Montreal Band Earns Spot at Wacken Open Air’s International Metal Showcase
Canada’s underground metal scene has selected its latest national representative for one of the world’s most recognized heavy metal festivals, with Montreal-based band BornBroken taking top honours at the 2026 Wacken Metal Battle Canada national final.
Held on May 9 at Piranha Bar in Montreal, the competition brought together four regional finalists from across the country following months of qualifying battles. The winning band will now represent Canada at the international Wacken Metal Battle during the 35th anniversary edition of Wacken Open Air in Germany later this summer.
The annual competition is regarded as a major platform for emerging unsigned metal acts seeking international exposure. Bands from more than 30 countries are expected to compete at the global final.
National Final Draws Industry Judges and Metal Fans
The Montreal final featured performances from four finalists representing different regions of Canada:
Finalists at the 2026 National Final
- BornBroken (Montreal, QC) — 2026 National Winner
- Ashes of Yggdrasil (Lloydminster, AB/SK)
- Empalement (Victoria, BC)
- Gravearth (Oshawa, ON)
The event was judged by a panel of Canadian metal industry figures, including radio hosts, festival organizers, promoters, musicians and media representatives. Judges included Luc Laine of CFLX 95.5 FM’s Alerte Metallique, Pierre Beaubien of CIBL 101.5 FM’s Décibel Métal, Andrew Wieler of CJLO 1690 AM, promoter and writer Kaje Annihilatrix, Dany Soucy of Bam&Co-Heavy Label and Trois-Rivières Metalfest, and Patrick Loisel of Augury.
Wacken Metal Battle Canada organizer JJ Tartaglia said the winning act is well-positioned for the international stage.
“Congrats to BornBroken, they are sure to tear it up at Wacken this summer and do Canada proud!”
BornBroken Reflects on National Victory
Following the announcement, BornBroken guitarist and vocalist Mike Decker described the victory as a milestone achieved through years of persistence on the independent music circuit.
“Winning the Canadian Wacken Metal Battle still hasn’t fully sunk in. We’ve spent years grinding through clubs, hauling gear through snowstorms, playing to half-empty rooms, and fighting for every inch as a band, so this means more to us than we can really put into words. To now represent Canada at Wacken Open Air is something we will never take for granted.
This win belongs to everyone who’s supported BornBroken over the years. Our families, our friends, the promoters who gave us chances, the people who bought merch when we were struggling to keep moving, and every single person who ever stood in front of the stage and gave us their energy. You carried us here as much as we carried ourselves.
We also want to give respect to every band that was part of this year’s battle. The level of talent, passion, and heart we saw was incredible. We may be the band getting on the plane, but we honestly feel like we’re carrying a piece of every one of those bands with us onto that stage in Germany. In our eyes, everyone who stepped into this battle and gave it everything they had is a winner.
We’re proud, we’re grateful, and we’re ready to give Wacken everything we’ve got…”
The victory marks a significant achievement for the Montreal metal group, which now joins a long list of international acts that have used the Wacken Metal Battle platform to expand their global audience.
Wacken Open Air Continues Global Expansion
Founded in Germany in 1990, Wacken Open Air has grown from a small gathering of approximately 800 attendees into what organizers describe as the world’s largest heavy metal festival. The event now attracts roughly 85,000 fans annually to the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein.
Beyond the festival itself, organizing company WOA Festival GmbH operates across multiple areas of the music business, including artist management, publishing, ticketing, merchandising and tour services.
The 2026 edition of Wacken Open Air is scheduled to run from July 29 to August 1, 2026.
Metal Battle Remains Key Platform for Emerging Artists
The Wacken Metal Battle competition has become an important showcase for unsigned metal bands worldwide, offering emerging artists an opportunity to perform before international audiences and industry professionals.
Canadian participation in the competition continues to highlight the depth and diversity of the country’s underground heavy music scene, with finalists this year representing Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and the Alberta-Saskatchewan region.
BornBroken will now prepare to take Canada’s metal scene to the international stage as part of the upcoming festival celebrations in Germany.