⚡We're at a loss for words ...
Festival organizers Johannes Kaufmann aka "Hansi" (left) and Oliver Seebacher aka "Oli" (right): "We're at a loss for words... From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank every single one of you who joined us at AREA 53 2026. Once again, it was an absolutely incredible festival. We feel truly humbled and honored to create this event for what we believe is the best crowd in the world. If you already know that AREA 53 2027 is a must-attend, festival and caravan tickets are available now! We'll see you next year. 🖤🤘 But enough about us - we'd love to hear from you! Tell us in the comments: How was AREA 53 2026 for you? Photo: Thomas Eisenpass
July 15, 2026, 10:00 AM 🤘 Ticket sales for 2027 have officially started!
Confirmed 2027 line-up:
* HammerFall
* Eisbrecher
* Grima
* Ektomorf
* Chuggaboom
* Ghidrah
* Morning pint with Jazz Gitti
🔥 New in 2027: Deluxe Caravan spots with electricity connection - exclusively limited to 10 pitches for vehicles up to 6 metres in length.
Area 53 Jesus Pilgrimage to Jazz Gitti 🙏🎶
Our annual “pilgrimage” starts on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Area 53 Jesus Chapel on the Deluxe Camping Site and leads straight to the festival grounds. The chapel is located next to the Schutzhaus, and the bar will be open.
The pilgrimage will be accompanied by music from:
A: Talspritzer Erlaufbuam
B: Erlaufspritzer Talerbuam
C: Erlauftaler Spritzbuam
D: Spritztaler Erlaufbuam
E: Buamtaler Erlaufspritzer
F: Metallica
Do you know the correct answer? Write it in the comments 👇
Probably the best bad band you’ll see this year. 🙊
Wednesday from 8:00 p.m.
Horny Monkeys + festival wristband collection in front of the Tenne from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Thursday from 11:00 p.m.
Horny Monkeys + special guest SKYFIRE
Friday from 11:00 p.m.
Horny Monkeys + special guest YELLOW BAGS
Saturday from 11:00 p.m.
Horny Monkeys + special guest HUMANIK
With benevolent indifference, sponsored by BM Ing. Florian Gatternig.
The best atmosphere at the morning pint with Austria’s cult icon!
Austria’s legendary singer is ending her active music career with her 80th birthday. At the same time, she makes it clear that she will not be completely stepping away from the public eye. “I’ll play at the Area 53 Festival for as long as I can,” says Martha Margit Butbul, better known as Jazz Gitti. ❤️ The Austropop legend will kick off Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with an unforgettable morning pint atmosphere!
Be sure to be there and cheer on Pauli Prattes!
On Thursday, July 16, during the stage changeover break between 1:50 and 2:10 p.m., it’s time to make way for ORF weather presenter Pauli! He will present the weather forecast for “Steiermark heute” live from the Area 53 Festival Mainstage. A feature about the Area 53 Festival will also be filmed and broadcast later the same day on the ORF program “Steiermark heute.” Come along and be part of the TV recording!
Osterhansi Part 1
Area 53 Hannes, aka Osterha(n)si, has come up with something truly special for Easter this year: a mega gift you definitely don’t want to miss. What exactly is behind it? For now, that remains top secret. Alright, we can reveal this much: Anyone who already has an Area 53 ticket or secures one by Easter is automatically qualified for the “Osterhansi” giveaway - no matter whether the ticket was purchased through the Area 53 website, the bringticket shop, or the Napalm Records shop. What you can win will be revealed in the video Osterhansi releases at Easter. So stay tuned, it will definitely be worth it!
Osterhansi Part 2
Did I just hear “Osterhansi" (Easter Bunny)? 🐰
Yes, that’s right, big Easter special at the Area 53 grounds, and all ticket holders are automatically entered into the giveaway!
🍺 What giveaway? Area 53 and bringticket are giving away 2×100 beers.
🍺 Is there a magic spell to summon good luck? Of course! Tag yourself and/or your festival buddies in the post. Tell us why you (or your crew) should win 100 beers. Like the post and share it in your story!
