That’s how it was at ROCK AM RING 2026 with IRON MAIDEN, BLACK VEIL BRIDES, and many more (Part 3 of 3)

Sunday: Passion Knows No Bounds

You can read Part 1 here. As we set off for the festival grounds one last time, our path first took us to our little go-to bakery not far from the Ring. Over a hearty breakfast, we looked back on the past two days of the festival together with our favorite colleagues from the magazine. Although about 45,000 steps and far-too-short nights had taken their toll, as soon as the Ring beckoned, none of that mattered anymore. This time, the Eifel even had a real ace up its sleeve. Instead of rain clouds, we were greeted by a brilliant blue sky and sunshine that lasted well into the evening. A festival finale could hardly have been set up any better.

When Vampires Defy the Sunlight

Hardly any other band could have provided a greater contrast to the weather that Sunday. The very first shouts of “Andy! Andy!” made it clear who had everyone’s attention . Black Veil Brides brought their melodic blend of hard rock and modern metal to the Utopia Stage. In the bright daylight, Andy Biersack’s jet-black goth aesthetic had a unique impact. His fair complexion made him look almost unreal against the brilliant blue sky. Cargo pants, a tank top over a tight-fitting lace shirt, and suspenders gave his appearance a striking look that immediately drew everyone’s attention. As early as “Knives and Pens,” the audience sang along loudly from the very first note, raising their hearts and devil horns high, while the guitarists once again celebrated their riffs back-to-back. Just one month after the release of their latest album, “Vindicate,” Black Veil Brides demonstrated great confidence in their new material, including five of the fresh tracks in their setlist. What was remarkable was that none of the new songs felt out of place. Instead, they fit naturally among the fan favorites and were received with equal enthusiasm. Biersack didn’t miss a single reaction from the crowd. Despite the loud support, he noticed that the crowd was initially still a bit reserved. With dry humor, he commented on the situation: “Thank you for standing here while we play. Very polite. No movement at all, but everybody’s smiling. It’s not at all awkward to have everybody just look at you the whole time.” His tongue-in-cheek comments came across less as criticism and more as a playful attempt to draw the crowd out of their shell. It worked: By the time they played “Revenger” and “Faithless,” circle pits had formed, crowd surfers were gliding over the crowd, and the frontman acknowledged the new energy with an enthusiastic “Fuck yeah!” The frontman also took a brief delay on the drums in stride with his trademark biting humor. Without hesitation, Biersack bridged the wait with more lighthearted banter and a collective wave that reached all the way to the back rows. When “Perfect Weapon” and the anthemic “In the End” finally rang out, Black Veil Brides had definitively won over the audience.

Dreams from New Delhi

Bloodywood impressively demonstrated on the Mandora Stage that music knows no boundaries. The metal band from India combines heavy guitars with traditional Indian instruments, traditional attire, and lyrics in their native language—and was celebrated by the Rock am Ring audience as if they’d always been part of the festival. The crowd was already clapping along enthusiastically during the intro, chants of “Bloodywood” echoed across the grounds, and the musicians could barely hide their joy at the overwhelming response. “Metal isn’t big in our country. Our hope lies with the rest of the world. Germany plays a big part in that,” the singer explained, visibly moved. Time and again, the band expressed their gratitude, spoke of dreams worth pursuing, and visibly savored every single moment on that stage. This gratitude immediately spread to the audience. The fans were literally at the Indians’ feet, dancing exuberantly to the oriental rhythms and curiously embracing the sounds that were unfamiliar to many. Every crowd surfer who landed in the pit was beaming from ear to ear. “We’re halfway through the set, but we’re not slowing down,” the frontman promised—and kept his word. With a wink, he taught the fans the chorus of “Gaddaar” in Hindi, whereupon oriental-inspired dance moves suddenly broke out all over the area in front of the stage. A little later, he called for the next circle pits with “Open up the motherfucking pit!” With “Bekhauf,” their collaborative single with Babymetal, Bloodywood reminded the crowd that fear can either paralyze or drive you forward. When a crowd surfer finally floated over the crowd with a bubble machine, the moment seemed almost symbolic of the band’s journey: dreams that once took shape on the streets of New Delhi were now floating right in the middle of Rock am Ring.

