Rock am Ring and Rock im Park

The Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals are among the largest rock music events in Germany, held simultaneously each year. Rock am Ring is hosted at the Nürburgring race track, while Rock im Park takes place at the Zeppelinfeld in Nürnberg. Although they occur in different locations, they essentially form one event, with artists performing at both venues over the course of the three-day festival. Together, they attract massive crowds, with over 150,000 attendees in 2007 alone.

Rock am Ring began in 1985 to celebrate the opening of a new Nürburgring race track. It was intended to be a one-time event, but its success led to it becoming an annual tradition, with only a brief hiatus in 1988. Rock im Park started in 1993 in Vienna and moved around before finally settling at the Zeppelinfeld. In 2015 and 2016, Rock am Ring had to relocate to Mendig Air Base/Vulkaneifel due to new ownership but returned to the Nürburgring in 2017.

These festivals have featured some of the biggest names in rock on their stages, including Metallica, Foo Fighters, and System of a Down. Each year, they offer a diverse lineup that appeals to rock fans of all kinds. However, it hasn't always been smooth sailing—such as in 2017 when the festival was temporarily suspended due to a potential terrorist threat that turned out to be a false alarm.

Recent headliners have included Thirty Seconds to Mars, Muse, Tool, Slipknot, and Die Ärzte. The festivals are renowned for their diverse mix of rock genres, heavily featuring alternative, hard rock, and metal bands. Rock am Ring and Rock im Park have become iconic in the rock festival scene, consistently delivering a unique and electrifying experience for fans with both legendary and emerging artists.