Sharon Osbourne has revealed that Ozzfestwill return in 2027, with the iconic heavy metal festival set to begin in Birmingham before potentially expanding to the United States.
The festival’s revival comes after Sharon recently confirmed that Ozzfest would “absolutely” return, years after the long-running rock event last took place.
Ozzfest first launched in October 1996 as a two-day event, originally created by Sharon Osbourne after Ozzy Osbourne was reportedly rejected from the line-up of the Lollapalooza festival. The event quickly proved hugely popular and expanded into a full touring festival across the United States in 1997, becoming one of the most influential heavy metal tours of the late 1990s and 2000s.
Over the years, Ozzfest helped showcase both established and emerging heavy bands, featuring performances from major acts including Slipknot, System Of A Down, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Korn, and Black Sabbath, while also giving exposure to younger artists breaking into the genre.
The festival ran regularly until 2018, with that year’s line-up including Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, DevilDriver, and Ozzy Osbourne himself.
Now, speaking on The Osbournes podcast, Sharon Osbourne confirmed the event will return in 2027, starting in the city closely associated with the birth of heavy metal.
“We wanna do two days in Aston Villa and then come to America,” Sharon told her son Jack Osbourne during the podcast conversation. “Then we wanna hear from everyone where we should go in America.”
Birmingham holds a special significance in the history of heavy metal, as it is the hometown of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, the band widely credited with pioneering the genre in the late 1960s.
Sharon also explained that the festival would focus heavily on discovering the next generation of metal acts.
“We’ve got to find a lot of young, new talent, because that’s what your dad would want,” she said.
According to the discussion, Ozzfest 2027 will not initially be a touring festival, instead starting as a two-day event in Birmingham. However, Sharon suggested the format could expand again depending on demand.
“See how it does, and if people want it, we’ll be there,” she added, hinting that a full tour could follow in 2028.
For many fans, the announcement marks the return of one of heavy music’s most influential festivals, which played a key role in shaping the modern metal scene and launching the careers of several now-famous bands.
Ozzy Hologram: Sharon Osbourne In Talks For ABBA-Voyage Style Concert
Sharon Osbourne is reportedly in talks to create a hologram concert centred on her late husband Ozzy Osbourne and his final performance with Black Sabbath.
According to reports, Sharon has received several major offers for the rights to Ozzy’s legendary 10-hour ‘Back To The Beginning’ show, which took place on 5 July last year at Villa Park. The musical extravaganza saw Black Sabbath perform alongside some of the biggest names in rock, in what was billed as a historic homecoming for the Birmingham-born heavy metal pioneers.
The concert was streamed live globally and portions of the footage were later used in the Ozzy: No Escape From Now series on Paramount+, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at Ozzy’s final chapter on stage. However, the full, definitive footage of the marathon gig has yet to be formally released — and it is this material that is now said to be “up for grabs”.
Industry insiders claim Sharon Osbourne is weighing up a number of options, including a traditional concert film release or a cutting-edge residency inspired by ABBA Voyage. The London-based ABBA show has become a global phenomenon, featuring digital “Abbatars” of the Swedish pop icons performing alongside a live band in a purpose-built arena.
A music industry source told The Sun: “The plan was always to put the concert out in some form, but naturally, after Ozzy died, everything stopped.”
They added: “Sharon is now in a place where she is able to think about work again and is considering the options on the table.”
“Talks are ongoing and the offers range from a simple concert film to an Abba Voyage-style show.”
Ozzy’s death last year marked the end of an era for rock music. As the self-styled “Prince of Darkness”, he fronted Black Sabbath from the late 1960s, helping to pioneer heavy metal before forging an extraordinarily successful solo career. His final Villa Park performance was widely seen as a symbolic farewell — staged in the city where Black Sabbath first formed and where their sound was born.
A hologram-style production would allow fans to relive that moment in an immersive setting, potentially extending Ozzy’s stage presence long after his passing. Advances in digital concert technology have already transformed the live music landscape, with ABBA Voyage proving that audiences are willing to embrace high-end virtual performances when done convincingly.
For Sharon, who managed Ozzy’s career for decades and remained by his side through health battles and farewell tours, the decision is both commercial and deeply personal. The Back To The Beginning show was intended as a celebration of Ozzy’s legacy and Black Sabbath’s influence — and turning it into a residency or cinematic event would cement that legacy for a new generation.
No official deal has yet been announced, but with talks said to be ongoing, the prospect of an Ozzy hologram experience — whether on the big screen or in a purpose-built arena — could become one of the most talked-about developments in rock entertainment.