Together Against the Darkness

Catch Your Breath are part of that new generation of bands that no longer define intensity solely through pure aggression. Instead, openness, vulnerability, and honest lyrics take center stage—without losing even a bit of their power. With bass lines that were, unfortunately, too thunderous, the Texans kicked off their set on the Orbit Stage with “Blood Money.” Frontman Josh Mowery stepped out in front of the crowd wearing a cool leather jacket, a cap, a ponytail, and sunglasses, let a blood-curdling scream echo through the Eifel, and immediately urged the crowd: “Rock am Ring, open it up!” In between songs, short audio interludes interrupted the performance and unfortunately disrupted the flow a bit. Musically, however, this didn’t dampen the energy at all. Even the new song “Control” was already being celebrated loudly by the audience and met with an enthusiastic “Fuck yeah!” But as powerful as Catch Your Breath may sound—their real strength lies in the messages between the songs. Before “Y.S.K.W.,” Josh Mowery addressed the crowd in front of the stage: “If one of you is struggling with addiction, this song is for you.” The song tells of the painful process of breaking free from a destructive addiction—of relapses, withdrawal symptoms, and the courage to free oneself from the grip of one’s own demons. What followed wasn’t a rallying cry, but an honest message: “If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. We’re so happy you’re still here. We love each and every one of you.” For a moment, the breakdowns and mosh pits faded into the background. Time and again, Josh sought connection with the audience. During “Lost,” he formed a heart with his hands; during “21 Gun Salute,” the atmosphere became noticeably emotional, before “Dark” ramped up the energy again. The band, however, saved the emotional climax for the very end. “On behalf of every band that played today—thank you for supporting live music. You are the reason we can stand on this stage and live our dreams,” Josh said before the first notes of “Dial Tone” rang out. What followed was far more than just the band’s biggest hit. The fans’ voices merged with Josh Mowery’s singing into a moving unity. The song about alienation, loneliness, and the longing for genuine connection suddenly took on a whole new meaning. At that moment, there was no trace of isolation left. Moved, Josh placed a hand over his heart and, smiling, soaked up the moment. On Instagram, the singer posted a video of the audience singing along and admitted that this very moment had moved him to tears. There could hardly have been a more beautiful symbol of just how much this performance meant to Catch Your Breath.

Unbroken

A change of style! Social Distortion, one of the most influential punk rock bands in the U.S., took the stage at the Mandora Stage. Since 1979, frontman Mike Ness has been synonymous with an unmistakable blend of punk rock, rockabilly, blues, and country—a sound with which the Californians have influenced generations of musicians. The band deliberately avoided using any visual effects. The screens simply displayed the iconic Social Distortion skeleton with a cigarette and a cocktail glass before “Born to Kill” kicked off the set. The title track of their first album in 15 years took on special significance: Mike Ness wrote it after overcoming cancer, during which he had to completely relearn how to sing and even how to swallow. Without much fanfare, the opening number thus gained additional symbolic power. Although the pogo and circle pits remained modest at first, the crowd gradually warmed up with classics like “Mommy’s Little Monster,” “Ball and Chain,” and especially “Story of My Life.” With a wink, Ness announced the song as an “old German beer-drinking sing-along”—and sure enough, the fans sang along loudly to the chorus. The show closed with “Don’t Drag Me Down,” an unequivocal rejection of racism, discrimination, and injustice.

