black Sabbath's 'Hole in the Sky' and 'Johnny Blade', plus their own Metallica classics 'Creeping Death', 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', 'Battery' and 'Master of Puppets'.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
As he took to the stage on his bat throne, Ozzy Osbourne told the adoring Villa Park crowd: "It's so good to be on this stage... You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Ozzy Osbourne flips the bird at photographer Ross Halfin.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The Prince of Darkness on his bat throne.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Ozzy sang five solo tracks - 'I Don't Know', 'Mr. Crowley', 'Suicide Solution', 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' and 'Crazy Train' - before he was joined on stage by his Black Sabbath band mates Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi one last time.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The concert at Villa Park was Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's last-ever live performance.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The Hand of Doom himself Tony Iommi at Black Sabbath's final concert at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning