• Spectacular opening to the 41st edition of Rock am Ring
• First festival day features Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach and many more

Rock am Ring kicked off its 41st edition with a bang. Against the backdrop of 90,000 Enthusiastin fans, the Nürburgring once again transformed into the epicentre of international rock music on Friday. Never before had the festival sold out as quickly as it did this year – and the very first day made it abundantly clear why.

Twelve years after their last appearance at the Nürburgring, and now featuring Emily Armstrong alongside Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park delivered an emotional yet explosive headline performance that was celebrated by tens of thousands of fans. Even before taking the stage, the band had a surprise in store, exclusively announcing their documentary “Unshatter” with a trailer premiere at Rock am Ring. And that was not all: in a tribute to their very first Rock am Ring appearance in 2001, the band opened their set with “With You” – a nostalgic and emotional moment that sent fans into raptures.

“Rock am Ring is something very special to us, and returning here 25 years after our first appearance means a great deal. The crowd, the energy, the whole atmosphere … there’s simply nothing else like it,” said Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park).

One of the most spectacular moments of the day came courtesy of Papa Roach, who made a fittingly dramatic entrance by landing in a helicopter behind the stage before shaking the festival grounds with an energy-packed set and their biggest anthems. It was a performance that already looks destined to become one of Rock am Ring’s legendary moments. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix reflected on the experience: “That moment was pure adrenaline. We’ve always believed that rock shows should be legendary, and this was about creating a moment that fans would never forget. The energy from the crowd was absolutely incredible.”

Limp Bizkit had the audience in high spirits with their uncompromising performance, while numerous other acts contributed unforgettable live moments throughout the opening festival day.

But the evening still had more surprises in store:
To thunderous applause, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display, massive pyrotechnics and an euphoric atmosphere, blink-182 were unveiled as the first headliner for Rock am Ring 2027. The announcement gave fans goosebumps and marked the official start of the next festival season. For the Californian pop-punk icons, the performance will also be a historic occasion: blink-182 will make their long-awaited Rock am Ring debut in 2027. Advance ticket sales for Rock am Ring 2027 will begin on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, at 12:00 noon.

With countless emotional highlights, the first festival day came to a close, once again demonstrating why Rock am Ring has remained one of Europe’s most important and beloved music festivals for decades.