The Freedom of the Mask

For many bands, landing a spot at Rock am Ring is the result of years of hard work. President managed it in a remarkably short time. It’s only been since last year that this mysterious collective has been turning heads—and despite notable competition, they’ve already drawn an impressive crowd to the Orbit Stage. A palpable tension hung over the square before the intro began. A pink, transparent drum set, the striking glowing crosses in the background, and a pulpit defined the minimalist stage design. Slowly and deliberately, the frontman stepped onto the stage—wearing a black tailcoat with a bow tie, white gloves, and a Reagan mask. He raised his fist into the air, let his gaze wander, and immediately made it clear that President wouldn’t need any grand words. In fact, the band remained silent throughout the entire performance. No announcements, no explanations—just music, gestures, and atmosphere. The audience was already singing along loudly during “Fearless.” “Dionysus” was met with enthusiastic cheers, while the frontman’s powerful screams impressively underscored why the English band is currently considered one of the most exciting new acts on the modern metal scene. Time and again, he returned to his lectern, paused, let the cheers wash over him, and communicated exclusively through small gestures. During “Rage,” he dropped to his knees in the middle of the song, literally soaking up the crowd’s reactions, and then blew a kiss to the fans. When the drum-and-bass section kicked in during “Conclave,” crowd surfers floated above the crowd against the evening sky—a scene that was as powerful as it was almost surreal. The climax finally came with “In the Name of the Father,” the very song that marked the beginning of this band’s journey.

The Golden Hour

The timeless hard rockers from Alter Bridge radiated nothing but feel-good vibes. At the Mandora, the audience encountered extraordinary musicians and a frontman whose face beamed with joy throughout the evening. Even during “Silent Divide,” Myles Kennedy could barely wipe the infectious grin off his face. He repeatedly made eye contact with the audience and, during a laid-back circle pit, quickly pulled down his sunglasses so he could better follow the action. “That’s beautiful,” he commented with a laugh, clapping enthusiastically for the fans. Throughout the entire set, Kennedy came across as remarkably approachable and appreciative: “I know there’s a lot of things you could be doing, and you chose to come hang out with us.” The audience thanked him by singing along loudly, clapping, and repeatedly chanting “Alter Bridge!” When guitarist Mark Tremonti finally took over the vocals for “Rise Today,” the atmosphere in front of the stage was as exuberant as it was relaxed. Under the warm evening sun, a hot-air balloon even drifted leisurely across the festival grounds—an almost symbolic moment for this thoroughly laid-back performance. By the time Miles crouched down with the audience during “Metalingus”—but had to briefly stop singing because he was laughing so hard—it was clear: Alter Bridge hadn’t just thrilled the crowd that evening—they were enjoying every single minute just as much themselves.

As if not a single day had passed

There are bands that have been living off their past for decades. And then there’s Iron Maiden. With a two-hour set, the British heavy metal legends took the final headlining slot. Long before the concert began, countless Maiden T-shirts dominated the scene in front of the Utopia Stage. From the very first moment, Bruce Dickinson left no doubt as to why the band has lost none of its appeal even after five decades. With his ponytail tied high, a leather jacket, and gray jeans, the 67-year-old stormed across the stage, repeatedly making eye contact with Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers. Together, the musicians radiated a contagious joy of performing. Time and again, they grinned at one another and seemed to be enjoying the evening at least as much as the ten thousand people in front of the stage. And Iron Maiden told stories. Each song opened a new chapter. Bruce slipped into ever-changing roles, changed outfits without interrupting the flow of the performance, and transformed himself at times into a mystical storyteller, at times into a soldier, and at times into a ghostly wanderer. At the same time, the band’s mascot Eddie kept appearing in new guises: first as a three-meter-tall figure with glowing eyes, torn jeans, a mullet, and a massive axe; later as a soldier with a machine gun on a mountaintop; or as a saber-wielding companion during “The Trooper.” Together with the constantly changing backdrops, this created a stage design that made each song feel like its own short film. Visibly moved, Dickinson let his gaze wander over the infield, which was packed all the way to the horizon. “What a great day. Unbelievable. Life is beautiful. Unbelievable.” It was one of those moments when even a global superstar simply savored the moment. Seconds later, “The Number of the Beast” sent the Nürburgring into a frenzy amid massive bursts of fire above the stage and from the video screens. Chants of “Maiden!” echoed across the grounds as thousands fervently sang along to every line. One of the most charming moments, however, was, of all things, a mosh pit. As Iron Maiden continued their musical journey through time, a “snail pit” formed right in the middle of the infield. With their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them, the small group laughed as they moved in circles at a snail’s pace. A wonderfully creative idea that showed how Rock am Ring lets every generation celebrate in its own way. During “2 Minutes to Midnight,” martial war imagery dominated the screens. Eddie sat on a mountaintop with a machine gun, the British flag fluttering beside him. At that very moment, Dickinson lightened the mood with dry British humor, raising his water bottle high like a mountaineer and grinning: “There’s nothing interesting in this bottle. Fucking water, no beer, no schnapps.”

