Sharon Osbourne, the widow of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and a prominent music manager, revealed in a recent interview that she is in talks with Live Nation to bring back the Ozzfest festival. The original festival, which began 30 years ago, was instrumental in giving exposure to new hard rock and metal talent and was a pioneering national event focused on the genre.
Osbourne mentioned that the revived Ozzfest could return as early as 2027, and unlike past editions, it might feature a broader range of musical styles. She emphasized that the spirit of the festival has always been about providing a platform for emerging artists to perform in front of large audiences.
In addition to this, Sharon is working on a new project with Live Nation that involves a classical music tour featuring Black Sabbath's catalog. This tour will showcase local orchestras performing the band’s music with advanced visual effects enhancing the experience.
Ozzfest ceased as a traveling festival in the U.S. after 2007, transitioning to occasional one-off shows, including a notable New Year’s Eve event in Los Angeles in 2018. Throughout its history, the festival faced challenges related to rising costs and managerial demands, which contributed to its hiatus.
Sharon Osbourne has also spoken candidly about past difficulties with band managers seeking higher fees and her commitment to maintaining a balance between headliners and emerging bands to preserve the festival’s original mission of breaking new talent.