Let’s get ready to rumble! 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.
“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,” adds WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia.
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.
List of previous WMBC national winners: Killotine (Hamilton, ON – 2025), Beguiler (Toronto, ON – 2024), Strigampire (Trois-Rivières, QC – 2023), The Slyde (Toronto, ON – 2019), Centuries of Decay (Toronto, ON – 2018), Profaner (Hamilton, ON – 2016), Vesperia (Toronto, ON – 2015), Mutank (Montreal, QC – 2014), Crimson Shadows (Toronto, ON – 2013).
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)
Edmonton
TBA
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)
Ottawa
TBA
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
Quebec City
TBA
