Wacken is a municipality located in the state of Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany. It is situated within the district of Steinburg, positioned in a rural region characterized by its proximity to the Baltic Sea coast.
The town is primarily known as the host site for Wacken Open Air, one of the world's largest heavy metal music festivals. While it serves as a local residential community, it gains international recognition as a major destination for music tourism and large-scale cultural events.