🇩🇪 Wacken, Germany
What to Pack for Wacken Open Air 2026
Built from about 15 years of weather records at the site: typical highs of 22°C, overnight lows of 14°C and around 3.2mm of rain per day.
The weather you're packing for
| Day | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 30 Jul | 22°C | 15°C | 2.3 mm |
| Fri 31 Jul | 21°C | 14°C | 4.9 mm |
| Sat 1 Aug | 22°C | 14°C | 2.3 mm |
Long-run averages for each festival day, not a forecast. Check the Wacken forecast page in the week before you travel.
Always in the bag
- Refillable water bottle — sealed or empty so it gets through the gate.
- Sunscreen SPF 50 — even a cloudy festival day is six hours outdoors.
- Power bank — your phone is your ticket, your map and your group chat.
- Earplugs — for the front rail and for the campsite at 4am.
- More socks than days.
Sun and heat
Highs average 22°C, so heat is rarely the main problem — but the warmest day still reaches about 22°C and shade is limited at most sites.
- A wide-brim hat and sunglasses beat a cap for full-day sets.
- Loose, light-coloured long sleeves cover more skin and feel cooler than a vest.
Rain and mud kit — don't skip this
Rain falls on roughly 100% of Wacken days, averaging 3.2mm a day and about 9.5mm across the main days.
- Wellies or waterproof boots, plus dry shoes for the good spells.
- A real rain jacket and a cheap poncho — the poncho covers your bag in a crowd.
- A tarp under the tent and pegs that hold in soft ground.
- Dry bags for phone, power bank and one sealed set of dry clothes.
Sleeping and night layers
Overnight lows average 14°C, with the coldest festival night typically near 14°C (Sat 1 Aug). A 2-season bag with a comfort rating around 8°C covers these nights comfortably.
- An insulated mat — the ground takes more heat than the air.
- A hoodie you don't mind losing.
Why the Wacken site matters
The site is flat, low-lying farmland with heavy soil that turns to mud quickly. The 2023 edition became infamous when days of rain forced organisers to halt arrivals — 'Muddy Wacken' is now part of the festival's folklore. Rubber boots are basically uniform, and the open fields offer almost no shelter from wind or sun.