NEWS: Wacken Metal Battle Canada Announces 2026 Battle Cities and Bands

[MEDIA RELEASE] Wacken Metal Battle Canada is proud to announce this year’s 2026 battle grounds across the country, where one independent metal band will gain the opportunity to play at Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s most prestigious and largest metal festivals.

Battles will be hosted in Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Okanagan, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, with each city being witness to a behemoth of independent extreme music talent.

The following dates, cities, and bands are listed below. The national final will be held in Montreal, QC, on May 9, 2026.

WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia,

This series of battles is the first step to a world of opportunity waiting for you. Good luck to all the battling bands, and your chance to play Wacken Open Air.

The 2026 WMBC champion will receive the following:

• A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival.
• Full professional backline provided.
• $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany.
• VIP camping at the festival.

Battles Listed By City:

Vancouver

• March 5 – Vancouver, BC – Astoria – Bands TBA (Round 1) 
• March 6 – Vancouver, BC – Astoria – Bands TBA (Round 2)
• March 28 – Vancouver, BC – Astoria (BC Final)

Kelowna

• March 15 – Kelowna, BC – Jackknife – Bands TBA (BC Interior Round) 

Victoria

• March 20 – Victoria, BC – Lucky Bar – Bands TBA – (BC Island Round)

Toronto

• Jan 17 – Toronto, ON – Hard Luck Bar – Dawn Vally, The Divine Project, Night Of The Snake, Ubruxum (Round 1)
• Jan 30 – Toronto, ON – Bovine Sex Club – Gravearth, The Animal Warfare Act, Absent Theory, Lahore Wept (Round 2)
• Feb 7 – Toronto, ON – Hard Luck Bar – Deafened, Abysmal Whore, Misothronos, Automatic Fire (Round 3)
• April 18 – Toronto, ON – The Garrison (Ontario Final)

Montreal

• Jan 24 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar – Bands TBA (Round 1)
• Feb 6 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar – Bands TBA (Round 2)
• March 13 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar – Bands TBA (Round 3)
• April 3 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar – Eastern Final​
• May 9 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar – National Final

Edmonton, Ottawa, and Quebec City – TBA