Rock am Ring

Rock am Ring is Germany's largest and most iconic rock festival, held annually at the legendary Nürburgring motorsports complex in Nürburg since 1985. Founded by concert promoter Lieberberg and inspired by Woodstock, the festival began as a one-time event to celebrate the inauguration of a newer, shorter version of the race track but became an annual tradition due to its commercial success with 75,000 attendees. After a brief hiatus from 1989-1990, the festival returned in 1991 with a new concept featuring both established artists and emerging bands. The festival temporarily moved to Mendig Air Base in 2015-2016 before returning to Nürburgring in 2017. Rock am Ring takes place simultaneously with Rock im Park in Nuremberg, with the same artists performing at both locations during the first weekend in June, creating Germany's largest mega-festival with combined attendance of 150,000. The festival features over 100 acts across four stages against the scenic backdrop of the Eifel Mountains. Notable headliners throughout its history include U2, David Bowie, Metallica, Rammstein, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Muse, System of a Down, Die Toten Hosen, and many other international superstars. The 2017 edition made headlines when the festival was evacuated due to terrorist threats during Rammstein's scheduled performance. As Germany's premier rock festival, Rock am Ring continues to be a major force in the global music festival circuit, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025.