A Fountain of Youth Called Passion

With “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the performance finally reached one of its most visually stunning climaxes. On the screens, the legendary albatross soared through the skies before the ship seemed doomed to sink and its crew plunged into the depths of the sea. Dickinson, clad in a tattered cloak, appeared almost like a ghostly apparition, transforming Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous ballad into a dark stage epic. As darkness fell, the production gained even more intensity. Lasers streaked across the night sky, flames shot upward, and during “Fear of the Dark,” tens of thousands of voices merged into a mighty chorus. Bruce moved across the stage with a lantern while a giant moon illuminated the screens. You couldn’t help but pause and marvel. Right next to us, a fan in his early sixties followed Bruce Dickinson’s every move with sparkling eyes. Again and again, he shook his head with a laugh, until he finally blurted out: “Unbelievable! I’ve barely gotten out of the car today, and nobody’s looked at me like this in twenty years!” One could hardly have described this performance more aptly. At 67, Dickinson looked like a youngster, sprinting tirelessly across the stage and impressively proving that Iron Maiden is still every bit as good as younger bands when it comes to energy, stage presence, and passion. With “Wasted Years,” this extraordinary headliner’s set finally drew to a close. “Have a great day, a great week, a great year, have a great fucking life—you deserve it! We’ll see you again,” Dickinson said, bidding a emotional farewell to the audience. Behind all the flames, Eddie, and monumental stories, one thing above all else remained in our memories: the palpable passion of a band that still savors every single moment on that stage. Despite all the dark imagery and epic stories, the British band left behind one thing above all else: hope, warmth, and the feeling that music connects people across generations.

The spark never dies out

Rock am Ring 2026 finally came to a close as the night fell, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display. A heartfelt message appeared on the video screens: “Thank you for an unforgettable festival! You are the Ring!”

It was the hardest moment of every Rock am Ring weekend. Not the last song. Not leaving the infield. But the moment when you realize that this very special time is now over. Three days during which everyday life faded into the distance. Days filled with music, happy faces, shared joy, and countless encounters that showed why Rock am Ring is so much more than just a festival for so many people. For a brief moment, everything felt a little lighter. Even on the way home, that feeling wouldn’t let go of us. Even on the way home, that feeling wouldn’t let go of us. Not far from the Ring, we ran into a police checkpoint. Every car was pulled over, and finally it was our turn. I rolled down the window, and the police officer shone his flashlight in my face. Still overwhelmed by all the impressions of the weekend, I asked him, almost euphorically, what we were supposed to do now. He seemed irritated, just waved us off, and said, “Just keep driving!” Laughing, we continued on our way. At that moment, we realized just how much this weekend still had us in its grip.

Perhaps that is precisely the magic of the Ring. You may eventually leave the Nürburgring, but the feeling you experienced there remains. The music lingered, images flashed before your mind’s eye once more, and countless new memories found a permanent place in your Ring-heart.

Due to photography restrictions, we were unfortunately unable to take any pictures of President for you.

Text: Nadine Kloppert
Photos: Michael Gamon