📜 Everyone who secured an Area 53 ticket by Easter Sunday at 11:59 PM or already had one, had the chance to win 2× 100 beers. The Area 53 festival mascot, “Area 53 Jesus,” couldn’t have picked a more fitting weekend to announce the two winners. 🍻Find out if you’ve won in the video, good luck!
Osterhansi Part 3
⚡Meet And Greet Special - Visions Of Atlantis 2026
Anyone who fought their way to the Napalm Records or Visions of Atlantis merch stand at Area 53 Festival 2026 and grabbed an epic piece of Visions Of Atlantis merch received a raffle ticket. Right after the show, five lucky crowd pirates were drawn live on stage and summoned straight to the backstage area, where they enjoyed an exclusive meet & greet as well as a small photo session with the symphonic-metal pirates. Of course, a hidden treasure - a goodie bag full of fan merch - was also waiting for them! Photo Credit: Thomas Eisenpass
⚡Jazz Gitti absolutely rocked the stage 2026
⚡Jazz Gitti ft. Area 53 Jesus
⚡When metal influencer Cikindeles meets Hansi
⚡The Bavarian Village
The reigning Mayor, elected in the year 2025, shall once again stand as the guardian of law and order within his Bavarian village. No new elections are foreseen this year. Yet, by his own sovereign will, he may choose to pass the mantle of office to one of his loyal followers—should he deem them worthy, and should such be his desire.
⚡More punctual than a German towel
... on a sunbed at an all-inclusive resort, the Area 53 Jesus landed precisely at 10:00 AM on Saturday, descending from a height of 50 meters in front of the legendary Jesus Chapel at the Deluxe campsite – all in front of hundreds of sunburn-disguised metalheads. What started years ago as a joke by the organizers has now become a cult tradition and a firmly established ritual of the festival – meant to be taken, of course, with a wink. Around 2,000 metal fans gathered for the traditional headbanger march to the morning pint at the festival grounds – true to style with beer cans in hand and legendary gestures.
July 19, 2026
Early Bird 2027: SOLD OUT
The Bavarian Village 2027: SOLD OUT
Deluxe Caravan: SOLD OUT
Shirt 2024
Shirt 2023
Zip Hoodie 2024
Zip Hoodie 2023
Tank Top 2024
Tank Top 2023
Festival Tank Top 2023
I Am From Schladnitz
Six bands out of a total of 130 applications made it through and competed against each other on April 11, 2026, to secure two coveted slots on the main stage of the Area 53 Festival 2026. The evaluation was carried out through a combination of 50% audience voting and 25% each from Oli of the Area 53 Festival and Bernd from Napalm Records & bringticket.
The Jury
Area 53 Jesus aka Flos Metal World, Bernd, Oli
Photo Credit: Thomas Eisenpass
THE DEVASTATION – 1st place
The incredible part: the band members are only between 14 and 17 years old, yet they’re already delivering a powerful sound with serious punch, which they describe themselves as “occult metal and hard rock.” Dark, intense, and backed by impressively strong vocals. If you want to hear what the “next generation” of metal sounds like, you should definitely check them out: Slot #2 on Friday at Area 53 Festival 2026! Photo Credit: Thomas Eisenpass
ENTER INFINITE – 2nd place
Enter Infinite are bringing their progressive metalcore from Graz to Leoben - straight into Slot #1 on Friday at Area 53 Festival 2026. With their distinctive style and powerful sound, the band is ready to take over the Area 53 stage. We’re looking forward to seeing you! Photo Credit: Thomas Eisenpass
SISTERLESS – Special Prize
The Real McKenzies are among the international heavyweights of the punk scene, captivating fans all over the world. As a special prize in cooperation with Punk Verein Austria, we’re sending the young local grunge band SISTERLESS - who placed 1st in the audience vote - to the Music-House in Graz on July 8, 2026, where they will open the evening as the support act. Save the date, grab your tickets early, and don’t miss it!