Sharon Osbourne in Talks with Live Nation About Reviving the Ozzfest Festival
Sharon Osbourne, the world-renowned music manager, television personality, and widow of legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, is in talks with concert promoter Live Nation about reviving the iconic Ozzfest festival. She shared this in a recent Billboard interview, emphasizing that the festival’s return would honor her late husband’s legacy and provide a new platform for emerging musicians.
Ozzfest first took place in 1996, organized by Sharon after Ozzy was denied participation in another major festival. Since then, Ozzfest evolved into a major U.S. tour, becoming one of the most influential events in rock and metal music. Over the years, the festival helped launch bands like Slipknot, System of a Down, Linkin Park, and Deftones, establishing itself as a platform for talented performers.
The last Ozzfest tour occurred in 2007, after which it appeared only in occasional concerts and special events. Sharon Osbourne now wants to bring the festival back, making it relevant for today’s audience. According to her, discussions with Live Nation include the possibility of holding Ozzfest as soon as 2027. She is also considering expanding the festival’s genre range to attract not only fans of classic metal but also broader rock audiences.
Sharon emphasizes that supporting emerging talent is the main goal of Ozzfest’s revival. “This was something Ozzy was very passionate about: giving new artists a chance to perform in front of a large audience, ” she says. In addition, other projects related to Black Sabbath’s legacy are under consideration, including a tour with orchestral arrangements of classic songs, featuring musicians performing alongside symphonic ensembles with impressive visual effects.
The return of Ozzfest is not only commercially significant but also culturally important: the festival became a key part of music history, inspiring many similar events and launching the careers of dozens of bands. Now, almost 30 years after its founding, the idea of reviving the festival is seen by fans as a chance to reconnect with a rock and metal music legend, while offering new artists a unique opportunity to advance their careers.
