Montreal Metal Band to Perform on Headbangers Stage at the World’s Largest Heavy Metal Festival
Canadian metal band BornBroken is set to take the international stage after earning the title of Wacken Metal Battle Canada 2026 champion. The Montreal-based group will represent Canada at Wacken Open Air 2026, one of the world’s largest heavy metal festivals, with a scheduled performance on the Headbangers Stage on Wednesday, July 29, from 12:15 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. (CEST).
The appearance marks a significant milestone for the Quebec band, which secured the national title following months of regional competition and a closely contested national final in Montreal. Their performance at Wacken places them alongside emerging metal acts from more than 30 countries competing in the international Wacken Metal Battle.
BornBroken Earns Canada’s Top Spot in National Competition
National Final Showcased Four Leading Canadian Metal Bands
BornBroken advanced through the Canadian competition before claiming the national championship at the Wacken Metal Battle Canada National Final, held on May 9 at Piranha Bar in Montreal.
The final featured four acts representing different regions of the country:
- BornBroken (Montreal, Quebec)
- Ashes of Yggdrasil (Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan)
- Empalement (Victoria, British Columbia)
- Gravearth (Oshawa, Ontario)
The finalists performed before a panel of industry judges that included radio hosts, promoters, festival organizers, musicians and members of Canada’s metal music community.
With its victory, BornBroken earned the opportunity to perform during the 35th anniversary edition of Wacken Open Air, where international winners compete before a global audience of heavy metal fans.
Organizer Expresses Confidence Ahead of International Competition
Wacken Metal Battle Canada organizer JJ Tartaglia praised the band’s achievement and its upcoming appearance in Germany.
“Congrats to BornBroken; they are sure to tear it up at Wacken this summer and do Canada proud!”
Band Reflects on Years of Hard Work
BornBroken Says Victory Represents Entire Support Community
BornBroken guitarist and vocalist Mike Decker described the national championship as the culmination of years of dedication on Canada’s 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…”
Latest Album Available Ahead of Wacken Performance
BornBroken will arrive at Wacken following the release of its latest album, Am I Invisible, which is available in both vinyl and digital formats. The band has also released the title track as an official music video and made the full album available for online streaming.
The upcoming festival appearance is expected to introduce the Montreal act to an international audience while further raising the profile of Canada’s independent heavy metal scene.
About Wacken Metal Battle and Wacken Open Air
Wacken Metal Battle is an international competition for unsigned heavy metal bands, providing emerging artists with an opportunity to perform at Wacken Open Air and gain exposure beyond their domestic markets. National champions from more than 30 countries compete during the festival as part of the global contest.
Founded in 1990, Wacken Open Air has grown from an event attended by approximately 800 visitors into the world’s largest heavy metal festival, welcoming around 85,000 fans annually to the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The 2026 edition runs from July 29 through August 1, drawing artists and fans from around the world for four days of live performances and international competition.